1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Child and Dependent Care Modernization Act of 2019 . 2. Increase in exclusion for employer-provided dependent care assistance (a) In general Section 129(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended— (1) by striking shall not exceed in subparagraph (A) and all that follows and inserting the following: shall not exceed— (i) $8,000 (half such dollar amount in the case of a separate return by a married individual) if there is 1 qualifying individual with respect to the taxpayer during such taxable year, or (ii) $16,000 (half such dollar amount in the case of such a separate return) if there are 2 or more qualifying individuals with respect to the taxpayer during such taxable year. , and (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (D) Qualifying individual For purposes of this paragraph, the term qualifying individual has the meaning given to such term under section 21(b)(1). . (b) Inflation adjustment Section 129(a)(2) of such Code is amended by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D) and by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph: (C) Inflation adjustment In the case of any taxable year beginning in a calendar year after 2020, the dollar amounts in subparagraph (A) shall each be increased by an amount equal to— (i) such dollar amount, multiplied by (ii) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, determined by substituting calendar year 2019 for calendar year 2016 in subparagraph (A)(ii) thereof. Any increase determined under the preceding sentence shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $100. . (c) Effective date The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019. 3. Carryforward for dependent care flexible spending arrangement account balance (a) In general Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by redesignating subsections (k) and (l) as subsections (l) and (m),