Res. No. 1493 Title Resolution calling upon the Agency for Child Development (ACD) to allow families with incomes that exceed 1990's income ceilings to be entitled to remain enrolled for benefits until ACD puts an updated fee scale into effect, provided that the family income does not exceed this year's Title XX income ceilings, and to stop imposing child care fees on parents with incomes below the current poverty level. Body By Council Members Eldridge, Malave-Dilan, Eisland, Freed, Lopez, Marshall, Michels, Perkins, Quinn, Rodriguez, Warden and Wooten; also Council Members DiBrienza, Fisher, Harrison, Leffler and Rivera Whereas, Reliable, affordable child care is essential for working parents to ensure their livelihood and enable them to support their families; and Whereas, The safety and quality of child care profoundly affects children's development and their chance for success in school; and Whereas, The Agency for Child Development (ACD) is responsible for providing subsidized child care services to many of New York City's low income families; and Whereas, New York State law requires that local districts base their child care income ceilings and current fee scale on the current State Income Standard (Social Security Law Section 410-w,(d) (2)); and Whereas, State law also requires that the fee scale be updated every year; and Whereas, ACD has not updated its income eligibility fee scale and income ceilings since 1990; and Whereas, In hearings before the City Council in March and May of 2000, the Deputy Commissioner for ACD, reported that ACD was working on updating its fee scale, thereby acknowledging its lack of compliance with State requirements; and Whereas, ACD is now saying that it will not put the new fee scale into effect until October, 2000; and Whereas, Too many parents have been notified that they are no longer income-eligible based on the outdated fee scale, and have had their child care services terminated; and Whereas, Because the fee schedule has not been updated, some parents are being charged far higher fees than they can afford; and Whereas, Since income ceilings have not been updated, fees are being imposed upon parents who are, in actuality, exempt from fees because they are below the current poverty level; and Whereas, Parents, some of whom have incomes below the current poverty level, are losing needed child care services as a result of eligibility determinations based on 1990 ceilings, and/or paying excessive fees beyond their ability to pay ; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the Agency for Child Development to allow families with incomes that exceed 1990's income ceilings to be entitled to remain enrolled for benefits until ACD puts an updated fee scale into effect, provided that the family income does not exceed this year's Title XX income ceilings, and to stop imposing child care fees on parents with incomes below the current poverty level.