BILL NUMBER:S7055

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the social services law, in relation
to allowing social services districts to prohibit informal daycare
providers with an indicated report on file with the statewide central
register or a felony conviction at any time for a sex offense, crime
against a child, or a crime involving violence

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill allows social services districts to prohibit informal child
care providers who are the subject of a report of child abuse or
maltreatment on file with the statewide central registry, or have a
felony conviction at any time for a sex offense, crime against a
child, or a crime involving violence, or a felony conviction within
the past five years for a drug-related offense, from receiving funds
as part of the child care block grant program.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill amends section 410-x of the Social Services Law
by adding subdivisions 9 and 10.

*Subdivision 9 allows local social services districts to prohibit
informal child care providers who are the subject of an indicated
report on file with the statewide central register from providing
              

child care services funded under the block grant.

*Subdivision 10 allows local social services districts to prohibit
informal child care providers who have a felony conviction at any time
for a sex offense, crime against a child, or a crime involving
violence, or a felony conviction within the past five years for a
drug-related offense from providing child care services funded under
the block grant.

Section 2: Effective Date.

JUSTIFICATION:

Social Services law currently requires that operators of a licensed or
registered child day care provider have their criminal history
background checked, as well as statewide central register clearance.
There is not a similar statute for informal providers (legally-exempt
family child care and legally-exempt in-home care) funded by the New
York State Child Care Block Grant (NYCCBG). NYCCBG, funded by taxpayer
dollars, should not support child care from providers who have an
indicated report on file with the statewide central register or have a
felony conviction at any time for a sex offense, crime against a
child, or a crime involving violence, or a felony conviction within
the past five years for a drug-related offense. These criteria are
similar to what licensed or registered child day care providers have
currently in place.

This is one in a series of measures being introduced at the request of
the Erie County Executive upon the recommendation of the county's
Commissioner of Social Services to improve the provision of child
protective services to New York's children and families.


PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Increased costs related to background checks.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect on the first day of January next succeeding
the date on which it shall have become a law.