Serino Champions Legislation to Empower Working Families

SERINO CHAMPIONS LEGISLATION TO EMPOWER WORKING FAMILIES

ALBANY—Senator Sue Serino (R, C, I—Hyde Park) aimed to empower working families with children by sponsoring a bill to simplify and increase access to the application for child care assistance. The bill (S. 5419) passed in the Senate today.

“Having been in the unique position of being both a single, working mom and a professional child care provider, I understand this issue from every possible angle,” said Senator Serino in commenting on why she introduced this piece of legislation.

“I have incredible respect for families who juggle work and raising their children and I believe in the value of keeping individuals with children in the workplace. This bill helps them stay there and will ultimately benefit the families as a unit, and most importantly, the children.”

Senator Serino’s bill aims to simplify the process of applying for childcare assistance by requiring only information relevant to the benefits being sought cutting red tape for those who would not be able to work without the benefit. Further, it seeks to increase access to the benefit for working families and guardians by requiring that the form be made available and eligible for submission online.

“When you’re a working parent, your time is precious and you don’t want to waste a single minute that could be spent with your children cutting through bureaucratic red tape and impossible processes,” Serino continued. “This bill makes it easier for working families to strike a balance between critical family time and work hours, and I cannot understate the importance of that for those families or for their communities.”

The bill has passed in the Assembly where it is sponsored by Assemblywoman Didi Barrett. It will now be sent to the Governor to be signed into law.

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