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128 STAT. 1990 PUBLIC LAW 113–186—NOV. 19, 2014 ‘‘(6) Facilitating compliance with State requirements for inspection, monitoring, training, and health and safety, and with State licensing standards. ‘‘(7) Evaluating and assessing the quality and effectiveness of child care programs and services offered in the State, including evaluating how such programs positively impact chil- dren. ‘‘(8) Supporting child care providers in the voluntary pur- suit of accreditation by a national accrediting body with dem- onstrated, valid, and reliable program standards of high quality. ‘‘(9) Supporting State or local efforts to develop or adopt high-quality program standards relating to health, mental health, nutrition, physical activity, and physical development. ‘‘(10) Carrying out other activities determined by the State to improve the quality of child care services provided in the State, and for which measurement of outcomes relating to improved provider preparedness, child safety, child well-being, or entry to kindergarten is possible. ‘‘(c) CERTIFICATION.—Beginning with fiscal year 2016, at the beginning of each fiscal year, the State shall annually submit to the Secretary a certification containing an assurance that the State was in compliance with subsection (a) during the preceding fiscal year and a description of how the State used funds received under this subchapter to comply with subsection (a) during that preceding fiscal year. ‘‘(d) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—Each State receiving funds under this subchapter shall prepare and submit an annual report to the Secretary, which shall include information about— ‘‘(1) the amount of funds that are reserved under subsection (a); ‘‘(2) the activities carried out under this section; and ‘‘(3) the measures that the State will use to evaluate the State’s progress in improving the quality of child care programs and services in the State. ‘‘(e) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall offer tech- nical assistance, in accordance with section 658I(a)(3), which may include technical assistance through the use of grants or cooperative agreements, to States for the activities described in subsection (b) at the request of the State. ‘‘(f) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be construed as providing the Secretary the authority to regulate, direct, dictate, or place conditions (outside of what is required by this subchapter) on a State adopting specific State child care quality activities or progress in implementing those activities.’’. SEC. 7. CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS. The Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 658G the following: ‘‘SEC. 658H. CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS. ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A State that receives funds to carry out this subchapter shall have in effect— ‘‘(1) requirements, policies, and procedures to require and conduct criminal background checks for child care staff mem- bers (including prospective child care staff members) of child care providers described in subsection (c)(1); and Procedures. 42 USC 9858f. Effective date. Deadline. VerDate Sep 11 2014 13:40 Nov 10, 2020 Jkt 039194 PO 00002 Frm 00566 Fmt 6580 Sfmt 6581 G:\GSDD\STATUTES\2014\PT2\39194PT2.001 39194PT2 dkrause on LAP5T8D0R2PROD with DISTILLER (1)