{"data":{"id":"us-mt/52-2-1003","jurisdiction":"us-mt","citation":"52-2-1003","heading":"Eligible uses of Montana early childhood account.","body":"(1) The Montana early childhood account board established in 52-2-1001 shall use the money in the Montana early childhood account provided for in 52-2-1002 to fund services and activities under the eligibility criteria below approved by the Montana early childhood account board established in 52-2-1001.\n(2) Eligible purposes for which the board may authorize include:\n(a) early care and education provider support and workforce development, including:\n(i) technical assistance grants that offer funding to start or expand child-care businesses, community-level partnerships, and program access strategies;\n(ii) grants to support early childhood postsecondary education, certifications, apprenticeship, training, and continuing education to grow the workforce of early childhood professionals; and\n(iii) recruitment and retention grants to provide workforce benefits, stipends, or supplements to retain qualified workers;\n(b) quality improvement initiatives, including accreditation support, curriculum development, safety upgrades, and supports for infants, toddlers, and children with special needs;\n(c) affordability initiatives, including expansion of licensed before-school and after-school care, the state child care subsidy program, and temporary child care assistance programs for families facing sudden financial hardship;\n(d) innovation initiatives, including community child-care expansion programs and early learning and early childhood intervention access programs; and\n(e) emergency assistance and disaster relief programs for impacted child-care facilities.\n(3) In administering funding from the early childhood account, the board shall:\n(a) determine funding priorities for services and activities using the department of public health and human services' early childhood system strategic plan and comprehensive fiscal analysis;\n(b) establish further criteria for the receipt of program funds;\n(c) monitor the expenditure of funds by organizations receiving funds under this section; and\n(d) evaluate the efficacy of services and activities funded under this section.\n(4) By September 1 of each year, the department shall report to the education interim committee and the children, families, health, and human services interim committee in accordance with 5-11-210 on the services and activities funded under this section.","path":["TITLE 52. FAMILY SERVICES","CHAPTER 2. CHILDREN'S SERVICES","Part 10. Montana Early Childhood Board"],"source_url":"https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0520/chapter_0020/part_0100/section_0030/0520-0020-0100-0030.html","current_through":"Montana Code Annotated 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T04:56:50Z","sha256":"bc1b6de7d15a4ea15f1b79e0417924a9190d062ed0ecd3772bd50a957cfbf9cc","source_id":"us-mt","stale":false,"prev":"us-mt/52-2-1002","next":"us-mt/52-2-1004"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}