File #: Int 0008-2026    Version: * Name: A pilot program to make vacant commercial premises suitable for use by child care programs
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Subcommittee on Early Childhood Education
On agenda: 1/29/2026
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law in relation to establishing a pilot program to make vacant commercial premises suitable for use by child care programs
Sponsors: Julie Menin, Althea V. Stevens, Amanda C. Farías, Rita C. Joseph, Farah N. Louis, Frank Morano
Council Member Sponsors: 6
Summary: This bill would establish a pilot program to provide financial assistance to the owners of vacant commercial premises to undertake the work necessary to make the premises compliant with the standards for premises used for child care programs. The program would operate in areas where there are both a high number of vacant commercial premises and a low number of child care slots.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 8, 2. Int. No. 8

Int. No. 8

 

By The Speaker (Council Member Menin) and Council Members Stevens, Farías, Joseph, Louis and Morano

 

A Local Law in relation to establishing a pilot program to make vacant commercial premises suitable for use by child care programs

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Conversion of premises for child care. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

Administering agency. The term “administering agency” means an agency or office designated by the mayor to establish and administer the pilot program established pursuant to this section.

Child care program. The term “child care program” means any program that meets the definition provided in subdivision d of section 47.01 of the New York city health code.

b. The administering agency shall establish and administer a pilot program to provide assistance to make vacant commercial premises suitable for use by child care programs. Such program shall operate in areas identified by the administering agency that have both a low number of child care program slots and a high number of vacant commercial premises. Such program shall provide loans, grants, in-kind services or in-kind materials, or some combination, to owners of vacant commercial premises in order to make the alterations necessary to bring the premises into compliance with the standards set forth in sections 47.41 through 47.51, 47.59, and 47.63 of the New York city health code.

c. The administering agency shall establish a procedure for owners of vacant commercial premises to apply to the pilot program established by this section and shall establish criteria for evaluating applications to participate in the pilot program. The administering agency shall approve or reject an application no later than 90 days after receipt of such application. 

d. The commissioner of buildings shall waive all fees which would otherwise be required to be paid to the department of buildings by title 28 of the administrative code or the rules of the department of buildings, in connection with applications, permits, and inspections for work conducted pursuant to the pilot program established by this section.

e. The administering agency shall assist pilot program participants in finding operators of child care programs to lease the commercial premises that have been altered pursuant to the pilot program established by this section.

f. The pilot program established by this section shall commence no later than 1 year after the effective date of this local law. The duration of such program shall be 7 years.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.

LH

LS #16044

Int. #1291-2025

1/23/2026 4:43 PM