§ 4-146

(a) This section applies only in Prince George’s County.

(b) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

(2) “Family child care provider” has the meaning stated in § 9.5–301 of this article.

(3) “Program” means the Prince George’s County Family Child Care Home Expansion Grant Program.

(c) (1) There is a Prince George’s County Family Child Care Home Expansion Grant Program.

(2) The purpose of the Program is to increase the number of registered family child care providers, registered family child care homes, and registered large family child care homes in low–income communities in Prince George’s County.

(3) The Prince George’s County public school system shall administer the Program.

(d) (1) To carry out the Program, the local school system shall award grants to nonprofit organizations in the county to provide training and financial assistance to individuals intending to become family child care providers that operate family child care homes and large family child care homes in low–income communities.

(2) To be eligible for a grant under this section, an applicant shall demonstrate in an application process developed by the local school system that the applicant:

(i) Is a nonprofit organization with experience in providing child care support services to individuals, which includes offering training and technical assistance to become a registered family child care provider; and

(ii) Will provide child care support services to individuals who:

1. Intend on becoming registered family child care providers that will operate registered family child care homes or registered large family child care homes;

2. Live in a low–income community in the county, as determined by the local school system;

3. Have a gross household income that does not exceed 50% of the statewide median income for a household of like size; and

4. Own or rent as their primary residence the dwelling that will be used as the family child care home or large family child care home.

(e) A grant awarded under this section may be used to offer services to individuals described under subsection (d)(2)(ii) of this section by:

(1) Providing multilingual outreach and translation services to recruit and train individuals to become registered family child care providers;

(2) Providing technical assistance and start–up assistance for recruited individuals as they navigate the Department’s process to become a registered family child care provider, which includes assistance in meeting building code requirements and inspection expenses to establish registered family child care homes and registered large family child care homes;

(3) Assisting newly registered and established family child care providers through technical assistance to achieve quality benchmarks; and

(4) Assisting individuals with obtaining background checks to become registered family child care providers.