What's happening
This bill requires New York to study and develop strategies to expand child care access, especially in economically distressed areas.
Why it matters
Recognizes child care as essential economic infrastructure. The bill asserts that quality child care is fundamental not just for families, but also for the broader economic growth and future workforce development in New York.
Targets support to areas of greatest need. By focusing on “economically distressed areas” (defined through indicators like unemployment, poverty rates, and low income), the bill ensures resources and study efforts are directed where access to child care is most limited and could have the most impact.
Broad evaluation of economic impacts and current barriers. The required study will assess not just the availability and capacity of child care programs, but also the financial burdens on families, effects on worker retention and productivity, and how lack of child care access impacts both businesses and employees.
Pushes for integration of child care into economic development policy. The bill aims to make child care a key consideration in economic development programs, encouraging business incentives (like on-site child care) and potentially tying support or incentives to child care access, thus embedding family needs into the state’s broader economic strategy.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand Child Care Access
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
4 Co-sponsors
History
- Substituted by S5690
- Amended on third reading 2315a
- Advanced to third reading cal.164
- Reported
- Referred to economic development
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.
Expand Child Care Access
Vetoed · Sponsor James Sanders Jr.
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2315--A Cal. No. 164
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 22, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES, BARRON, VANEL, RAYNOR -- read once and referred to the Committee on Economic Development -- reported from committee, advanced to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the New York state urban development corporation act, in relation to evaluation and assistance to increase access to child care
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 1 of chapter 174 of the laws of 1968, constituting the New York state urban development corporation act, is amended by adding a new section 54 to read as follows:
§ 54. Evaluation and assistance to increase access to child care. (1) The legislature hereby finds that access to quality child care is an important element of the state's economy for working families, and that child care providers comprise a large sector in New York state's economy. The legislature further finds that the potential for future growth in the state is often linked to the next generation's achievements. The ability to obtain such achievements are strengthened by the availability and adequacy of early childhood education. The legislature declares that it is crucial for the governor and legislature to obtain reliable, objective information about the economic benefits of investing in child care programs, specifically in low-income neighborhoods with pervasive poverty and high unemployment rates.
(2) For the purposes of this section:
(a) "economically distressed areas" shall mean areas as determined by the corporation meeting criteria indicative of economic distress, including high unemployment rate; high rate of employment change; percentages and numbers of low-income persons; per capita income and per capita real property wealth; and such other indicators of distress as the corporation shall determine. Economically distressed areas may
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04236-02-9
A. 2315--A 2
include cities, municipalities, block numbering areas, and census tracts.
(b) "child care" shall mean any licensed, registered or regulated child care program as defined by section three hundred ninety of the social services law.
(3) The corporation, in collaboration with the office of children and family services, the office of temporary and disability assistance, and if practicable, local social services districts, shall identify a total of five economically distressed areas throughout the state to evaluate child care programs which are intended to serve the needs of low-income working families. In its evaluation, the corporation shall:
(a) determine the availability and capacity of child care programs throughout the state as well as the impact these businesses have on the economic development of the surrounding area;
(b) determine the financial obligations related to child care facing working families;
(c) determine the available financial resources for working families with children related to child care;
(d) determine the economic impact of child care on employed persons or persons in an educational program;
(e) determine the financial impact that lack of access to child care has on businesses and the impact that it has on worker retention, productivity and other appropriate factors;
(f) determine existing state resources available for businesses and employed persons to assist with child care costs; and
(g) determine what incentives exist for businesses to provide child care opportunities to their employees including on-site child care programs.
(4) Upon completion of the study as required by subdivision three of this section, the corporation, in collaboration with the office of children and family services, the office of temporary and disability assistance, and if practicable, local social services districts, shall identify and develop a strategy for the expansion and creation of child care programs in the five economically distressed areas through the various programs of the corporation. To the extent possible, the corporation shall also determine ways to incentivize businesses to create and expand the availability of child care programs. The corporation shall determine a strategy to include child care as a criteria component for existing and new economic development programs when feasible.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.