Senate Bill S8991

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S8991

SPONSOR: SERINO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the
COVID-19 family relief act; and providing for the repeal of such
provisions upon expiration thereof

 
PURPOSE:

To provide financial assistance to low and middle income families for
additional childcare expenses directly related to the schedule of the
local school district due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Provides that the legislative intent is to provide financial
assistance to low and middle income families for additional childcare
expenses directly related to the schedule of the local school district
due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
              

Section 2: Adds a new section 529-c of the Executive Law to provide
that, within funds allocated by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and
Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 (P.L. 116136), the Office of Chil-
dren and Family Services (OCFS) shall make payments for child care
services directly to child care providers if a child's attendance at
such program is directly related to the schedule of the local school
district due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Provides that funds shall be
equitably distributed among all regions of the state, and priority shall
be based on a parent or guardian's status as an essential employee and
their ability to pay for additional childcare services. Also provides
that OCFS shall create an application process and promulgate rules and
regulations for distributing funding pursuant to this section.

Section 3: Provides the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The state required New York's school districts to establish their own
re-opening plans for the start of the new academic year. While some
districts have the ability to return to in-person instruction, many
others have determined that a full return to in-person instruction is
not yet practical given the limited time and resources they were given
by the state and have opted to reopen with full or partial online
instruction. The new school schedules have presented many New York fami-
lies with new challenges as they seek reliable and affordable childcare
for days when children would otherwise have been in school. This is
particularly problematic for parents who do not have the ability to work
from home.

This bill aims to provide financial relief to low- and middle-income
families who require childcare as a direct result of their new school
schedule. Specifically, the bill directs the Office of Children and
Family Services to provide direct payments from unused federal CARES Act
funding to childcare providers for any hours that parents must engage
these services as a direct result of changes in the local school
district schedule resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.  Priority would
be given based on parent's or guardian's status as an essential employee
and the ability of such parent or guardian to pay for additional child-
care services.

Our state cannot begin to rebuild our economy and our communities if
individuals need to forgo a return to work because they do not have
access to safe, affordable childcare, which is why this legislation is
critical to helping New York's overall recovery.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Within amounts appropriated by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and
Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-136) that have not been
otherwise obligated.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire October 1, 2021
when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed.