---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 9859"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "9859"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/9859"
units:
  - "Chapter 105 — Community Services Programs"
  - "Subchapter II–C — Child Care Safety and Health Grants"
---

# §9859. Definitions


In this subchapter:

- (1) **Child with a disability; infant or toddler with a disability—** The terms “[child with a disability](/usc/42/9832.md?p=1)” and “infant or toddler with a disability” have the meanings given the terms in sections 1401 and 1431 of title 20.
- (2) **Eligible child care provider—** The term “eligible child care provider” means a provider of child care services for compensation, including a provider of care for a school-age child during non-school hours, that—
  - (A) is licensed, regulated, registered, or otherwise legally operating, under [State](/usc/42/9832.md?p=25) and local law; and
  - (B) satisfies the [State](/usc/42/9832.md?p=25) and local requirements,

  applicable to the child care services the provider provides.

- (3) **Secretary—** The term “[Secretary](/usc/42/9832.md?p=24)” means the [Secretary](/usc/42/9832.md?p=24) of Health and Human Services.
- (4) **State—** The term “[State](/usc/42/9832.md?p=25)” means any of the several [States](/usc/42/9832.md?p=25) of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–310, div. A, title XIV, § 1401, Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat. 1143.)