What's happening
Writing a plain-English summary… Track this bill to get it by email.
Why it matters
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.233
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading cal.564
- Substituted for A3657
- Referred to social services
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 32–30
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.74
Show 1 earlier action
- 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.
Provides that no applicant, or recipient of, child care assistance shall be required to pursue a court order for child support to qualify for child care assistance
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor William Scarborough
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 eligibility requirements for child care assistance
Purpose or general idea of bill
To reduce barriers to accessing child care for low-income families.
Summary of specific provisions
This legislation would amend §410-w of the Social Services Law by adding a new subdivision six.
Justification
Current regulation requires parents seeking child care subsidies to first obtain a court order for child support. No statutory authority exists permitting a regulation of this kind. In addition, this requirement has had a devastating impact on the ability of low-income families to access crucial child care necessary to maintain employment and preserve financial security. According to a survey conducted by the Welfare Reform Network Child Care Committee of 86 ACS centers in Brooklyn and the Bronx, three out of four center directors said that the child support requirement had resulted in the loss of single-parent applications. The child support requirement presents an enormous burden to parents having already established voluntary child support arrangements with the non-custodial parent by placing an unnecessary strain on that relationship. For parents not currently receiving child support, a variety of conflicting and even dangerous circumstances may exist that make contact with the non-custodial parent undesirable. Non-custodial immigrant parents with outstanding immigration status issues may also face a threat of deportation if they become involved in Family Court proceedings. The process necessary to obtain a court order for child support can be stressful for families already struggling with issues including employment, housing, transportation and food security. Many times, these parents cannot afford to miss a day of work to go to court and many give up on child care assistance as soon as they learn of the requirement. These families may turn to unregulated day care with questionable quality and safety access to child care is vital to uplift families from financial uncertainty and provide crucial early learning skills and promote positive development for children. As day care providers struggle with under-enrollment, more and more families are turning away from quality care due to the unnecessary strains of current regulation. Easing the process for these parents will produce a benefit to the parent, child, provider and the community.
Prior legislative history
2008: Passed the Assembly; New introduction in the Senate.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.