Directs the office of children and family services to study and report on the availability of child day care for working parents

Summary of provisions

Section 1: Adds a new section to direct the Office of Children and Family Services to conduct a study that includes an evaluation and recommendations for the availability of child care services in New York State. OCFS shall review the impact of the lack of childcare upon women in poverty trying to enter the workforce.

Specifically, this section directs OCFS, when conducting this study, to:

*Establish an inventory of child daycare for working families and those in or near poverty;

*Identify geographic shortage areas, taking in to account provider waiting lists, and calculate projections of daycare needs based on regional birth rates, employment rates and population growth;

*Compare, on a statewide and regional basis, the current demand for daycare as well as its need over the next five years, analyzing whether the current projected growth rate of providers is sufficient to meet the need;

*Assess the cost of daycare to parents and guardians on a regional basis;

*Identify childcare access needs statewide and regionally for parents working nontraditional hours, such as night and swing shifts;

*Identify policies that would increase the number and capacity of childcare providers;

*Identify policies that would increase the number of childcare providers in neighborhoods and communities where low-income families live or work; and

*Identify and quantify factors that contribute to a quality day care and are used to identify violations by day care providers, and procedures for establishing quality child care in those communities with the greatest need.

Section 2: Authorizes OCFS to request and receive any additional information from any state agency it deems relevant and material to the study.

Section 3: Directs the Commissioner to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature, within one year of this act becoming law, on the study's findings, conclusions and recommendations. The Commissioner shall also submit proposed legislation to implement the recommendations. The report is to be made publicly available on the OCFS website.

Section 4: Provides the effective date and repeal of such act after the report required under this act had been completed and filed.

Justification

Lack of access to affordable, quality childcare is a major impediment for women who would like to enter and stay in the workforce. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are approximately 4.3 million working women in New York State. Of those, 1.2 million are working mothers. However, there have only been about 19,000 licensed providers across the state over the last decade, according to the Office of Children and Family Services. Parents, who are unable to afford licensed day care providers or programs, are sometimes forced to choose between placing their children with less reliable options or leaving them home alone. Some parents are forced to reduce work hours or quit jobs altogether to remain home and care for their children.

This study is an important step in quantifying the existing need in New York State by region. It not only looks at the number of providers, but also the cost, quality, transportation barriers in getting to and from work, home and the provider, and the hours served. Only about 1,600 day care centers provide overnight and other nontraditional hours of care. The latter are especially important to working mothers, as they often need to work such shifts to provide for their families. These women desperately need child care assistance, as they make up a majority of families in poverty.

Of all the economic empowerment building blocks for women, increasing the availability of quality affordable child care is one of the most vital. According to the Capital District Educational Opportunity Center, lack of affordable child care is the number one reason why women are not able to choose a different career path that can include or lead to higher paying careers in industries such as the building trades and other expanding industries.

This legislation is fundamentally needed for the economic security and empowerment of working women and low-income families.

Legislative history

2013-14: S.5250-A/A.7898-A - Passed Senate/Children & Families Committee

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately, and shall expire and be deemed repealed one year after it shall take effect.