Bill > S03415

This bill establishes the Universal Child Care Act to create a comprehensive framework for developing universal child care in New York State. The legislation creates a Universal Child Care Taskforce charged with guiding the state towards a free, high-quality child care system over a four-year period. A key provision is the establishment of a Permanent Child Care Workforce Pay Equity Fund, which will provide $1.2 billion annually to improve wages and working conditions for child care educators, with the goal of achieving pay parity with public school teachers. The bill also mandates the creation of a Universal Child Care Public Option Pilot Program that will launch child care programs in at least 20 locations across the state, with no means testing and free service at the point of delivery. The legislation aims to address the current child care crisis by eliminating barriers like income requirements, expanding infrastructure, supporting child care workers, and ultimately creating a universal child care system that is accessible to all New York families, similar to the public education system. The bill emphasizes equity, quality, and comprehensive support for both families and child care providers, with a phased approach to implementation and ongoing evaluation of the program's effectiveness.

Budget and Finance

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3415