Bill > A05899

This bill establishes a comprehensive universal child care system in New York State, aimed at addressing the current child care crisis through several key provisions. The bill creates a Universal Child Care Taskforce charged with developing a four-year implementation plan for free, high-quality child care accessible to all families, regardless of income or immigration status. It establishes a Permanent Child Care Workforce Pay Equity Fund to increase wages and benefits for child care educators, with the goal of achieving pay parity with public school teachers. The legislation also creates a Universal Child Care Public Option Pilot Program that will launch child care programs in at least 20 locations statewide, providing free care without means testing and prioritizing high-quality programming. The bill requires extensive language-accessible outreach, eliminates burdensome eligibility requirements, and mandates that child care providers receive support to expand capacity and improve quality. Additionally, the bill directs the Office of Children and Family Services and the Education Department to collaborate on developing a compensation scale for child care workers, with provisions to ensure fair distribution of funds and prioritize providers serving high-needs children and communities with limited child care options.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A5899