Bill > A06982

This bill adds outdoor nature-based child care programs to New York's existing regulatory framework for child day care providers. Specifically, the bill defines an outdoor nature-based child care program as a program for children aged four or older that operates primarily outdoors or in a structure like a yurt, teepee, or greenhouse, located on at least seven contiguous acres of land. These programs will now be subject to the same licensing, safety, training, and child protection requirements as traditional child care centers, including obtaining a license from the Office of Children and Family Services, meeting staff-to-child ratio requirements, ensuring first aid certification for employees, conducting background checks, and being required to report suspected child abuse. The bill also prevents local governments from prohibiting or restricting the use of approved structures for these outdoor programs, while still allowing appropriate safety inspections. This legislative change recognizes the growing interest in nature-based early childhood education and seeks to ensure these programs maintain the same standards of child safety and care as more traditional child care settings.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A6982