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Yonkers' Shelley Mayer Announces Passage Of Bill That Addresses Child Care

YONKERS, N.Y. -- Assembly member Shelley Mayer (D-Yonkers) announced that the assembly passed a legislative package addressing New York's child care crisis by expanding access to quality, affordable child care and instituting paid family leave.

"Parents here in Yonkers are working longer hours and doing all they can to reduce their expenses; yet, they are still struggling to make ends meet,"  Mayer said in a release.

"Access to quality, affordable child care should not be such a struggle. Our families and our economy benefit from improving our child care system so working families can find the reliable, safe and nurturing child care."

Currently, parents can view only basic and limited information about a provider. This bill ensures parents have access to a comprehensive overview of the providers' qualifications and training posted on the website of the Office of Children and Family Services.

The Assembly passage of legislation to implement paid family leave benefits for injury or sickness, pregnancy or to care for a family member ensures employees do not have to choose between economic security and caring for their families.

"No one should have to choose between their job and caring for a child or parent," said Mayer. 

The package includes the following provisions:

  • Requiring local social services districts to provide a 60-day notice prior to lowering child care eligibility or raising the co-payment.
  • Capping the co-payment for families receiving subsidies at 20 percent of household income and earmarking $70 million in the state budget to alleviate the burden on social services districts impacted by the cap.
  • Taking child care needs into account when considering unemployment work search requirements
  • Simplifying the application for those applying only for child care assistance.
  • Increasing state funding for child care subsidies to $11 million annually for four years.      

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