What's happening
This bill requires reimbursement for child care payments when children are absent, with minimum and maximum allowable days set by regulation.
Why it matters
Stabilizes child care provider funding. By requiring payments even when children are absent (within set limits), the bill helps ensure that providers have predictable income and can maintain staff and operations, which is crucial for the stability of the child care sector.
Supports working families. Guaranteeing reimbursement for absences reduces the risk that providers will turn away families whose children have irregular attendance due to illness or family emergencies, making it easier for parents to keep their child care slots even during challenging times.
Limits and flexibility set by regulation. The minimum and maximum allowable absence days are defined, but the Office of Children and Family Services retains authority to adjust these limits and to allow additional paid absences in cases of extenuating circumstances, ensuring the policy can adapt to real-world needs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Guarantee Child Care Absence Pay
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to children and families
- Reported and committed to rules
- 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.
Pay Providers for Child Absences
In Senate Committee · Rules · Sponsor Ellen C. Jaffee
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5448
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 29, 2017
Introduced by Sen. AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Children and Families
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to reimbursement for child care absences
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 410-x of the social services law is amended by adding a new subdivision 9 to read as follows:
9. Reimbursement for payment on behalf of children who are temporarily absent from child care is required for a minimum of twelve days in a six month period. A maximum number of absences, which shall be no less than twenty-four days in a six month period shall be determined by the office of children and family services pursuant to regulation. Reimbursement for additional absences shall be allowable in the case of extenuating circumstances, as determined by the office of children and family services pursuant to regulation.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07564-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to reimbursement for child care absences
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill will ensure child care providers receive reimbursement adequate to maintain a stable business.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one would require that local social services districts make payments to providers for at least 12 absences in a 6 month period. OCFS would define the maximum number of absences allowed for reimbursement, which would not be less than 24 absences in a 6 month period, unless extenuating circumstances exist.
Section three of the bill would set an effective date of the first of April next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Justification
Local social services districts can opt to withhold a portion of subsidy reimbursement from a provider for days in which a child is absent from care. While state regulations allow up to 12 days in absences for each child in any one calendar month, most if not all of these counties choose not to pay providers when children do not attend. This creates fiscal uncertainty for many providers, leading to difficulty with staff retention and optimal quality care. Therefore, this bill would require local social services districts to pay for at least 6 absences in order to maintain stability among child care programs.
Prior legislative history
A5381A - 2011-12 A8926 -2013-14
Fiscal implications
Undetermined
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.