Improving Child Care Access, Affordability, and Stability in the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF); Corrections, 52396-52398 [2024-13716]

Download as PDF lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES1 52396 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 121 / Monday, June 24, 2024 / Rules and Regulations § 442.43(b)(3).’’ is corrected to ‘‘and in § 442.43(b)(1) added a cross-reference to § 442.43(b)(3).’’ 15. On page 40935, third column, eighth paragraph, lines 3 through 8, the sentence that reads ‘‘Unless otherwise indicated, we obtained all salary information from the May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, BLS at https://www.bls.gov/ oes/current/oes_nat.htm.’’ is corrected to read ‘‘Unless otherwise indicated, we obtained all salary information from the May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, BLS at https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm.’’ 16. On page 40948, footnote number 96, that reads ‘‘https://data.cms.gov/ summary-statistics-on-use-andpayments/medicare-service-typereports/cms-program-statisticsmedicare-skilled-nursing-facility.’’ is corrected to read ‘‘https://data.cms.gov/ provider-data/dataset/4pq5-n9py.’’. 17. On page 40949, third column, first full paragraph, line 2, the table reference that reads ‘‘table 21’’ is corrected to read ‘‘table 31’’. 18. On page 40992, a. In the second column, first full paragraph, lines 1 through 9, the sentence that reads ‘‘Using the wage information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, https://www.bls.gov/oes/ current/oes_nat.htm, for medical and health service managers (Code 11– 9111), we estimate that the cost of reviewing this rule is $123.06 per hour, including overhead and fringe benefits.’’ is corrected to read ‘‘Using the wage information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, https://www.bls.gov/oes/ tables.htm, for medical and health service managers (Code 11–9111), we estimate that the cost of reviewing this rule is $123.06 per hour, including overhead and fringe benefits.’’ b. In the third column, second paragraph, lines 1 through 9, the sentence that reads ‘‘Using the wage information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, https://www.bls.gov/oes/ current/oes_nat.htm, for medical and health service managers (Code 11– 9111), we estimated that the cost of reviewing this rule is $123.06 per hour, including overhead and fringe benefits.’’ is corrected to read ‘‘Using the wage information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, https://www.bls.gov/oes/ tables.htm, for medical and health VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:39 Jun 21, 2024 Jkt 262001 service managers (Code 11–9111), we estimated that the cost of reviewing this rule is $123.06 per hour, including overhead and fringe benefits.’’ B. Correction of Errors in the Regulation Text § 442.43 [Corrected] List of Subjects in 45 CFR Part 98 1. On page 40995, third column, seventh paragraph, the regulation text for § 443.43(b) introductory text, line 22, the reference ‘‘§ 438.6(c)’’ is corrected to read ‘‘§ 438.2’’. ■ § 483.35 Care and Development Fund (CCDF)’’ rule, published at 89 FR 15366 on March 1, 2024, included inaccurate amendatory instructions for § 98.16 and inadvertently failed to update certain amended cross-references. This document corrects the final regulations. [Corrected] 2. On page 40998, second column, sixth full paragraph, line 2, in the regulation text for § 483.35(h)(2)(iv), the reference ‘‘§ 483.71(b)(4)’’ is corrected to read ‘‘§ 483.71(c)(4)’’. ■ Wilma Robinson, Deputy Executive Secretary to the Department, Department of Health and Human Services. Child care, Grant programs—social programs. Accordingly, 45 CFR part 98 is corrected by making the following correcting amendments: PART 98—CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT FUND 1. The authority citation for part 98 continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: 42 U.S.C. 618, 9858. 2. Amend § 98.2 by revising the definition of Sliding fee scale to read as follows: ■ [FR Doc. 2024–13795 Filed 6–21–24; 8:45 am] § 98.2 BILLING CODE 4120–01–P * DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 45 CFR Part 98 RIN 0970–AD02 Improving Child Care Access, Affordability, and Stability in the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF); Corrections Office of Child Care (OCC), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ACTION: Correcting amendments. AGENCY: On March 1, 2024, the Department of Health and Human Services published a final rule to improve child care access, affordability, and stability in the Child Care and Development Fund. Some amendments in the final rule could not be incorporated due to technical inaccuracies in the instructions. Additionally, that document inadvertently failed to update certain amended cross-references. This document makes technical changes to correct the final regulations. DATES: Effective on June 24, 2024. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Megan Campbell, Office of Child Care, 202–690–6499 or megan.campbell@ acf.hhs.gov. SUMMARY: The ‘‘Improving Child Care Access, Affordability, and Stability in the Child SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 Definitions. * * * * Sliding fee scale means a system of cost-sharing by a family based on income and size of the family, in accordance with § 98.45(l); * * * * * ■ 3. Amend § 98.16 by: ■ a. Revising paragraph (x); ■ b. Redesignating paragraphs (y) through (ii) as paragraphs (bb) through (ll); ■ c. Adding new paragraphs (y) through (aa); and ■ d. Revising newly redesignated paragraphs (ee), (ff), and (kk). The additions and revisions read as follows: § 98.16 Plan revisions. * * * * * (x) A description of the supply of child care available regardless of subsidy participation relative to the population of children requiring child care, including care for infants and toddlers, children with disabilities as defined by the Lead Agency, children who receive care during nontraditional hours, and children in underserved geographic areas, including the data sources used to identify shortages in the supply of child care providers; (y) A description of the Lead Agency’s strategies and the actions it will take to address the supply shortages identified in paragraph (x) of this section and improve parent choice specifically for families eligible to participate in CCDF, including: (1) For families needing care during nontraditional hours, which may include strategies such as higher E:\FR\FM\24JNR1.SGM 24JNR1 lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES1 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 121 / Monday, June 24, 2024 / Rules and Regulations payment rates, engaging with homebased child care networks, partnering with employers that have employees working nontraditional hours, and grants or contracts for direct services; (2) For families needing infant and toddler care, which must include grants or contracts for direct services pursuant to § 98.30(b) and described further in paragraph (z) of this section and may include additional strategies such as enhanced payment rates, training and professional development opportunities for the child care workforce, and engaging with staffed family child care networks and/or child care provider membership organizations; (3) For families needing care for children with disabilities, which must include grants or contracts for direct services pursuant to § 98.30(b) and described further in paragraph (z) of this section and may include additional strategies such as enhanced payment rates, training and professional development opportunities for the child care workforce, and engaging with staffed family child care networks and/ or child care provider membership organizations; (4) For families in underserved geographic areas, which must include grants or contracts for direct services pursuant to § 98.30(b) and described further in paragraph (z) of this section and may include additional strategies such as enhanced payment rates, training and professional development opportunities for the child care workforce, and engaging with staffed family child care networks and/or child care provider membership organizations; and, (5) A method of tracking progress toward goals to increase supply and support equal access and parental choice; (z) A description of how the Lead Agency will use grants or contracts for direct services to achieve supply building goals for children in underserved geographic areas, infants and toddlers, children with disabilities as defined by the Lead Agency, and, at Lead Agency option, children who receive care during nontraditional hours. This must include a description of the proportion of the shortages for these groups would be filled by contracted or grant funded slots. Lead Agencies must continue to provide CCDF families the option to choose a certificate for the purposes of acquiring care; (aa) A description of how the Lead Agency will improve the quality of child care services for children in underserved geographic areas, infants and toddlers, children with disabilities VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:39 Jun 21, 2024 Jkt 262001 as defined by the Lead Agency, and children who receive care during nontraditional hours; * * * * * (ee) A description of generallyaccepted payment practices applicable to providers of child care services for which assistance is provided under this part, pursuant to § 98.45(m), including practices to ensure timely payment for services, to delink provider payments from children’s occasional absences to the extent practicable, cover mandatory fees, and pay based on a full or parttime basis; (ff) A description of internal controls to ensure integrity and accountability, processes in place to investigate and recover fraudulent payments and to impose sanctions on clients or providers in response to fraud, and procedures in place to document and verify eligibility, pursuant to § 98.68; * * * * * (kk) A description of how the Lead Agency will respond to complaints submitted through the national hotline and website, required in section 658L(b) of the CCDBG Act of 2014 (42 U.S.C.9858j(b)), including the designee responsible for receiving and responding to such complaints regarding both licensed and licenseexempt child care providers; and * * * * * 4. Amend § 98.21 by revising paragraph (b)(3) to read as follows: ■ § 98.21 Eligibility determination processes. (b) * * * (3) A family meeting the conditions described in paragraph (b)(2) of this section shall be eligible for services pursuant to the conditions described in § 98.20 and all other paragraphs of this section, with the exception of the copayment restrictions at paragraph (a)(3) of this section. To help families transition off of child care assistance, Lead Agencies may gradually adjust copay amounts for families whose children are determined eligible under the graduated phase-out conditions described in paragraph (b)(2) and may require additional reporting on changes in family income as described in paragraph (h)(3) of this section, provided such requirements do not constitute an undue burden, pursuant to conditions described in paragraphs (h)(2)(ii) and (iii) of this section. * * * * * 5. Amend § 98.50 by revising paragraphs (a)(2) and (c)(2) to read as follows: ■ PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 § 98.50 52397 Child care services. (a) * * * (2) Using a sliding fee scale, as described in § 98.45(l); * * * * * (c) * * * (2) Must include measurable indicators of progress in accordance with § 98.53(g); and * * * * * ■ 6. Amend § 98.53 by revising paragraph (a) introductory text to read as follows: § 98.53 Activities to improve the quality of child care. (a) The Lead Agency must expend funds from each fiscal year’s allotment on quality activities pursuant to §§ 98.50(b) and 98.83(g) in accordance with an assessment of need by the Lead Agency. Such funds must be used to carry out at least one of the following quality activities to improve the quality of child care services for all children, regardless of CCDF receipt, in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section: * * * * * ■ 7. Amend § 98.55 by revising paragraphs (g)(2) and (i) to read as follows: § 98.55 Matching fund requirements. * * * * * (g) * * * (2) Family contributions to the cost of care as required by § 98.45(l). * * * * * (i) Matching funds are subject to the obligation and liquidation requirements at § 98.60(d)(4). ■ 8. Amend § 98.60 by revising paragraph (d)(5) introductory text to read as follows: § 98.60 Availability of funds. * * * * * (d) * * * (5) Except for paragraph (d)(6) of this section, determination of whether funds have been obligated and liquidated will be based on: * * * * * ■ 9. Amend § 98.70 by revising paragraph (d)(3) to read as follows: § 98.70 Reporting requirements. * * * * * (d) * * * (3) Annual quality progress reports under § 98.53(g). ■ 10. Amend § 98.83 by revising paragraph (d)(1)(xii) to read as follows: § 98.83 * Requirements for tribal programs. * * (d) * * * E:\FR\FM\24JNR1.SGM 24JNR1 * * 52398 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 121 / Monday, June 24, 2024 / Rules and Regulations (1) * * * (xii) The requirement to complete the quality progress report at § 98.53(g); * * * * * Elizabeth J. Gramling, Executive Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services. [FR Doc. 2024–13716 Filed 6–21–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 660 [Docket No. 240613–0161] RIN 0648–BM85 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; 2024 Harvest Specifications for Pacific Whiting and 2024 Pacific Whiting Tribal Allocation National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule. AGENCY: This rule implements the domestic 2024 harvest specifications for Pacific whiting fisheries off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California (collectively, the West Coast), including the 2024 Tribal allocation for the Pacific whiting fishery, the non-Tribal sector allocations, and a set-aside for incidental mortality in research activities and non-groundfish fisheries. NMFS issues this final rule for the 2024 Pacific whiting fishery under the authority of the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Pacific Whiting Act of 2006, and other applicable laws. These measures are intended to help prevent overfishing, achieve optimum yield, ensure that management measures are based on the best scientific information available, and provide for the implementation of Tribal treaty fishing rights. DATES: Effective June 24, 2024. ADDRESSES: lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES1 SUMMARY: Electronic Access This final rule is accessible via the internet at the Office of the Federal Register website at https:// www.federalregister.gov. Background information for this action and analytical documents for the VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:39 Jun 21, 2024 Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) are available at the NMFS West Coast Region website at: https:// www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/2024harvest-specifications-pacific-whitingand-2024-tribal-allocation. NEPA documents for West Coast groundfish actions are also available at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/westcoast/laws-and-policies/groundfishactions-nepa-documents and at the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s website at https://www.pcouncil.org. Additional background information for the Pacific Hake/Whiting Treaty can be found at: https:// www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/ laws-policies/pacific-hake-whitingtreaty. Jkt 262001 Colin Sayre, phone: 206–526–4656, and email: Colin.Sayre@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The transboundary stock of Pacific whiting is managed through the Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Canada on Pacific Hake/ Whiting of 2003 (Agreement). The Agreement establishes bilateral management bodies to implement the terms of the Agreement, including the Joint Management Committee (JMC), which recommends the annual catch limit for Pacific whiting. NMFS issued a proposed rule on April 30, 2024 (89 FR 34188) that describes the Agreement, including the establishment of F–40 percent default harvest rate, the explicit allocation of the Pacific whiting coastwide total allowable catch (TAC) to the United States (73.88 percent) and Canada (26.12 percent), the bilateral bodies to implement the terms of the Agreement, including the JMC, and the process used to determine the coastwide TAC under the Agreement, including adjusting the TAC for carryovers from the prior year. 2024 TAC Recommendation The Treaty’s Advisory Panel (AP) and the JMC met in Lynnwood, Washington February 27–29, 2024, to develop advice on a 2024 coastwide TAC. The AP provided its 2024 TAC recommendation to the JMC on February 29, 2024. The JMC reviewed the advice of the JTC, the Scientific Review Group (SRG), and the AP, and agreed on a TAC recommendation for transmittal to the United States and Canadian Governments. As detailed in the proposed rule (89 FR 34188, April 30, 2024), the PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 Agreement directs the JMC to base the catch limit recommendation on the F– 40 default harvest rate, unless scientific evidence demonstrates that a different harvest rate is necessary to sustain the offshore Pacific whiting resource. The F–40 default harvest rate is a fishing mortality rate that would reduce the spawning biomass of Pacific whiting to 40 percent of the estimated unfished level. After consideration of the 2024 stock assessment and other relevant scientific information, the JMC did not use the default harvest rate, and instead agreed on a more conservative approach. There were two primary reasons for choosing a TAC below the default harvest rate: (1) uncertainty regarding the size of the 2020 and 2021 year-classes led the JMC to conclude that using the default harvest rate could be too risky if these cohorts are smaller than estimated; and (2) the fact that the 2023 acoustic survey biomass was the third-lowest in the survey time series. The JMC concluded that both of these factors warranted setting the coastwide TAC below the 2023 value of 625,000 metric tons (mt), and lower than the level that would result from application of the F–40 default harvest rate. This conservative approach was endorsed by the AP and is consistent with Article III(1) of the Agreement. The Agreement allows an adjusted TAC when either country’s catch exceeds or is less than its TAC in the prior year. If the catch is in excess of the country’s TAC, the amount of the overage is deducted from that country’s TAC in the following year. If catch falls short of the country’s TAC, a portion of the shortfall is carried over and added to the country’s TAC for the following year. Under the Agreement, carryover adjustments cannot not exceed 15 percent of a party country’s unadjusted TAC for the year in which the shortfall occurred. In 2023, neither country fully attained their respective TACs. The percentage of the U.S. TAC attained for 2023 is detailed in the Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) (see the ADDRESSES section), which is summarized in the Classification section below. For the 2024 Pacific whiting fishery, the JMC recommended a coastwide TAC of 473,513 mt prior to adjustment. Based on Article III(2) of the Agreement, the 73.88 percent U.S. share of the unadjusted coastwide TAC is 349,831 mt. Consistent with Article II(5)(b) of the Agreement, a carryover of 60,203 mt was added to the U.S. share for an adjusted U.S. TAC of 410,034 mt. The 26.12 percent Canadian share of the unadjusted coastwide TAC, consistent with Article III(2) of the Agreement, is E:\FR\FM\24JNR1.SGM 24JNR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 121 (Monday, June 24, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52396-52398]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-13716]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

45 CFR Part 98

RIN 0970-AD02


Improving Child Care Access, Affordability, and Stability in the 
Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF); Corrections

AGENCY: Office of Child Care (OCC), Administration for Children and 
Families (ACF), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Correcting amendments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On March 1, 2024, the Department of Health and Human Services 
published a final rule to improve child care access, affordability, and 
stability in the Child Care and Development Fund. Some amendments in 
the final rule could not be incorporated due to technical inaccuracies 
in the instructions. Additionally, that document inadvertently failed 
to update certain amended cross-references. This document makes 
technical changes to correct the final regulations.

DATES: Effective on June 24, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Megan Campbell, Office of Child Care, 
202-690-6499 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ``Improving Child Care Access, 
Affordability, and Stability in the Child Care and Development Fund 
(CCDF)'' rule, published at 89 FR 15366 on March 1, 2024, included 
inaccurate amendatory instructions for Sec.  98.16 and inadvertently 
failed to update certain amended cross-references. This document 
corrects the final regulations.

List of Subjects in 45 CFR Part 98

    Child care, Grant programs--social programs.

    Accordingly, 45 CFR part 98 is corrected by making the following 
correcting amendments:

PART 98--CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT FUND

0
1. The authority citation for part 98 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  42 U.S.C. 618, 9858.


0
2. Amend Sec.  98.2 by revising the definition of Sliding fee scale to 
read as follows:


Sec.  98.2  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Sliding fee scale means a system of cost-sharing by a family based 
on income and size of the family, in accordance with Sec.  98.45(l);
* * * * *

0
3. Amend Sec.  98.16 by:
0
a. Revising paragraph (x);
0
b. Redesignating paragraphs (y) through (ii) as paragraphs (bb) through 
(ll);
0
c. Adding new paragraphs (y) through (aa); and
0
d. Revising newly redesignated paragraphs (ee), (ff), and (kk).
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  98.16  Plan revisions.

* * * * *
    (x) A description of the supply of child care available regardless 
of subsidy participation relative to the population of children 
requiring child care, including care for infants and toddlers, children 
with disabilities as defined by the Lead Agency, children who receive 
care during nontraditional hours, and children in underserved 
geographic areas, including the data sources used to identify shortages 
in the supply of child care providers;
    (y) A description of the Lead Agency's strategies and the actions 
it will take to address the supply shortages identified in paragraph 
(x) of this section and improve parent choice specifically for families 
eligible to participate in CCDF, including:
    (1) For families needing care during nontraditional hours, which 
may include strategies such as higher

[[Page 52397]]

payment rates, engaging with home-based child care networks, partnering 
with employers that have employees working nontraditional hours, and 
grants or contracts for direct services;
    (2) For families needing infant and toddler care, which must 
include grants or contracts for direct services pursuant to Sec.  
98.30(b) and described further in paragraph (z) of this section and may 
include additional strategies such as enhanced payment rates, training 
and professional development opportunities for the child care 
workforce, and engaging with staffed family child care networks and/or 
child care provider membership organizations;
    (3) For families needing care for children with disabilities, which 
must include grants or contracts for direct services pursuant to Sec.  
98.30(b) and described further in paragraph (z) of this section and may 
include additional strategies such as enhanced payment rates, training 
and professional development opportunities for the child care 
workforce, and engaging with staffed family child care networks and/or 
child care provider membership organizations;
    (4) For families in underserved geographic areas, which must 
include grants or contracts for direct services pursuant to Sec.  
98.30(b) and described further in paragraph (z) of this section and may 
include additional strategies such as enhanced payment rates, training 
and professional development opportunities for the child care 
workforce, and engaging with staffed family child care networks and/or 
child care provider membership organizations; and,
    (5) A method of tracking progress toward goals to increase supply 
and support equal access and parental choice;
    (z) A description of how the Lead Agency will use grants or 
contracts for direct services to achieve supply building goals for 
children in underserved geographic areas, infants and toddlers, 
children with disabilities as defined by the Lead Agency, and, at Lead 
Agency option, children who receive care during nontraditional hours. 
This must include a description of the proportion of the shortages for 
these groups would be filled by contracted or grant funded slots. Lead 
Agencies must continue to provide CCDF families the option to choose a 
certificate for the purposes of acquiring care;
    (aa) A description of how the Lead Agency will improve the quality 
of child care services for children in underserved geographic areas, 
infants and toddlers, children with disabilities as defined by the Lead 
Agency, and children who receive care during nontraditional hours;
* * * * *
    (ee) A description of generally-accepted payment practices 
applicable to providers of child care services for which assistance is 
provided under this part, pursuant to Sec.  98.45(m), including 
practices to ensure timely payment for services, to delink provider 
payments from children's occasional absences to the extent practicable, 
cover mandatory fees, and pay based on a full or part-time basis;
    (ff) A description of internal controls to ensure integrity and 
accountability, processes in place to investigate and recover 
fraudulent payments and to impose sanctions on clients or providers in 
response to fraud, and procedures in place to document and verify 
eligibility, pursuant to Sec.  98.68;
* * * * *
    (kk) A description of how the Lead Agency will respond to 
complaints submitted through the national hotline and website, required 
in section 658L(b) of the CCDBG Act of 2014 (42 U.S.C.9858j(b)), 
including the designee responsible for receiving and responding to such 
complaints regarding both licensed and license-exempt child care 
providers; and
* * * * *

0
4. Amend Sec.  98.21 by revising paragraph (b)(3) to read as follows:


Sec.  98.21  Eligibility determination processes.

    (b) * * *
    (3) A family meeting the conditions described in paragraph (b)(2) 
of this section shall be eligible for services pursuant to the 
conditions described in Sec.  98.20 and all other paragraphs of this 
section, with the exception of the co-payment restrictions at paragraph 
(a)(3) of this section. To help families transition off of child care 
assistance, Lead Agencies may gradually adjust co-pay amounts for 
families whose children are determined eligible under the graduated 
phase-out conditions described in paragraph (b)(2) and may require 
additional reporting on changes in family income as described in 
paragraph (h)(3) of this section, provided such requirements do not 
constitute an undue burden, pursuant to conditions described in 
paragraphs (h)(2)(ii) and (iii) of this section.
* * * * *

0
5. Amend Sec.  98.50 by revising paragraphs (a)(2) and (c)(2) to read 
as follows:


Sec.  98.50  Child care services.

    (a) * * *
    (2) Using a sliding fee scale, as described in Sec.  98.45(l);
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (2) Must include measurable indicators of progress in accordance 
with Sec.  98.53(g); and
* * * * *

0
6. Amend Sec.  98.53 by revising paragraph (a) introductory text to 
read as follows:


Sec.  98.53  Activities to improve the quality of child care.

    (a) The Lead Agency must expend funds from each fiscal year's 
allotment on quality activities pursuant to Sec. Sec.  98.50(b) and 
98.83(g) in accordance with an assessment of need by the Lead Agency. 
Such funds must be used to carry out at least one of the following 
quality activities to improve the quality of child care services for 
all children, regardless of CCDF receipt, in accordance with paragraph 
(e) of this section:
* * * * *

0
7. Amend Sec.  98.55 by revising paragraphs (g)(2) and (i) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  98.55  Matching fund requirements.

* * * * *
    (g) * * *
    (2) Family contributions to the cost of care as required by Sec.  
98.45(l).
* * * * *
    (i) Matching funds are subject to the obligation and liquidation 
requirements at Sec.  98.60(d)(4).

0
8. Amend Sec.  98.60 by revising paragraph (d)(5) introductory text to 
read as follows:


Sec.  98.60  Availability of funds.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (5) Except for paragraph (d)(6) of this section, determination of 
whether funds have been obligated and liquidated will be based on:
* * * * *

0
9. Amend Sec.  98.70 by revising paragraph (d)(3) to read as follows:


Sec.  98.70  Reporting requirements.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (3) Annual quality progress reports under Sec.  98.53(g).

0
10. Amend Sec.  98.83 by revising paragraph (d)(1)(xii) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  98.83  Requirements for tribal programs.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *

[[Page 52398]]

    (1) * * *
    (xii) The requirement to complete the quality progress report at 
Sec.  98.53(g);
* * * * *

Elizabeth J. Gramling,
Executive Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 2024-13716 Filed 6-21-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P


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