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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
appropriation; law enforcement; childcare
Purpose
Appropriates $16,000,000 from the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Block Grant to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) for child care grants.
Background
The CCDF is authorized under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act which was enacted under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, and was most recently reauthorized by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 2014. The CCDF Block Grant subsidizes child care services for eligible families through certificates, or grants and contracts with providers. States that receive grant funding must establish eligibility policies, and ensure that certain health and safety requirements are met for participating child care providers (Office of the Administration for Children and Families).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation. However, H.B. 2769 does appropriate $16,000,000 to DPS from CCDF Block Grant monies.
Provisions
1. Appropriates $16,000,000 for the CCDF Block Grant in FY 25 to DPS for child care grants to benefit law enforcement agencies and officers.
2. Allows DPS to use up to $75,000 to for the administration of child care grants.
3. Requires DPS to award grants to law enforcement agencies and nonprofit agencies that support law enforcement agencies in Maricopa County for the purposes of:
a) constructing child care facilities for children of law enforcement officers;
b) making tenant improvements to child care facilities for children of law enforcement officers; and
c) maintaining and operating customized child care programs for children of law enforcement officers.
4. Requires DPS to prioritize the following factors when awarding grants:
a) the extent to which a grant award may assist a law enforcement agency in recruiting and retaining qualified law enforcement officers to address a workforce shortage;
b) the extent to which a grant award may improve law enforcement officer wellness; and
c) the extent to which a grant award may improve relationships between a law enforcement agency and impacted communities.
5. Allows DPS to distribute monies to a nonprofit agency that supports law enforcement agencies only if the nonprofit agency demonstrates to DPS that the nonprofit agency has a commitment for at least 50 percent matching monies.
6. Requires DPS to audit each law enforcement agency and nonprofit agency on a quarterly basis to ensure that grant monies are used only for prescribed purposes.
7. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing until July 1, 2027.
8. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
APPROP 2/19/24 DPA 9-6-1-1
3rd Read 2/28/24 34-25-0-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 8, 2024
ZD/cs