Standardizes child care copayments by instructing local social services districts to not require a family receiving child care assistance to contribute more than 20% of the amount of their income exceeding the poverty level.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6174B
SPONSOR: Russell TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the social services law, in relation
to standardizing child care copayments
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To create equal access to child care assistance throughout the state by
standardizing the amount of the family share.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one requires that local social services districts charge a
co-payment of no greater than 20% of the difference in the family's
income and the poverty level.
Section two sets an April 1, 2017 effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Families receiving child care subsidies must contribute to the cost of
childcare, calculated as a percentage of the family's income above the
Federal poverty level. This percentage varies from 10% in some counties
to 35% in others, and creates a barrier to accessing childcare for fami-
lies that live in counties charging the higher end of the scale. To put
this in perspective, in 2013, a family of three who earns $39,060 annu-
ally (200% of the Federal Poverty level) can pay anywhere between $1,953
(10% copayment) to $6,835.50 (35% copayment) per year. Currently, there
are at least 25 counties that employ the 35% multiplier when calculating
a family's copayment. The cost-sharing requirement can be the deciding
factor for whether a family will be able to afford child care, even when
provided a subsidy. Such inequities create an unfair burden and prevent
access to child care assistance for low-income families.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2014 - passed the Assembly.
2015 - passed the Assembly
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
April 1, 2017.
