S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                   515

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 7, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. KAVANAGH -- read once and referred to the Commit-
  tee on Children and Families

AN ACT authorizing the commissioner of the office of children and family
  services to study the implementation of a child daycare rating system

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Legislative findings and purpose. The legislature finds and
declares that with the increase in the number of  single  parent  house-
holds and the growing number of households in which both parents work at
least  part-time,  the  number of children in daycare programs has grown
significantly. While parents  can  be  assured  that  a  state  licensed
program  has  met  minimal health, safety, and educational requirements,
that does not insure that the program will necessarily meet all  of  the
educational  needs  of  each  child.    Currently there are few ways for
parents to evaluate the quality of the programs available  to  them  and
their children.  There are a number of states in the United States which
currently  have  daycare  center rating programs, which provide a rating
scale based on specific criteria. The ratings that each  daycare  center
receives are posted on web sites, and available to parents to help guide
them  in choosing the daycare center which is most appropriate for their
children's needs. We feel that because the years from birth to age  five
are  the  most  critical  years  for  a child's establishment of healthy
thinking and learning skills, social development and  both  interest  in
and  interaction  with  the world around them, it is in the state's best
interests, and society as a whole,  to  provide  parents  with  as  much
information  as possible about the quality of daycare programs available
to their children.
  S 2. The commissioner of the office of children and family services is
hereby authorized and directed to prepare or have prepared, a  study  on
implementing  a  child  daycare rating system throughout New York state.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                           LBD01193-01-9

A. 515                              2

Such study shall include, but not be limited to: (a) the type of  rating
scales  used  in  other states and which one would be the most effective
for use in New York state; (b) the method in which the program would  be
administered;  (c)  how  such  information  would  be  made available to
parents and the general public; and (d) the cost  of  operating  such  a
program.
  S  3. The findings and results of the study shall be delivered, in the
form of a report, to  the  governor,  the  temporary  president  of  the
senate,  and  the speaker of the assembly within 12 months of the effec-
tive date of this act. The report shall also include recommended  legis-
lation  that will assist in the timely implementation of a child daycare
rating system.
  S 4. This act shall take effect immediately.