Section 47.25.001 - [See Note] Powers and duties(a) The department shall(1) implement and administer a program to assist in providing child care for the children of low and moderate income families according to the requirements of AS 47.25.001 - 47.25.095;(2) establish standards of eligibility for child care benefits; the standards must provide that the maximum monthly household income for a family to be eligible for the program is 105 percent of the median monthly household income in the state, adjusted for family size, unless the family is otherwise exempt from income eligibility requirements;(3) contract for the care of children of eligible families;(4) establish procedures to periodically review the needs of families receiving child care benefits;(5) provide notification to the local government body of the request for a contract with a child care facility;(6) establish an electronic application for assistance and allow an applicant to submit an application in electronic format or in other formats required by state and federal law; the electronic application must inform an applicant that a false statement made on the application will be investigated and is punishable under AS 11.56.210;(7) establish a program to partner with private sector entities to create incentives for employers to develop on-site or near-site child care.(b) The department may (1) adopt regulations necessary for the performance of its duties under AS 47.25.001 - 47.25.095;(2) contract with other entities to perform duties of the department under AS 47.25.001 - 47.25.095 within an area specified by the department; within an area, the department shall give higher priority to contracting with municipalities than with other organizations.Amended by SLA 2024, ch. 15,sec. 31, eff. only if, on or before 1/1/2026, the United States Department of Health and Human Services approves the amendment to the state plan for the child care assistance program under the federal child care and development fund program, consistent with AS 47.25.001(a), as amended by sec. 31 of this Act; or determines that approval of the amendment to the state plan for the child care assistance program is not necessary. op. on the day after the date the United States Department of Health and Human Services approves the corresponding amendment to the state plan or determines that approval is not necessary.Amended by SLA 2022, ch. 19,sec. 3, eff. 7/1/2022.This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.