NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6974
SPONSOR: Jaffee TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the social services law, in relation
to reimbursement for child care absences
PURPOSE:
To ensure child care providers receive reimbursement adequate to main-
tain a stable business.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one would require that local social services districts make
payments to providers for at least 12 absences in a 6 month period.
OCFS would define the maximum number of absences allowed for reimburse-
ment, which would not be less than 24 absences in a 6 month period,
unless extenuating circumstances exist.
Section three of the bill would set an effective date of the first of
April next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
JUSTIFICATION:
Local social services districts can opt to withhold a portion of subsidy
reimbursement from a provider for days in which a child is absent from
care. While state regulations allow up to 12 days in absences for each
child in any one calendar month, most if not all of these counties
choose not to pay providers when children do not attend. This creates
fiscal uncertainty for many providers, leading to difficulty with staff
retention and optimal quality care. Therefore, this bill would require
local social services districts to pay for at least 6 absences in order
to maintain stability among child care programs.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A5381A - 2011-12
A8926 -2013-14
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Undetermined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding the
date on which it shall have become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6974
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 28, 2017
___________
Introduced by M. of A. JAFFEE -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Children and Families
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to reimbursement
for child care absences
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 9 to read as follows:
3 9. Reimbursement for payment on behalf of children who are temporarily
4 absent from child care is required for a minimum of twelve days in a six
5 month period. A maximum number of absences, which shall be no less than
6 twenty-four days in a six month period shall be determined by the office
7 of children and family services pursuant to regulation. Reimbursement
8 for additional absences shall be allowable in the case of extenuating
9 circumstances, as determined by the office of children and family
10 services pursuant to regulation.
11 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding
12 the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07564-01-7
