; regulations (a) Effective date Except as provided in section 4(d), the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on January 1, 2022. (b) Option To accelerate funding (1) In general If the Secretary of Health and Human Services receives from a State, Indian tribe, or unit of local government, a written notice, in such form and manner and containing such information as the Secretary shall require, that the State, Indian tribe, or unit of local government is operating, or wishes to operate, an employment assistance program, then, during the period beginning on the first day of the first fiscal quarter that begins on or after the date that the Secretary receives such notice and ending on December 31, 2021, the Secretary shall make payments to the State, Indian tribe, or unit of local government under paragraph (3). (2) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Employment assistance program The term employment assistance program means a program operated by a State, Indian tribe, or local government that provides qualified program assistance, including a program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) or any other State, tribal, or local program financed with Federal funds. (B) Qualified program assistance The term qualified program assistance means employment services, training and other services and activities, or supportive services (as such terms are defined in section 1301(b) of the Social Security Act, as added by section 3), including any such services designed to reemploy individuals who are unemployed or underemployed for reasons related to COVID-19, but shall not include any employment services, training and other services and activities or supportive services that cannot be provided in a manner that is safe for both program administrators and participants due to a COVID–19 outbreak. (3) Payments (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall pay to any State, Indian tribe, or local government that has a notice in effect under paragraph (1) for a