Colorado § 26.5-3-802 - Child care sustainability grant program - created - timeline and criteria - grant awards - funding - definitions.

§ 26.5-3-802. Child care sustainability grant program - created - timeline and criteria - grant awards - funding - definitions.

(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) "Child care provider" means a child care center, as defined in section 26.5-5-303, or a family child care home, as defined in section 26.5-5-303, that holds an open license in good standing with the department.

(b) "Eligible entity" means a licensed child care provider or a neighborhood youth organization, as defined in section 26.5-5-303, that is open and operating.

(c) "Grant program" means the child care sustainability grant program created in subsection (2) of this section.

(d) "Open and operating" means an eligible entity that is actively providing services or care for children and that has updated its operational status with the division within the department that is responsible for child care licensing and administration.

(2) The child care sustainability grant program is created in the department. The purpose of the grant program is to address the extent to which reduced enrollment and increased costs are impacting the sustainability of licensed child care in Colorado, including licensed child care capacity and quality level. The grant program will provide financial support to eligible entities, including those that are in danger of closing.

(3) The department shall create a process for soliciting, vetting, awarding, and monitoring grants, pursuant to the sole source procurement authority specified in section 24-103-205.

(4) (a) The department shall develop a formula to allocate money from the grant program to all eligible entities. The key criteria for a grant award to an eligible entity is the eligible entity's licensed child care capacity. In determining grant awards, the department shall also take into consideration the criteria set forth in subsection (4)(b) of this section. The department is responsible for communicating important dates and the criteria for grant awards to eligible entities in the state.

(b) The department shall consider, at a minimum:

(I) Awarding grants to a wide array of eligible entities of varying types and sizes;

(II) Ensuring that the grant money goes directly to eligible entities located in a variety of regions throughout the state;

(III) Requiring that the eligible entity has provided written commitment to submit any reports required by the department;

(IV) Supporting, as much as possible, eligible entities that are not already fully supported through existing state or federal funds, such as the head start program, as defined in section 26.5-4-103; and

(V) Considering an eligible entity's quality rating through the Colorado shines system, established in section 26.5-5-101.

(5) The department shall determine grant award amounts for eligible entities as soon as possible.

(6) For the 2022-23 state fiscal year, the general assembly shall appropriate to the department fifty million dollars from federal funds for child care development funds for the purposes of implementing the grant program. The money appropriated in this subsection (6) is not subject to the requirements of the "Procurement Code", articles 101 to 112 of title 24. Any money appropriated pursuant to this subsection (6) remains available for expenditure until the close of the 2023-24 state fiscal year.

Source: L. 2022: Entire article added with relocations, (HB 22-1295), ch. 123, p. 645, § 3, effective July 1; (6) added, (SB 22-213), ch. 345, p. 2462, § 2, effective July 1.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 26-6-802 as it existed prior to 2022.