Emergency Relief Programs For Child Care Sector

The act creates 2 emergency relief grant programs to allow the state to allocate and quickly distribute money to existing licensed and start-up child care providers (providers) in Colorado.

The child care sustainability grant program (sustainability program) is created in the department of human services (department). The purpose of the sustainability program is to provide financial support to licensed providers in Colorado, including those that are in danger of closing as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The department shall develop a formula, criteria, and timeline to allocate grants to eligible providers. A grant award from the sustainability program must range from at least $500 to no more than $35,000. A licensed provider's child care capacity is a key criteria in determining the amount of the grant award. The department shall determine grant award amounts for eligible providers as soon as possible, but no later than January 31, 2021, and distribute the money for grant awards no later than February 28, 2021.

The emerging and expanding child care grant program (expansion program) is created in the department. The purpose of the expansion program is to expand access and availability of licensed providers throughout Colorado. The intent of the expansion program is to provide financial assistance to new or existing providers. A grant award from the expansion program must range from at least $3,000 to no more than $50,000. A grant award from the expansion program may be used for costs associated with expansion of an existing provider or to assist with the creation of a new child care program. Costs may include staff training, background check fees, cleaning supplies, educational supplies, and capital or facility improvement costs. The department shall begin the grant award process on or before January 31, 2021.

The act makes the following appropriation:

(1) For the 2020-21 state fiscal year, $45,016,340 is appropriated to the department of human services for use by the office of early childhood. This appropriation is from the general fund. To implement this act, the office of early childhood may use this appropriation as follows:

(a) $432,961 for administration, which amount is based on an assumption that the office will require an additional 1.2 FTE. Money appropriated in this subsection (1)(a) for this purpose not expended prior to July 1, 2021, is further appropriated to the department of human services for use by the office of early childhood for the 2021-22 state fiscal year for the same purpose.

(b) (I) $34,806,917 for the child care sustainability grant program created in section 26-6-802, C.R.S.

(II) Up to $300,000 of any appropriation made pursuant to subsection (1)(b)(I) of this section for state fiscal year 2020-21 for the child care sustainability grant program created in section 26-6-802, C.R.S., must be made available to neighborhood youth organizations.

(c) $8,751,329 for the emerging and expanding child care grant program created in section 26-6-803, C.R.S. Money appropriated in this subsection (1)(c) not expended prior to July 1, 2021, is further appropriated to the department of human services for use by the office of early childhood for the 2021-22 state fiscal year for the same purpose.

(d) $875,133 for early childhood councils, as defined in section 26-6.5-101.5 (2), C.R.S., in support of the emerging and expanding child care grant program created in section 26-6-803, C.R.S. Money appropriated in this subsection (1)(d) not expended prior to July 1, 2021, is further appropriated to the department of human services for use by the office of early childhood for the 2021-22 state fiscal year for the same purpose.

(e) $150,000 for linguistic and culturally competent outreach and technical application assistance in support of the emerging and expanding child care grant program created in section 26-6-803, C.R.S.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)