STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8114
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
June 9, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Economic Development
AN ACT to amend the 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 urban development corporation act, is amended by adding a new
3 section 52 to read as follows:
4 § 52. 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
23 include cities, municipalities, block numbering areas, and census
24 tracts.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11476-01-5
A. 8114 2
1 (b) "child care" shall mean any licensed, registered or regulated
2 child care program as defined by section three hundred ninety of the
3 social services law.
4 (3) The corporation, in collaboration with the office of children and
5 family services, the office of temporary and disability assistance, and
6 if practicable, local social services districts, shall identify a total
7 of five economically distressed areas throughout the state to evaluate
8 child care programs which are intended to serve the needs of low-income
9 working families. In its evaluation, the corporation shall:
10 (a) determine the availability and capacity of child care programs
11 throughout the state as well as the impact these businesses have on the
12 economic development of the surrounding area;
13 (b) determine the financial obligations related to child care facing
14 working families;
15 (c) determine the available financial resources for working families
16 with children related to child care;
17 (d) determine the economic impact of child care on employed persons or
18 persons in an educational program;
19 (e) determine the financial impact that lack of access to child care
20 has on businesses and the impact that it has on worker retention,
21 productivity and other appropriate factors;
22 (f) determine existing state resources available for businesses and
23 employed persons to assist with child care costs; and
24 (g) determine what incentives exist for businesses to provide child
25 care opportunities to their employees including on-site child care
26 programs.
27 (4) Upon completion of the study as required by subdivision three of
28 this section, the corporation, in collaboration with the office of chil-
29 dren and family services, the office of temporary and disability assist-
30 ance, and if practicable, local social services districts, shall identi-
31 fy and develop a strategy for the expansion and creation of child care
32 programs in the five economically distressed areas through the various
33 programs of the corporation. To the extent possible, the corporation
34 shall also determine ways to incentivize businesses to create and expand
35 the availability of child care programs. The corporation shall determine
36 a strategy to include child care as a criteria component for existing
37 and new economic development programs when feasible.
38 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.