2013 Maryland Code
FAMILY LAW
§ 5-559 - Definitions

Repealed by Acts 2005, ch. 585, § 2, effective July 1, 2005.

§ 5-559 - 1. Family Child Care Provider Direct Grant Fund

(a) Fund created. -- There is a Family Child Care Provider Direct Grant Fund administered by the Department.

(b) Administration. -- To administer grants to family child care providers, the Department may contract with State agencies and nonprofit organizations.

§ 5-559 - 2. Approval of direct grants

(a) Authority. -- The State Superintendent may delegate the authority to approve direct grants to any board that exists or may be created within the Department.

(b) Purpose. -- A grant made under this subtitle shall be awarded as a reimbursement for the expenses incurred by a family child care provider to comply with State and local regulations.

§ 5-559 - 3. Use of direct grant funds

(a) Appropriations. -- The funds shall consist of:

(1) moneys specifically appropriated for the Direct Grant Fund; or

(2) any other moneys made available to the Direct Grant Fund.

(b) Uses. -- The Direct Grant Fund shall be used to:

(1) pay all expenses and disbursements authorized by the Department for administering the Direct Grant Fund; and

(2) make grants to family child care providers.

(c) Considerations. -- In making grants under this subtitle, consideration shall be given to:

(1) geographic distribution;

(2) community need; and

(3) family income, with priority given to those families with the lowest income.

(d) Maximum State general funds expended. -- The amount of State general funds expended for grants to family child care providers from the Direct Grant Fund may not exceed $ 50,000 in each year.

§ 5-559 - 4. Limitations

(a) Qualifications; maximum grant amount. -- The Department may make a grant to an applicant only if:

(1) the applicant meets the qualifications required by this subtitle; and

(2) the grant does not exceed $ 500.

(b) Number of grants an applicant may receive. -- An applicant may receive only one grant.

§ 5-559 - 5. Application; requirements

(a) Application form required. -- To apply for financial assistance, an applicant shall submit to the Department an application on the form that the Department requires.

(b) Contents of application. -- The application shall include:

(1) the identity and location of the family child care provider;

(2) an itemization of known and estimated costs;

(3) the total amount of funds required by the family child care provider to comply with State and local regulations;

(4) the funds available to the applicant without financial assistance from the Department;

(5) the amount of financial assistance sought from the Department;

(6) a statement from the family child care provider on how the grant funds will be used;

(7) information that relates to the family income of the grant applicant; and

(8) any other relevant information that the Department requests.

§ 5-559 - 6. Terms and conditions; priorities

(a) In general. -- Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, the Department may set the terms and conditions for direct grants.

(b) Priorities in determining types of child care. -- On an annual basis, the Department shall establish priorities for the types of child care to be provided by recipients of direct grants.

§ 5-559 - 7. Prohibited acts; penalties

(a) Prohibited -- Applications or documents furnished to the Department. -- A person may not knowingly make or cause any false statement or report to be made in any application or in any document furnished to the Department.

(b) Prohibited -- Influencing the action of the Department. -- A person may not knowingly make or cause any false statement or report to be made for the purpose of influencing the action of the Department on an application for financial assistance or for the purpose of influencing any action of the Department affecting financial assistance whether or not such assistance may have already been extended.

(c) Penalties. -- Any person or any aider or abettor who violates any provision of this subtitle is guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $ 1,000 or imprisonment in the penitentiary not exceeding 1 year or both.

§ 5-559 - 8. Rules

The Department shall promulgate such rules as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this subtitle.