1. A. An award under the Fund:

   1. (1) Shall be applied only toward a:

      1. (a) Fee required for national accreditation; or
      2. (b) A program improvement cost;

   2. (2) May be made only to:

      1. (a) An approved accrediting organization on behalf of a provider for the actual expense of the application fee; or
      2. (b) The provider as reimbursement for a program improvement cost;

   3. (3) May not be:

      1. (a) Used for costs incurred by the applicant for:

         1. (i) Facility improvement; or
         2. (ii) Staff training; or

      2. (b) Made for an amount greater than the actual amount of the:

         1. (i) Fee charged by the accreditation organization; or
         2. (ii) Program improvement cost; and

   4. (4) May not exceed:

      1. (a) $1,500 for a family child care provider;
      2. (b) $2,500 for a child care center serving 100 or fewer children; or
      3. (c) $3,000 for a child care center serving more than 100 children.
2. B. This Fund may not pay for the cost of an accreditation fee or a program improvement cost if that cost is already covered by another funding source.
3. C. An award may not be made to a provider who has already received an award under the Fund but who has not completed the accreditation process.
4. D. The Office may approve reimbursement of a cost only if it was incurred within 12 months before the date of application for accreditation support.

Authority: Family Law Article, §§5-551 and 5-573, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: July 1, 2001 (28:12 Md. R. 1105)

Transferred from COMAR 07.04.10 to 13A.14.10 effective January 1, 2006

Regulation .02B amended effective May 16, 2011 (38:10 Md. R. 616)

Regulation .03 amended effective May 16, 2011 (38:10 Md. R. 616)

Regulation .04 amended effective May 16, 2011 (38:10 Md. R. 616)