---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 9858o"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "9858o"
heading: "Parental rights and responsibilities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/9858o"
units:
  - "Chapter 105 — Community Services Programs"
  - "Subchapter II–B — Child Care and Development Block Grant"
---

# §9858o. Parental rights and responsibilities

- (a) **In general—** Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed or applied in any manner to infringe on or usurp the moral and legal rights and responsibilities of [parents](/usc/42/9858n.md?p=10) or legal guardians.
- (b) **Parental rights to use child care certificates—** Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed in a manner—
  - (1) to favor or promote the use of grants and contracts for the receipt of child care services under this subchapter over the use of [child care certificates](/usc/42/9858n.md?p=2); or
  - (2) to disfavor or discourage the use of such certificates for the purchase of child care services, including those services provided by private or [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) entities, such as faith-based providers.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 97–35, title VI, § 658Q, as added Pub. L. 101–508, title V, § 5082(2), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–249; amended Pub. L. 102–401, § 3(a), Oct. 7, 1992, 106 Stat. 1959; Pub. L. 102–586, § 8(c)(1), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5036; Pub. L. 113–186, § 11, Nov. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 2001.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2014—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 113–186 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, and added subsec. (b).

1992—Pub. L. 102–401 and Pub. L. 102–586 made identical technical corrections to directory language of Pub. L. 101–508, § 5082(2), which added this section.