Albany, NY – With new mandates to the federal Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) set to take effect, a Wednesday budget hearing conducted by the Assembly Committee on Children and Families will examine how the program’s reauthorization will impact child care subsidies in New York State.

“Policy changes to the CCDBG will improve the quality of child care throughout the state, however there are associated costs that may affect the number of children who will be able to access these critical services,” said Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (D-Binghamton), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Children and Families. “Regardless of the federal requirements, we must ensure that New York families can continue to access quality, affordable child care for their children.”

The 2014 reauthorization of the CCDBG by the federal government included numerous changes to improve the program including amending the health and safety requirements for child care providers, establishing more family-friendly guidelines for eligibility policies, and enhancing parents’ access to information regarding options for available child care providers. The State Division of Budget estimates these amendments will cost $90 million; roughly $34 million for mandatory inspections of more than 25,000 facilities statewide, $28 million for training and development for child care staff, and between $24 and $28 million on background clearances.

The Committee on Children and Families will hear testimony to learn how funding for child care assistance has met the needs of eligible families and how such families, as well as the child care providers who serve them, may be impacted by the proposed changes to the CCDBG.

The hearing will be held Wednesday at 11:00 AM in Hearing Room C of the Legislative Office Building in Albany.