S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  5522

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            February 25, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by M. of A. SOLAGES -- read once and referred to the Commit-
  tee on Economic Development

AN ACT to amend the economic development law, in relation to the "child-
  care and early education sector on the economy act"

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

  Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
the "childcare and early education sector on the economy act".
  S 2. Legislative findings and purpose. The  legislature  hereby  finds
and declares that there appears to be a serious shortage of high-quality
childcare and early education options in communities throughout New York
state.  There is a strong consensus among researchers that childcare and
early education programs provide a substantial economic payoff to commu-
nities where they are located.  The  legislature  declares  that  it  is
crucial  for  the governor and legislators to obtain reliable, objective
information about the economic benefits  and  burdens  of  investing  in
expanded childcare and early education programs within the state.
  The  purpose  of this act is to study the economic impact on the state
economy of quality childcare and early education programs  for  children
aged 0-4, and after-school programs for children aged 5-12.
  S  3.  The economic development law is amended by adding a new article
22 to read as follows:
                               ARTICLE 22
         ECONOMIC IMPACT OF CHILDCARE AND EARLY EDUCATION SECTOR
SECTION 450. DEFINITIONS.
        451. STUDY OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE CHILDCARE INDUSTRY.
        452. NATURE OF THE STUDY.
        453. REPORT.
  S 450. DEFINITIONS. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE, "CHILDCARE AND EARLY
EDUCATION" MEANS:

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD06544-01-5

              

A. 5522                             2

  1. LICENSED  FULL-DAY  CHILDCARE  AND  EARLY  EDUCATION  PROGRAMS  AND
CENTERS.
  2.  LICENSED  PART-TIME  CHILDCARE  AND  EARLY  EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND
CENTERS.
  3. HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS.
  4. PUBLIC PRE-SCHOOLS.
  5. FAMILY CHILDCARE HOMES.
  6. AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AGED 5-12.
  S 451. STUDY OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF  THE  CHILDCARE  INDUSTRY.  THE
DEPARTMENT  SHALL  CONDUCT  A STUDY OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS ON THE STATE
ECONOMY OF QUALITY CHILDCARE AND EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAMS  FOR  CHILDREN
AGED 0-4, AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AGED 5-12.
  S  452.  NATURE  OF THE STUDY. THE STUDY OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE
CHILDCARE INDUSTRY SHALL INCLUDE:
  1. AN EVALUATION OF CHILDCARE AND EARLY EDUCATION AS A SECTOR  OF  THE
ECONOMY, INCLUDING:
  (A) NUMBER OF WORKERS  DIRECTLY EMPLOYED AT CHILDCARE AND EARLY EDUCA-
TION FACILITIES, AND THE GROSS VALUE OF THEIR WAGES.
  (B)  GROSS  RECEIPTS OF THE INDUSTRY, THAT IS, TOTAL NUMBER OF DOLLARS
FLOWING INTO THE SECTOR IN THE FORM OF PAYMENTS FOR  CARE  FROM  PARENTS
AND FROM PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SUBSIDIES.
  (C)  VALUE  OF GOODS AND SERVICES PURCHASED BY THE CHILDCARE AND EARLY
EDUCATION INDUSTRY.
  (D) FEDERAL DOLLARS FLOWING TO  THE  STATE  FOR  CHILDCARE  AND  EARLY
EDUCATION.
  2.  AN EVALUATION OF THE DEGREE TO WHICH AVAILABLE CHILDCARE AND EARLY
EDUCATION:
  (A) ENABLES PARENTS TO WORK OUTSIDE THE HOME AND EARN INCOME.
  (B) ENABLES PARENTS TO ATTEND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
  (C) DECREASES ABSENTEEISM AT  WORK,  REDUCES  TURNOVER,  OR  INCREASES
PRODUCTIVITY.
  (D) ATTRACTS BUSINESSES TO THE STATE.
  3.  AN  ANALYSIS  OF  DEMOGRAPHIC  DATA  TO  IDENTIFY THE RELATIVE GAP
BETWEEN THE NEEDS IN THE STATE AND AVAILABLE RESOURCES, AND  THE  RETURN
TO THE ECONOMY IF THAT GAP IS CLOSED, INCLUDING:
  (A) NUMBER OF CHILDREN AGED 0-12 WITH BOTH PARENTS IN THE LABOR FORCE,
OR WITH THEIR SINGLE PARENT IN THE LABOR FORCE.
  (B) TRENDS OF LIKELY FUTURE GROWTH IN THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN AGED 0-12
IN THE POPULATION FOR THE NEXT DECADE.
  (C)  DEMOGRAPHIC  MAKEUP OF PARENTS IN THE LABOR FORCE AND DEMOGRAPHIC
MAKEUP OF ADULTS WITH CHILDREN WHO MIGHT WISH TO JOIN THE LABOR FORCE.
  (D) COST OF CHILDCARE AND EARLY EDUCATION,  AND  ITS  RELATIONSHIP  TO
FAMILY INCOME.
  (E) AVAILABILITY OF CHILD CARE.
  (F) NUMBER OF CHILDREN ELIGIBLE FOR STATE OR FEDERAL AID.
  (G)  NUMBER  OF  CHILDREN  ELIGIBLE  FOR,  BUT NOT RECEIVING, STATE OR
FEDERAL AID.
  4. A REVIEW OF AVAILABLE LITERATURE ON THE  IMPACT  OF  CHILDCARE  AND
EARLY  EDUCATION  PROGRAMS ON CHILDREN'S FUTURE ABILITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO
THE WORKFORCE, INCLUDING:
  (A) AN EVALUATION OF SCHOOL READINESS AT KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE.
  (B) AN EVALUATION OF POSITIVE  OUTCOMES  IN  SCHOOL,  FROM  ELEMENTARY
THROUGH LIKELIHOOD OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.
  (C)  AN  EVALUATION  OF  RESULTING  REDUCTIONS IN PUBLIC SPENDING, FOR
EXAMPLE FROM:

A. 5522                             3

  I. LESS LIKELIHOOD OF BEING  ASSIGNED  TO  SPECIAL  EDUCATION  CLASSES
RELATIVE TO THOSE NOT IN QUALITY CARE OR PRESCHOOL;
  II. GREATER LIKELIHOOD OF GRADUATION FROM HIGH SCHOOL;
  III.  LESS  LIKELIHOOD OF INVOLVEMENT WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
AND PRISON;
  IV. GREATER LIKELIHOOD OF BEING EMPLOYED; AND
  V. LESS LIKELIHOOD OF BEING ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.
  S 453. REPORT.  THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REPORT THE RESULTS OF  THE  STUDY
OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE CHILDCARE INDUSTRY TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE
LEGISLATURE ON OR BEFORE JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND SEVENTEEN.
  S  4.  This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
the date on which it shall have become a law.