BILL NUMBER: S6333

SPONSOR: BROUK
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the general municipal law and the public officers law,
in relation to childcare and dependent care reimbursement for volunteer
members of public bodies

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill would allow volunteer members serving on public bodies to be
reimbursed for childcare and dependent care expenses incurred during the
performance of their official duties serving on a public body.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one of this bill amends the General Municipal Law to allow
volunteer members serving on public bodies to be reimbursed for child-
care and dependent care expenses incurred during the performance of
their official duties serving on a public body.

              

Section two of this bill amends the Public Officers Law to permit public
officers who are barred from receiving any compensation for their
services to be allowed to receive reimbursement for actual expenses
incurred, including childcare and dependent care.

Section three of this bill is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Participation in public bodies is a cornerstone of our democracy.
Public bodies allow for residents to participate in their government in
many ways and at all levels, and true representation of the public
requires that these bodies are accessible and inclusive to all prospec-
tive members.

However, there are a plentiful amount of barriers for New Yorkers want-
ing to participate as members of panels, task forces, commissions, and
other volunteer state appointed public bodies. Two of these barriers are
childcare and dependent.

While common practice is to reimburse those for their travel, lodging
and eating expenses, the lack of the same reimbursement for childcare
and dependent care greatly limits the ability of a sizable portion of
New York's population from properly participating in civic service, and
leaves New York at a disadvantage from the loss of their unique and
varied views.

To that end, excluding childcare and dependent care from reimbursement
practices systematically exclude parents and caregivers with low to
moderate incomes. This absence is noticed-with approximately one in five
New York children living in poverty, the State is removing their parents
and caregivers from critical conversations that may have a direct impact
on their wellbeing.

Covering and reimbursing childcare and dependent care costs in full will
help alleviate the systemic imbalances levied against mothers, caretak-

ers, underprivileged, and historically excluded New York community
members.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This law will take effect immediately.