ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session Majority Research Staff

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HB 2239: child care; grant program; fund

Sponsor: Representative Blackman, LD 7

Committee on Government

Overview

Creates and outlines services and procedures for the Child Care Grant Program (Grant Program) and the Child Care Infrastructure Fund (Fund).

History

The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) administers individual and family services, including services for children and grants for aid and services to needy families with children. Further, DES maintains a statewide child care resource and referral system (System), including databases and a registry, providing families with: 1) information on all types of child care; 2) referrals to child care providers and programs; 3) information about child care resources and services; 4) information about choosing child care; and 5) information about registered child care home providers. The System works through community-based organizations to: 1) provide families with information and referrals on child care resources, providers and programs; 2) assist child care providers and programs with parent referrals, child care issues training and assistance in initiating or providing child care services; and 3) coordinate with the community to maintain relationships with local groups interested in child care and develop statistics for the supply and demand of child care (A.R.S. §§ 41-1954, 41-1967).  

Provisions

1. Establishes the Grant Program under DES to allocate monies to eligible applicants to provide any of the following services to Arizona families with child care needs:

a. early learning and child care in low-income communities, moderate-income communities and underserved communities that have historically experienced a lack of accessible and affordable child care, including rural areas;

b. child care during nonstandard working hours, such as evenings and weekends; and

c. child care for infants, toddlers and children who have disabilities. (Sec. 1)

2. Allows DES to adopt rules, policies and procedures to carry out the purposes of this legislation. (Sec. 1)

3. Requires an eligible applicant to apply for a grant on a form prescribed by DES. (Sec. 1)

4. Directs DES to aid grantees relating to:

a. child care facility and capacity expansion;

b. business strategy and operations support and training; and

c. increasing or enhancing early learning and child care capacity for federally recognized Indian tribes, nations or communities. (Sec. 1)

5. Permits DES to contract with a qualified community partner organization in Arizona to assist in administering the Grant Program. (Sec. 1)

6. Establishes the Fund, under DES, consisting of legislative appropriations, grants, gifts, contributions and devises. (Sec. 1)

7. Authorizes the state Treasurer, on notice from DES, to invest and divest Fund monies and credit monies earned from the investment back to the Fund. (Sec. 1)

8. Permits Fund monies be used for:

a. paying administrative costs of implementing this legislation and establishing the Grant Program;

b. planning, designing and acquiring property for high-quality early learning and child care infrastructure;

c. acquiring property for child care development projects;

d. repairing, improving and renovating early learning and child care infrastructure that would expand the capacity of the infrastructure;

e. child care infrastructure development projects, including direct project management costs;

f. contracting with third parties, including nonprofit organizations and community development financial institutions, to assist in the administration of child care infrastructure activities;

g. child care infrastructure construction costs and expenses;

h. child care start-up expenses, including workforce development, licensing, insurance and accreditation;

i. early child care infrastructure adaptations required by a licensing agency in Arizona;

j. providing support to establish or expand child care provider operations and infrastructure, including training and technical assistance; and

k. any other costs that DES determines to be necessary to carry out early child care infrastructure activities in Arizona. (Sec. 1)

9. Makes monies in the Fund continuously appropriated. (Sec. 1)

10. Defines pertinent terms. (Sec. 1)

11. Contains legislative findings. (Sec. 2)

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15. Initials ML/MN               HB 2239

16. 2/3/2026    Page 0 Government

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