Res. No. 314

Resolution calling on the New York State Governor to sign A.7661/S.6655A, an act to amend the social services law, providing that public welfare officials shall not be required to limit authorized child care services strictly based on the work, training, or educational schedule of the parents

By Council Members Menin, Cabán, Louis, Riley, Restler, Hudson, Sanchez and Ayala

Whereas, Equitable access to affordable, high quality child care and early learning can be life changing for the youngest New Yorkers, equipping them with a strong foundation for life; and

Whereas, Studies of at-risk children found that, by the age of 40, children who had received high quality early child care experienced fewer arrests, less drug abuse, higher earnings, more home ownership and greater educational achievement than a group of similarly situated children who did not receive high quality early care, according to the Center for American Progress; and

Whereas, In addition to the positive long-term impacts that high-quality child care have on children, early child care programs provide important benefits to working parents; and

Whereas, With access to affordable, quality child care options, families can pursue employment and educational opportunities that contribute to family stability and financial security, according to the Alliance for Quality Education; and

Whereas, While access to child care has long been an issue for New York’s working families, the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis it caused have illustrated how essential child care is and shined a light on the devastating impact the lack of child care has on families and our economy; and

                     Whereas, Current New York law only allows social service districts to provide child care to those receiving public assistance when a parent is unable to provide care and supervision during a substantial part of the day, and limits care to the hours the parent is at work, in an educational or vocational activity, or seeking employment or housing; and

                     Whereas, Federal Child Care and Development Fund regulations (45 CFR 98.21(g)), state that the hours of child care are not required to be limited based strictly on the work, training, or educational schedule of the parent or the number of hours the parent spends in work, training or educational activities; and

                     Whereas, A.7661/S.6655A, sponsored by Senator Jabari Brisport and Assembly Member Andrew Hevesi, would amend the social services law to give counties the option to decouple child care subsidies from the exact hours a caregiver is working or engaged in an approved training, educational or other activity; and

                     Whereas, This legislation, which has passed in both the New York State Assembly and Senate, would help low-income families receiving public assistance who are working part time, have rotating schedules, have seen their work hours involuntarily reduced due to the economic impacts of the pandemic or who are participating in educational and vocational activities benefit from child care; and

Whereas, According to New York State of Politics, in NYC alone it is estimated that 12,000 families could benefit from this law; and

Whereas, Supporting parents and other caregiver’s ability to participate in the workforce, coursework, job training or workforce development while taking care of their children should be a fundamental right; now, therefore, be it

Resolved that the Council of the City of New York calls on the New York State Governor to sign A.7661/S.6655A, an act to amend the social services law, providing that public welfare officials shall not be required to limit authorized child care services strictly based on the work, training, or educational schedule of the parents.

VM

4/22/2022

LS#9165