Sponsors (43)
This bill directs targeted federal funding to expand shift-hour child care and support services for law enforcement families—especially benefiting small/rural agencies and building provider capacity—but imposes rising local matching requirements, eligibility and grant-size limits, and a 2030 sunset that together limit scope, duration, and participation.
Parents and families of law enforcement officers gain subsidized, prioritized child care during nontraditional/shift hours, improving access to stable care so officers can maintain work schedules.
Children of covered officers, including those who are sick or have disabilities, get access to sick-child services and disability supports that make shift work more feasible for families.
The federal appropriation (about $24M/year for FY2026–2030) expands child care slots for a targeted workforce and funds job training and positions for child care providers, reducing out-of-pocket costs for families and supporting provider capacity.
Covered entities must provide rising non‑federal matching funds (10% → 25% → 33%), which could strain local budgets and deter participation by cash‑constrained jurisdictions.
Eligibility tied to federal child care rules (CCDBG and regulations) may exclude informal or unlicensed local providers commonly used for shift work, limiting practical child care options for parents.
Grants are capped at $3,000,000 per applicant, which may be insufficient for large jurisdictions to cover construction, renovation, or large-scale program costs.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a 3-year competitive HHS grant program to fund state-administered child care services and related supports for children of law enforcement officers working nonstandard hours, with phased matching and $3M award caps.
Introduced May 8, 2025 by Scott Peters · Last progress May 8, 2025
Establishes a 3-year competitive grant program at HHS/ACF that gives funds to State-designated lead agencies to create and run child care programs for minor children of law enforcement officers who work nontraditional or shift hours. Grants support start-up and operating costs, expanded hours, care for sick children and children with disabilities, workforce training, and other related activities; awards are capped and require phased state/local matching funds, with a set-aside for small law enforcement agencies.