2013 Maryland Code
FAMILY LAW
§ 5-594 - Definitions

§5-594.

(a) In this part the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b) “Child care center” has the meaning stated in § 5-570 of this subtitle.

(c) “Child care provider” means a family child care provider or a child care center.

(d) “Direct incentive grant” means a grant awarded under the Child Care Quality Incentive Grant Program.

(e) “Family child care provider” has the meaning stated in § 5-550(d) of this subtitle.

§ 5-594 - 1. Creation; power to contract

(a) Creation. -- There is a Child Care Quality Incentive Grant Program administered by the State Department of Education.

(b) Power to contract. -- To administer direct incentive grants to child care providers, the State Department of Education may contract with other State agencies and nonprofit organizations.

§ 5-594 - 2. Delegation of authority; grant as incentive

(a) Delegation of authority. -- The State Superintendent may delegate the authority to approve direct incentive grants to any board that exists or may be created in the State Department of Education.

(b) Grant as incentive. -- A direct incentive grant made under this part shall be awarded as an incentive for a child care provider to improve the quality of care being provided to children through the purchase of supplies, materials, and equipment.

§ 5-594 - 3. General provisions

(a) Funds. -- The grant funds shall consist of:

(1) moneys specifically appropriated for the Child Care Quality Incentive Grant Program; and

(2) any other moneys made available to the Child Care Quality Incentive Grant Program.

(b) Purpose. -- The Child Care Quality Incentive Grant Program shall be used to:

(1) pay all expenses and disbursements authorized by the State Department of Education for administering the Child Care Quality Incentive Grant Program; and

(2) award direct incentive grants to child care providers.

(c) Eligibility. -- To be eligible to receive grants under this part, a child care provider must:

(1) possess a certificate of registration or license that is current and not subject to any pending regulatory action, including revocation and suspension; and

(2) not be in arrears in the payment of any moneys owed to the State, including the payment of taxes and employee benefits.

(d) Applicability. -- Grants made under this part shall be limited to:

(1) child care centers located in Title I communities;

(2) child care centers where at least 25% of the children enrolled receive subsidies through the purchase of child care program; and

(3) family child care homes and large family child care homes that serve children who receive child care subsidies through the purchase of child care program.

§ 5-594 - 4. Awards

The State Department of Education may award a direct incentive grant to an applicant only if:

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

(2) the direct incentive grant does not exceed $ 2,500; and

(3) federal funds are available to cover the cost of the grant.

§ 5-594 - 5. Application

(a) Form. -- To apply for a direct incentive grant, an applicant shall submit to the State Department of Education an application on the form that the State Department of Education requires.

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

(1) the name and address of the child care provider;

(2) an itemization of known and estimated costs including a statement from the child care provider as to how the grant funds will be used;

(3) the total amount of funds required by the provider to purchase supplies, material, and equipment;

(4) the funds available to the applicant to purchase supplies, material, and equipment;

(5) the amount of direct incentive grant funds sought from the State Department of Education;

(6) the number of children that the child care provider serves who receive child care subsidies through the purchase of child care program; and

(7) any other relevant information that the State Department of Education requests.

§ 5-594 - 6. State Department of Education to set terms, conditions, priorities

(a) Terms and conditions. -- Except as otherwise provided in this part, the State Department of Education may set the terms and conditions for direct incentive grants.

(b) Priorities. -- On an annual basis, the State Department of Education may establish priorities for the distribution of direct incentive grants based on the categories of children child care providers serve, including infants, toddlers, and preschool and school-age children.

§ 5-594 - 7. Prohibited acts; penalties

(a) False statements or reports -- Applications or documents. -- 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 State Department of Education under this part.

(b) False statements or reports -- To influence action of State Department of Education. -- 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 State Department of Education on an application for a direct incentive grant or for the purpose of influencing any action of the State Department of Education affecting a direct incentive grant whether or not such a grant may have already been awarded.

(c) Penalties. -- Any person or any aider or abettor who violates any provision of this part 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.

§ 5-594 - 8. Regulations

The State Superintendent shall adopt regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of this part.