Requires the office of children and family services to utilize a cost estimation model when determining the actual cost providers incur when providing child care; requires the office to prepare a report detailing such.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1709
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 13, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. BROUK -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Children and Families
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to implementing a
cost estimation model for child care
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 410-x of the social services law is amended by
2 adding a new subdivision 5-a to read as follows:
3 5-a. (a) For each group for which the office of children and family
4 services determines a separate payment rate pursuant to subdivision four
5 of this section, and at the same frequency, such office shall utilize a
6 cost estimation model to determine the actual cost providers incur when
7 providing child care. The cost estimation model shall identify and take
8 into account cost drivers including but not limited to employee salary
9 and benefits, enrollment levels, facility costs and compliance with
10 statutory and regulatory requirements. Where a quality rating system or
11 any quality indicators are being utilized, the cost estimation model
12 shall also take into account the cost of providing services at each
13 level of quality.
14 (b) In developing such model the office of children and family
15 services shall consult with stakeholders including, but not limited to,
16 representatives of child care resource and referral agencies, child care
17 providers and any state advisory council established pursuant to 42
18 U.S.C.S. § 9831 et. seq., as amended. The cost estimation model shall be
19 statistically valid, using complete and current data and rigorous
20 collection methods.
21 § 2. Section 410-z of the social services law, as added by section 52
22 of part B of chapter 436 of the laws of 1997, is amended to read as
23 follows:
24 § 410-z. Reporting requirements. 1. Each social services district
25 shall collect and submit to the [department] office of children and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02587-02-5
S. 1709 2
1 family services, in such form and at such times as specified by the
2 [department] office of children and family services, such data and
3 information regarding child care assistance provided under the block
4 grant as the [department] office of children and family services may
5 need to comply with federal reporting requirements.
6 2. The office of children and family services shall prepare a report
7 detailing the actual cost providers incur when providing child care in
8 each setting, as determined by the cost estimation model established in
9 paragraph (a) of subdivision five-a of section four hundred ten-x of
10 this title. The report shall detail cost data for each setting, age
11 group, care provided to children with special needs, and any other
12 grouping for which a separate cost estimation is conducted. Such data
13 shall include:
14 (a) the level of quality care as determined by a quality rating system
15 or any quality indicators utilized by the state;
16 (b) a description of the major cost drivers for providing care; and
17 (c) a comparison of the costs of child care for each grouping to the
18 market rate determined by the office of children and family services
19 pursuant to subdivision four of section four hundred ten-x of this
20 title.
21 The report shall be submitted to the governor, the speaker of the
22 assembly and the temporary president of the senate by June first, two
23 thousand twenty-seven. The office of children and family services shall
24 post the information contained in the report on its website.
25 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
