Bill · S. 3862· Senate(119-S-3862)
Payment Integrity Act
- Introduced
- 2/12/2026
- Last activity
- 2/12/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Sponsored by
- Ted Cruz
- Cosponsors
- - 3 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Payment Integrity Act," seeks to amend the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990. It introduces requirements for how States handle payments to child care providers. Specifically, it mandates that payments be based on verified attendance in a program rather than just enrollment. The bill also clarifies the timing of these payments. It ensures that lead agencies are not required to pay providers before services are actually provided.
Yes
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?+1
The bill promotes fiscal responsibility by ensuring payments are tied to verified service delivery rather than mere enrollment.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+1
The bill increases transparency in how state agencies verify and pay for child care services.
The opposite
Would business owners be better off under this?-2
Child care providers may experience negative impacts on liquidity due to the shift to attendance-based payments.
Does this make it easier to run a small business?-2
Child care providers may face cash flow challenges since they can no longer receive payments prior to providing services.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Verification of Services: The bill requires the lead agency to provide payment based on verified attendance rather than enrollment alone, using attendance records or other reasonable methods (Section 2, subsection (c)(2)(S)). This ensures payments are tied to actual service delivery.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Changes to Payment Timing: The bill states that a lead agency is not required to make a payment to a child care provider prior to the provision of child care services (Section 2, subsection (e)). This clarifies that payments may occur after the services have been provided.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners-2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Fiscal Responsibility+1Improves Small Business Support-2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+1
- 2/24/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/12/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
Bill HagertyRepublican · Tennessee
Mike LeeRepublican · Utah
Rick ScottRepublican · Florida