42 USC § 9858o - Parental rights and responsibilities

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s9858o"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 9858o - Parental rights and responsibilities"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "9858o"
section_name: "Parental rights and responsibilities"
chapter_number: 105
chapter_name: "COMMUNITY SERVICES PROGRAMS"
subchapter_number: "II–B"
subchapter_name: "CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
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.)"
---


# § 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 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; 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 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.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2014—Subsec. (a).  designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, and added subsec. (b).

1992— and  made identical technical corrections to directory language of , which added this section.