What's happening
This bill requires New York to implement a model for estimating the actual costs of child care and regularly report these findings.
Why it matters
Creates a more accurate picture of child care costs. By requiring the use of a detailed cost estimation model, the bill ensures that the state moves beyond relying solely on market rates, which may not reflect the true expenses providers face (like salaries, facility maintenance, and quality standards). This can highlight gaps in funding and the actual financial pressures on child care providers.
Links funding to quality and special needs. The model must account for different levels of care quality (such as those identified by a quality rating system) and care for children with special needs. This may help justify and target increased funding for higher-quality or more specialized care, potentially improving outcomes for children and families.
Mandates regular, transparent reporting. The requirement for biennial reporting to both state leadership and the public increases transparency. This regular disclosure could inform policy adjustments, empower advocates, and help families and providers understand how state support aligns with actual costs.
Involves key stakeholders in model development. By mandating consultation with child care providers, resource agencies, and advisory councils, the bill seeks to ground the cost estimation model in real-world experience and expertise, which can improve its accuracy and legitimacy.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Track Real Child Care Costs
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
15 Co-sponsors
3 Multi-sponsors
History
- Tabled
- Vetoed memo.197
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- 3rd reading cal.1119
- Substituted for S245A
- Referred to finance
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Advanced to third reading cal.374
- Reported
Show 2 earlier actions
- Reported referred to ways and means
- 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.
Track Child Care Costs
Senate Floor Calendar · Sponsor Timothy M. Kennedy
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
580
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. JAFFEE, LUPARDO, SIMOTAS, ABINANTI, ZEBROWSKI, SIMON, HYNDMAN, BUCHWALD, GOTTFRIED, JEAN-PIERRE -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK, STECK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Children and Families
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to implementing a cost estimation model for child care
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 5, 6, 7 and 8 of section 410-x of the social services law are renumbered subdivisions 6, 7, 8 and 9 and a new subdivision 5 is added to read as follows:
5. (a) For each group for which the office of children and family services determines a separate payment rate pursuant to subdivision four of this section, and at the same frequency, such office shall utilize a cost estimation model to determine the actual cost providers incur when providing child care. The cost estimation model shall identify and take into account cost drivers including but not limited to employee salary and benefits, enrollment levels, facility costs and compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements. Where a quality rating system or any quality indicators are being utilized, the cost estimation model shall also take into account the cost of providing services at each level of quality.
(b) In developing such model the office of children and family services shall consult with stakeholders including, but not limited to, representatives of child care resource and referral agencies, child care providers and any state advisory council established pursuant to 42 U.S.C.S. § 9831 et. seq., as amended. The cost estimation model shall be statistically valid, using complete and current data and rigorous collection methods.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02784-01-9
A. 580 2
§ 2. Section 410-z of the social services law, as added by section 52 of part B of chapter 436 of the laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows:
§ 410-z. Reporting requirements. 1. Each social services district shall collect and submit to the [department] office of children and family services, in such form and at such times as specified by the [department] office of children and family services, such data and information regarding child care assistance provided under the block grant as the [department] office of children and family services may need to comply with federal reporting requirements.
2. The office of children and family services shall prepare a report detailing the actual cost providers incur when providing child care in each setting, as determined by the cost estimation model established in paragraph (a) of subdivision five of section four hundred ten-x of this title. The report shall detail cost data for each setting, age group, care provided to children with special needs, and any other grouping for which a separate cost estimation is conducted. Such data shall include:
(a) the level of quality care as determined by a quality rating system or any quality indicators utilized by the state;
(b) a description of the major cost drivers for providing care; and
(c) a comparison of the costs of child care for each grouping to the market rate determined by the office of children and family services pursuant to subdivision four of section four hundred ten-x of this title.
The report shall be submitted to the governor, the speaker of the assembly and the temporary president of the senate by June first, two thousand twenty-one and June first of every other year thereafter. The office of children and family services shall post the information contained in the report on its website.
§ 3. 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.