Relates to permitting local social services districts to prohibit certain informal child care providers from receiving funds as part of the child care block grant program

2 Co-sponsors

• Martin J. Golden
• Timothy M. Kennedy

BILL NUMBER:S7055

Title of bill

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to allowing social services districts to prohibit informal daycare providers with an indicated report on file with the statewide central register or a felony conviction at any time for a sex offense, crime against a child, or a crime involving violence

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill allows social services districts to prohibit informal child care providers who are the subject of a report of child abuse or maltreatment on file with the statewide central registry, or have a felony conviction at any time for a sex offense, crime against a child, or a crime involving violence, or a felony conviction within the past five years for a drug-related offense, from receiving funds as part of the child care block grant program.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 of the bill amends section 410-x of the Social Services Law by adding subdivisions 9 and 10.

*Subdivision 9 allows local social services districts to prohibit informal child care providers who are the subject of an indicated report on file with the statewide central register from providing child care services funded under the block grant.

*Subdivision 10 allows local social services districts to prohibit informal child care providers who have a felony conviction at any time for a sex offense, crime against a child, or a crime involving violence, or a felony conviction within the past five years for a drug-related offense from providing child care services funded under the block grant.

Section 2: Effective Date.

Justification

Social Services law currently requires that operators of a licensed or registered child day care provider have their criminal history background checked, as well as statewide central register clearance. There is not a similar statute for informal providers (legally-exempt family child care and legally-exempt in-home care) funded by the New York State Child Care Block Grant (NYCCBG). NYCCBG, funded by taxpayer dollars, should not support child care from providers who have an indicated report on file with the statewide central register or have a felony conviction at any time for a sex offense, crime against a child, or a crime involving violence, or a felony conviction within the past five years for a drug-related offense. These criteria are similar to what licensed or registered child day care providers have currently in place.

This is one in a series of measures being introduced at the request of the Erie County Executive upon the recommendation of the county's Commissioner of Social Services to improve the provision of child protective services to New York's children and families.

Prior legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

Increased costs related to background checks.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the first day of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.