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- Referred to children and families
- Referred to children and families
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Authorizes the office of children and family services to promulgate rules and regulations to establish differential market rates applicable to accredited child care
In Assembly Committee · Children And Families · Sponsor Joan Christensen
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to authorizing the office of children and family services to establish differential market rates applicable to accredited child care programs
Purpose
To support quality child care centers through a differential market rate for accredited child day care centers and family child day care homes.
Summary of provisions
Amends Section 390 of the Social Services Law by adding a new subdivision 12-a. The new subdivision 12-a directs OCFS to adopt regulations establishing differential market rates for child care programs accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the National Association of Family Child Care, or any other nationally recognized child care accrediting body. Such programs will receive a reimbursement rate for the provision of services that is up to 50% higher than the local market rate set forth by the office.
Existing law
Currently, market rates are set in regulation for each county in New York State for day care centers, family day care, group family day care, and school-aged child care. The market rates are the fees that are paid to the providers by the localities, for the children who qualify for day care subsidies. There is a set rate for all providers, regardless of any accreditation the provider has received.
Justification
National child care accrediting bodies, such as the National Association for the Education of Young Children set standards of quality that exceed those set in state regulation. Accreditation sets high standards for professional practice and engages programs in a continuous process of improvement to provide high-quality standards. A differential market rate for accredited programs would serve as an incentive to child care programs to become accredited, allow more low income children to access higher quality child care, and help child care programs currently accredited afford the higher costs associated with providing such care.
Child care program accreditation in early childhood and school-aged care is a recognized and effective strategy to improve children's learning opportunities. This practice also holds providers accountable for providing a higher quality of child care.
Currently, the National Association for the Education of Young Children accredits 296 child care programs in New York State. A differential market rate will allow these programs to grow, as well as encourage other programs to seek accreditation.
Legislative history
2007/09: S.3152 - Died in Committee 2005/06: S.1320 - Died in Committee 2003/04: S.1636 - Died in Committee
Fiscal implications
Currently 296 child care programs in New York State are accredited. Under this legislation they would receive up to 50% higher reimbursement for each qualified child. The cost to the state depends on the exact rate set in each county and the number of qualified children receiving care in these accredited facilities.
Effective date
On the 180th day after becoming law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.