A 492 New York Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

Establishes the statewide childcare workforce living wage fund; appropriation

This bill establishes a $1.2 billion permanent fund to improve wages and benefits for New York's childcare workforce. It directly affects licensed childcare providers that accept families using the state's Child Care Assistance Program, requiring them to use at least 75% of funds for direct caregivers (like teachers), 10% for administrators, and the rest for program quality or expansion. The fund mandates that providers meet a new minimum compensation scale (developed with worker input) aiming to align childcare wages with public school educators. The Office of Children and Family Services will distribute funds based on factors like serving high-need children, underserved communities, and enrollment, with annual reporting requirements.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 8, 2025 Last action Jan 7, 2026

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What changed between versions

A492 → A492A · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to rename the fund from a temporary 'living wage fund' to a permanent 'pay equity fund' and shifted the focus from a one-time grant program to establishing a long-term minimum compensation scale. The changes ensure that at least 75% of funds go directly to caregivers and require the state to develop a wage scale that matches public school educator pay, while also mandating that funded programs accept state child care assistance.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a temporary, one-time grant distribution to a permanent fund with ongoing obligations to establish a statewide minimum compensation scale for all child care workers, not just those in direct caregiving roles.

DEFINITION

The fund name was changed from 'statewide childcare workforce living wage fund' to 'permanent child care workforce pay equity fund' to reflect its ongoing nature.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements mandate that at least 75% of funds must increase pay for direct caregivers and at least 10% must increase pay for non-caregiving staff like administrators.

The Office of Children and Family Services must create a minimum compensation scale within one year that aims to equalize wages with public school educators.

ELIGIBILITY

To receive funding, programs must now agree to meet the new minimum compensation scale and accept families using state child care assistance.

TIMELINE

Reporting deadlines were updated from 2025 to 2026 to align with the new permanent structure and the timeline for developing the compensation scale.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jan 7, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

lower

Feb 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 492A

lower

Feb 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

lower

Jan 8, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

lower

1 primary · 17 co-sponsors