STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
3494--A
Cal. No. 271
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 27, 2017
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES, BARRON -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Economic Development -- ordered to a third reading,
amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of
third reading
AN ACT to amend the New York state urban development corporation act, in
relation to evaluation and assistance to increase access to child care
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 1 of chapter 174 of the laws of 1968, constituting
2 the New York state urban development corporation act, is amended by
3 adding a new section 53 to read as follows:
4 § 53. Evaluation and assistance to increase access to child care. (1)
5 The legislature hereby finds that access to quality child care is an
6 important element of the state's economy for working families, and that
7 child care providers comprise a large sector in New York state's econo-
8 my. The legislature further finds that the potential for future growth
9 in the state is often linked to the next generation's achievements. The
10 ability to obtain such achievements are strengthened by the availability
11 and adequacy of early childhood education. The legislature declares that
12 it is crucial for the governor and legislature to obtain reliable,
13 objective information about the economic benefits of investing in child
14 care programs, specifically in low-income neighborhoods with pervasive
15 poverty and high unemployment rates.
16 (2) For the purposes of this section:
17 (a) "economically distressed areas" shall mean areas as determined by
18 the corporation meeting criteria indicative of economic distress,
19 including high unemployment rate; high rate of employment change;
20 percentages and numbers of low-income persons; per capita income and per
21 capita real property wealth; and such other indicators of distress as
22 the corporation shall determine. Economically distressed areas may
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04670-02-8
A. 3494--A 2
1 include cities, municipalities, block numbering areas, and census
2 tracts.
3 (b) "child care" shall mean any licensed, registered or regulated
4 child care program as defined by section three hundred ninety of the
5 social services law.
6 (3) The corporation, in collaboration with the office of children and
7 family services, the office of temporary and disability assistance, and
8 if practicable, local social services districts, shall identify a total
9 of five economically distressed areas throughout the state to evaluate
10 child care programs which are intended to serve the needs of low-income
11 working families. In its evaluation, the corporation shall:
12 (a) determine the availability and capacity of child care programs
13 throughout the state as well as the impact these businesses have on the
14 economic development of the surrounding area;
15 (b) determine the financial obligations related to child care facing
16 working families;
17 (c) determine the available financial resources for working families
18 with children related to child care;
19 (d) determine the economic impact of child care on employed persons or
20 persons in an educational program;
21 (e) determine the financial impact that lack of access to child care
22 has on businesses and the impact that it has on worker retention,
23 productivity and other appropriate factors;
24 (f) determine existing state resources available for businesses and
25 employed persons to assist with child care costs; and
26 (g) determine what incentives exist for businesses to provide child
27 care opportunities to their employees including on-site child care
28 programs.
29 (4) Upon completion of the study as required by subdivision three of
30 this section, the corporation, in collaboration with the office of chil-
31 dren and family services, the office of temporary and disability assist-
32 ance, and if practicable, local social services districts, shall identi-
33 fy and develop a strategy for the expansion and creation of child care
34 programs in the five economically distressed areas through the various
35 programs of the corporation. To the extent possible, the corporation
36 shall also determine ways to incentivize businesses to create and expand
37 the availability of child care programs. The corporation shall determine
38 a strategy to include child care as a criteria component for existing
39 and new economic development programs when feasible.
40 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
