What effective dates are specified in the law?

The law includes a number of new program requirements.  In some cases, the law specifies a particular date when a provision is effective.  Provisions with a specific effective date are listed below.  Where the law does not specify a date, the new requirements are effective upon the date of enactment of the law.  On January 9, 2015, ACF published a Program instruction (CCDF-ACF-PI-2015-02) with detailed guidance on effective dates, including a timeline outlining the dates below:

• Raising the minimum quality spending requirement from 4 to 9%: Phased-in over a 5-year period beginning in FY 2016 and incrementally rising thereafter.
• Additional 3% quality set-aside for infants and toddlers: Starting in FY 2017 and each succeeding fiscal year thereafter.
• Criminal background checks for all child care providers: September 30, 2017.
• Monitoring of licensing and regulatory requirements for providers serving CCDF children: November 19, 2016.
• Posting results of monitoring and inspection reports on a public website: Earlier of November 19, 2017 or 1 year after implementation of required monitoring policies.
• State compliance with priority for services for underserved populations: September 30, 2016. 

The Program Instruction on effective dates can be found on the Office of Child Care website.