BILL NUMBER:S5250

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to direct the office of children and family
services to examine, evaluate and make recommendations on the
availability of day care for children; and providing for the repeal of
such provisions upon expiration thereof

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this bill is to have the Office of Children and Family
Services (OCFS), in consultation with the Department of Labor,
examine, evaluate and make recommendations concerning the availability
of day care for children in this State. OCFS shall review with
particular care on the impact of the lack of access to necessary day
care services on the ability of women in or near poverty to enter into
the workforce.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 adds a new section to direct the Office of Children and
Family Services to conduct a study that includes an evaluation and
recommendations for the availability of child care services in New
York State. OCFS shall consult with the Department of Labor.
Additionally, OCFS shall review the impact of the lack of childcare
upon women in poverty trying to enter the workforce.

              

Specifically, this section directs OCFS, when conducting this study,
to:

*Establish an inventory of affordable daycare for working families and
those in or near poverty;
*Identify geographic shortage areas, taking in to account provider
waiting lists, and calculate projections of daycare needs based on
regional birth rates, employment rates and population growth;
*Compare, on a statewide and regional basis, the current demand for
daycare as well as its need over the next five years, analyzing
whether the current projected growth rate of providers is sufficient
to meet the need;
*Assess the cost of daycare on a regional basis;
*Identify childcare access needs statewide and regionally for parents
working nontraditional hours, such as night and swing shifts;
*Identify transportation concerns and needs of working parents needing
childcare;
*Identify policies that would encourage establishment and operation of
childcare providers near mass transit hubs;
*Identify policies that would increase the number and capacity of
childcare providers;
*Identify policies that would increase the number of childcare
providers in neighborhoods and communities where low-income families
live or work; and
* Identify and quantify factors that contribute to a quality day care
and are used to identify violations by day care providers, and
procedures for establishing quality child care in those communities
with the greatest need.


Section 2 authorizes OCFS to request and receive any additional
information from any state agency it deems relevant and material to
the study.

Section 3 directs the Commissioner to submit a report to the Governor
and Legislature, on or before May 1, 2014, on the study's findings,
conclusions and recommendations. The Commissioner shall also submit
proposed legislation to implement the recommendations. The report is
to be made publicly available on the OCFS website.

Section 4 provides the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:

Lack of access to affordable, quality childcare is a major impediment
for women who would like to enter and stay in the workforce. According
to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are approximately 4.3 million working
women in New York State. Of those, 1.2 million are working mothers.
However, there have only been about 19,000 licensed providers across
the state over the last decade, according to the Office of Children
and Family Services. Parents, who are unable to afford licensed day
care providers or programs, are sometimes forced to choose between
placing their children with less reliable options or leaving them home
alone. Some parents are forced to reduce work hours or quit jobs
altogether to remain home and care for their children.

This study is an important step in quantifying the existing need in
New York State by region. It not only looks at the number of
providers, but also the cost, quality, transportation barriers in
getting to and from work, home and the provider, and the hours served
Only about 1,600 day care centers provide overnight and other
nontraditional hours of care. The latter are especially important to
working mothers, as they often need to work such shifts to provide for
their families. These women desperately need child care assistance, as
they make up a majority of families in poverty.

Of all the economic empowerment building blocks for women, quality
affordable child care is one of the most vital. According to the
Capital District Educational Opportunity Center, lack of affordable
child care is the number one reason why women are not able to choose a
different career path that can include or lead to higher paying
careers in industries such as the building trades and other expanding
industries.

This legislation is fundamentally needed for the economic security and
empowerment of working women and low-income families.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:


This act shall take effect immediately, and shall expire and be deemed
repealed May 3, 2014.