<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="ged" article_name="Education" number="9.5-316" title_number="9.5" title_name="Division of Early Childhood Development" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Family Child Care Homes and Large Family Child Care Homes">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The funds shall consist of:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Money specifically appropriated for the Direct Grant Fund; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Any other money made available to the Direct Grant Fund.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The Direct Grant Fund shall be used to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Pay all expenses and disbursements authorized by the Department for administering the Direct Grant Fund; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Make grants to family child care providers.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>In making grants under this subtitle, consideration shall be given to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Geographic distribution;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Community need; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Family income, with priority given to those families with the lowest income.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The amount of State general funds expended for grants to family child care providers from the Direct Grant Fund may not exceed $50,000 in each year.</text>
  </level>
</section>
