Create Child Care Taskforce

Section 1. Subdivisions 2, 3 and 4 of section 390-k of the social services law, as added by a chapter of the laws of 2017 amending the social services law relating to establishing a child care availability taskforce to evaluate the need for and availability of child care throughout the state, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 5929-A and A. 7726-A, are amended to read as follows:

2. The taskforce shall be chaired by a representative of the executive chamber and the commissioners of the office of children and family services and [the office of temporary and disability assistance] the department of labor, or their designees. Members of the taskforce shall serve without compensation for three year terms, but may be reimbursed for actual costs incurred for participation on such taskforce. Ensuring adequate geographic representation, members of the taskforce shall be appointed by the governor and comprised as follows:

(a) [two] three individuals shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the speaker of the assembly, at least one of whom shall be a parent who has utilized subsidized child care;

(b) [two] three individuals shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the temporary president of the senate, at least one of whom shall be a parent who has utilized subsidized child care;

(c) two representatives of a child care resource and referral agency;

(d) two representatives of home-based child care providers;

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD11372-05-8

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(e) two representatives of center-based child care providers; [and]

(f) two representatives from the business community;

(g) two representatives from unions that represent child care providers; and

(h) at least one representative from each of the following entities:

(i) the office of temporary and disability assistance;

(ii) the council on children and families;

(iii) the department of taxation and finance;

(iv) a regional economic development council;

(v) the state university of New York or the city university of New York;

(vi) the state education department;

(vii) the early childhood advisory council;

(viii) a social service district or county government or an entity that advocates on behalf of social services or county governments; and

(ix) a non-profit child care advocacy organization.

3. The taskforce shall examine the following:

(a) [access to subsidized child care, including the percentage of the eligible population receiving a child care subsidy] affordable child care with a focus on the cost of care for families and factors that contribute to such costs;

(b) [cost of care for families eligible for but not receiving a child care subsidy] access to and availability of subsidized child care, including the identification of barriers families eligible under state law face obtaining or utilizing such subsidies;

(c) availability of child care for non-traditional work hours;

(d) whether parents are voluntarily leaving the workforce due to lack of affordable or accessible child care, and the demographic information of such parents, if known;

(e) whether employers have identified lack of child care as a reason for a shortage of a qualified workforce;

(f) the impact of child care, or lack thereof, on economic development throughout the state;

(g) varying levels of quality of care throughout the state;

(h) availability of quality child care by economic development region including identification of underserved communities;

[(h)] (i) whether regulatory or statutory changes could promote access to child care and improve health and safety standards in child care programs;

(j) business incentives to increase child care access and the impact on tax credits and deductions relating to child care;

(k) ways to address concerns identified in [paragraphs (a) through (g)] the course of the examination required by this subdivision; and

[(i)] (l) anything else the taskforce deems necessary.

4. The taskforce shall report its interim findings and recommendations in accordance with subdivision three of this section to the governor, the speaker of the assembly and the temporary president of the senate no later than November first, two thousand eighteen and its final findings and recommendations no later than December thirty-first, two thousand [seventeen, and annually thereafter] twenty.

§ 2. Section 2 of a chapter of the laws of 2017 amending the social services law relating to establishing a child care availability taskforce to evaluate the need for and availability of child care throughout the state, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 5929-A and A. 7726-A, is amended to read as follows:

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§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire December 31, 2021 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed.

§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that section one of this act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2017 amending the social services law relating to establishing a child care availability taskforce to evaluate the need for and availability of child care throughout the state, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 5929-A and A. 7726-A, takes effect.