Section 47.25.071 - Child care grant program(a) A child care grant program is established in the department to provide state assistance in the operation of child care facilities. The department shall provide grants for the operation of child care facilities, including private nonprofit child care facilities. Participation in the program is optional.(b) To qualify for a grant under (a) or (d) of this section, the child care facility must (1) be currently licensed under AS 47.32 and applicable municipal licensing requirements;(2) participate in the child care assistance program under AS 47.25.001 - 47.25.095; (3) provide care under a payment system as provided in (g) of this section; and(4) be designated as a quality child care facility by the department.(c)[Repealed, § 28, ch. 4. SLA 2024.]Repealed, § 44.ch. 15. SLA 2024.(d) In addition to the grants provided in (a) of this section, the department may, subject to appropriations for that purpose, provide by grant or contract for the education and training of child care employees or administrators. To receive a grant or contract under this subsection or to participate in a training program under this subsection, the child care facility must meet all the requirements of (b) of this section.(e) An application for a grant under this section shall be made in a format established by the department. The department shall establish an electronic application for a grant and allow an applicant to submit an application in electronic format or in other formats required by state and federal law. The electronic application must inform an applicant that a false statement made on the application will be investigated and is punishable under AS 11.56.210.(f) A grant under (a) of this section shall be made monthly or quarterly and shall be based on the monthly average daily full-time equivalent enrollment in the child care facility. If the method of payment for the grant is other than monthly, it shall be at the request of the child care facility with the approval of the department. Based on criteria established by the department, the department may make quarterly advance payments.(g) A child care facility receiving a grant under (a) or (d) of this section shall (1) assure that at least 15 percent or one of its child care spaces receiving subsidy under this section, whichever is greater, will be made available, if requested, to children eligible for child care assistance under AS 47.25.001 - 47.25.095, whose parents or guardians wish to pay for care based on attendance only;(2) give priority to children from low-income families when filling available child care spaces in the facility.(h) The department shall, in consultation with a child care resource and referral agency in the state and parents, adopt regulations to carry out the purposes of this section, including criteria used to designate a child care facility as a quality child care facility under (b)(4) of this section.(i) In addition to the grants provided in (a) and (d) of this section, the department may, subject to appropriations for that purpose, provide grants to the highest performing and highest quality child care facilities in the state. The department may use quality recognition and improvement system metrics to determine the highest performing and highest quality child care facilities in the state. To receive a grant under this subsection, the child care facility must be currently licensed under AS 47.32 and applicable municipal licensing requirements.(j) A child care facility receiving a grant under (a) or (d) of this section may not deny a child acceptance to the facility based on disability or socioeconomic status.Amended by SLA 2024, ch. 15,sec. 44, eff. 7/23/2024.Amended by SLA 2024, ch. 15,sec. 41, eff. 7/23/2024.Amended by SLA 2024, ch. 15,sec. 40, eff. 7/23/2024.Amended by SLA 2024, ch. 15,sec. 39, eff. 7/23/2024.Amended by SLA 2024, ch. 15,sec. 38, eff. 7/22/2024.Amended by SLA 2024, ch. 4,sec. 28, eff. 6/26/2024.Amended by SLA 2022, ch. 19,sec. 4, eff. 7/1/2022.