US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

42 U.S.C. § 9858n

Definitions

As used in this subchapter:
(1)

Caregiver

The term “caregiver” means an individual who provides a service directly to an eligible child on a person-to-person basis.

(2)

Child care certificate

The term “child care certificate” means a certificate (that may be a check or other disbursement) that is issued by a State or local government under this subchapter directly to a parent who may use such certificate only as payment for child care services or as a deposit for child care services if such a deposit is required of other children being cared for by the provider. Nothing in this subchapter shall preclude the use of such certificates for sectarian child care services if freely chosen by the parent. For purposes of this subchapter, child care certificates shall not be considered to be grants or contracts.

(3)

Child with a disability

The term “child with a disability” means—
(A)
20 U.S.C. 1401 a child with a disability, as defined in section 602 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ();
(B)
20 U.S.C. 1431 a child who is eligible for early intervention services under part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( et seq.);
(C)
section 794 of title 29 a child who is less than 13 years of age and who is eligible for services under ; and
(D)
a child with a disability, as defined by the State involved.
(4)

Eligible child

The term “eligible child” means an individual—
(A)
who is less than 13 years of age;
(B)
whose family income does not exceed 85 percent of the State median income for a family of the same size, and whose family assets do not exceed $1,000,000 (as certified by a member of such family); and
(C)
who—
(i)
resides with a parent or parents who are working or attending a job training or educational program; or
(ii)
is receiving, or needs to receive, protective services and resides with a parent or parents not described in clause (i).
(5)

English learner

section 7801 of title 20section 9832 of this titleThe term “English learner” means an individual who is an English learner, as defined in , or who is limited English proficient, as defined in .

(6)

Eligible child care provider

The term “eligible child care provider” means—
(A)
a center-based child care provider, a group home child care provider, a family child care provider, or other provider of child care services for compensation that—
(i)
section 9858c(c)(2)(F) of this title is licensed, regulated, or registered under State law as described in ; and
(ii)
section 9858c(c)(2)(I) of this title satisfies the State and local requirements, including those referred to in ;
applicable to the child care services it provides; or
(B)
a child care provider that is 18 years of age or older who provides child care services only to eligible children who are, by affinity or consanguinity, or by court decree, the grandchild, great grandchild, sibling (if such provider lives in a separate residence), niece, or nephew of such provider, if such provider complies with any applicable requirements that govern child care provided by the relative involved.
(7)

Family child care provider

The term “family child care provider” means one individual who provides child care services for fewer than 24 hours per day, as the sole caregiver, and in a private residence.

(8)

Indian tribe

section 5304(e) of title 25The term “Indian tribe” has the meaning given it in .

(9)

Lead agency

section 9858b(a) of this titleThe term “lead agency” means the agency designated or established under .

(10)

Parent

The term “parent” includes a legal guardian, foster parent, or other person standing in loco parentis.

(11)

Scientifically valid research

The term “scientifically valid research” includes applied research, basic research, and field-initiated research, for which the rationale, design, and interpretation are soundly developed in accordance with principles of scientific research.

(12)

Secretary

The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Health and Human Services unless the context specifies otherwise.

(13)

Sliding fee scale

The term “sliding fee scale” means a system of cost sharing by a family based on income and size of the family.

(14)

State

The term “State” means any of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

(15)

Tribal organization

(A)

In general

lThe term “tribal organization” has the meaning given it in section 5304() of title 25.

(B)

Other organizations

1

1 See References in Text note below.
Such term includes a Native Hawaiian Organization, as defined in section 4909(4)  of title 20 and a private nonprofit organization established for the purpose of serving youth who are Indians or Native Hawaiians.

Pub. L. 97–35, title VI, § 658PPub. L. 101–508, title V, § 5082(2)104 Stat. 1388–248Pub. L. 102–401, § 3106 Stat. 1959Pub. L. 102–586, § 8(c)106 Stat. 5036Pub. L. 103–171, § 8107 Stat. 1994Pub. L. 104–193, title VI, § 614110 Stat. 2287Pub. L. 105–33, title V, § 5602(5)111 Stat. 646Pub. L. 113–186, § 10128 Stat. 2000Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, § 9215(p)(2)129 Stat. 2170(, as added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 91–23084 Stat. 175section 1400 of Title 20The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, referred to in par. (3)(B), is title VI of , , . Part C of the Act is classified generally to subchapter III (§ 1431 et seq.) of chapter 33 of Title 20, Education. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see and Tables.

Section 4909 of title 20Pub. L. 103–382, title III, § 363108 Stat. 3975, referred to in par. (15)(B), was repealed by , , .

Amendments

Pub. L. 114–95section 7801 of title 20section 9832 of this titlesection 7801 of title 20section 9832 of this title2015—Par. (5). substituted “an individual who is an English learner, as defined in , or who is limited English proficient, as defined in ” for “an individual who is limited English proficient, as defined in or ”.

Pub. L. 113–186, § 10(1)2014—Pars. (3), (4). , added pars. (3) and (4) and struck out former par. (4) which defined “eligible child”.

Pub. L. 113–186, § 10(3)Par. (5). , added par. (5). Former par. (5) redesignated (6).

Pub. L. 113–186, § 10(2)Par. (6). , (4), redesignated par. (5) as (6) and substituted “9858c(c)(2)(F)” for “9858c(c)(2)(E)” in subpar. (A)(i) and “9858c(c)(2)(I)” for “9858c(c)(2)(F)” in subpar. (A)(ii). Former par. (6) redesignated (7).

Pub. L. 113–186, § 10(2)Pars. (7), (8). , redesignated pars. (6) and (7) as (7) and (8), respectively. Former pars. (7) and (8) redesignated (8) and (9), respectively.

Pub. L. 113–186, § 10(2)Par. (9). , (5), redesignated par. (8) as (9) and substituted “designated or established under section 9858b(a)” for “designated under section 9858(a)”. Former par. (9) redesignated (10).

Pub. L. 113–186, § 10(2)Par. (10). , (6), redesignated par. (9) as (10) and inserted “, foster parent,” after “guardian”.

Pub. L. 113–186, § 10(7)Pars. (11) to (15). , (8), added par. (11) and redesignated former pars. (11) to (14) as (12) to (15), respectively.

Pub. L. 105–331997—Par. (13). substituted “and” for “or” after “American Samoa,”.

Pub. L. 104–193, § 614(1)1996—Par. (2). , in first sentence, inserted “or as a deposit for child care services if such a deposit is required of other children being cared for by the provider” after “payment for child care services”.

Pub. L. 104–193, § 614(2)Par. (3). , struck out heading and text of par. (3). Text read as follows: “The term ‘elementary school’ means a day or residential school that provides elementary education, as determined under State law.”

Pub. L. 104–193, § 614(3)Par. (4)(B). , substituted “85 percent” for “75 percent”.

Pub. L. 104–193, § 614(4)Par. (5)(B). , inserted “great grandchild, sibling (if such provider lives in a separate residence),” after “grandchild,”, struck out “is registered and” after “such provider”, and substituted “any applicable requirements” for “any State requirements”.

Pub. L. 104–193, § 614(5)Par. (10). , struck out heading and text of par. (10). Text read as follows: “The term ‘secondary school’ means a day or residential school which provides secondary education, as determined under State law.”

Pub. L. 104–193, § 614(6)Par. (13). , inserted “or” after “Samoa,” and struck out “, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands” after “Northern Mariana Islands”.

Pub. L. 104–193, § 614(7)Par. (14). , designated existing text as subpar. (A), inserted heading, and added subpar. (B).

Pub. L. 103–171Pub. L. 102–586, § 8(c)(2)1993—Pars. (7), (14). made technical correction to directory language of . See 1992 Amendment note below.

Pub. L. 102–401, § 3(a)Pub. L. 102–586, § 8(c)(1)Pub. L. 101–508, § 5082(2)1992—, and , made identical technical corrections to directory language of , which added this section.

Pub. L. 102–586, § 8(c)(2)(A)Pub. L. 103–171section 5304(e) of title 25section 5304(b) of title 25section 5304(b) of title 25Pub. L. 102–401, § 3(b)(1)Par. (7). , as amended by , which directed the amendment of par. (7) by substituting “” for “”, could not be executed because the words “” did not appear subsequent to execution of the amendment by . See below.

Pub. L. 102–401, § 3(b)(1)section 5304(e) of title 25section 5304(b) of title 25, substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 102–586, § 8(c)(2)(B)Pub. L. 103–171lsection 5304(c) of title 25section 5304(c) of title 25Pub. L. 102–401, § 3(b)(2)Par. (14). , as amended by , which directed the amendment of par. (14) by substituting “section 5304() of title 25” for “”, could not be executed because the words “” did not appear subsequent to execution of the amendment by . See below.

Pub. L. 102–401, § 3(b)(2)lsection 5304(c) of title 25, substituted “section 5304() of title 25” for “”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2015 Amendment

Pub. L. 114–95section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95section 6301 of Title 20Amendment by effective , except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see , set out as a note under , Education.

Effective Date of 1997 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–33Pub. L. 104–193section 5603 of Pub. L. 105–33section 618 of this titleAmendment by effective as if included in the enactment of title VI of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Pub. L. 104–193section 615 of Pub. L. 104–193section 9858 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1992 Amendments

Pub. L. 102–586section 8(d) of Pub. L. 102–586section 9858h of this titleAmendment by effective , but not applicable with respect to fiscal years beginning before , see , set out as a note under .

Pub. L. 102–401section 4 of Pub. L. 102–401section 9835 of this titleAmendment by effective , but not applicable with respect to fiscal years beginning before , see , set out as a note under .