S 4472: Implements automatic market rate increases for child care assistance - New York

S4472B → S4472C · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to remove provisions requiring the use of a cost estimation model for child care rate increases, simplifying the legislation to focus only on automatic market rate increases. The bill also changed its committee assignment history and was renumbered from version B to version C.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by removing the requirement to implement a cost estimation model for determining child care provider rates.

REQUIREMENT

Removed Section 2, which required the Office of Children and Family Services to use a cost estimation model to determine actual provider costs and develop payment rates based on those costs.

Removed Section 3, which stated the act would take effect immediately (this provision was replaced with a simpler immediate effective date clause in the new Section 2).

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill title from 'implementing a cost estimation model and automatic market rate increases' to 'implementing automatic market rate increases' to reflect the removal of the cost estimation requirement.

Updated committee assignment history to show additional committee discharges and amendments in the legislative process.

S4472A → S4472B · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision adds a requirement for the Office of Children and Family Services to use a cost estimation model to determine child care payment rates, alongside the existing automatic market rate increases. The change aims to ensure payment rates are based on actual provider costs including salaries, benefits, facility expenses, and quality-related costs, while also requiring consultation with stakeholders and use of statistically valid data.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from solely implementing automatic market rate increases to also requiring a cost estimation model to determine payment rates for child care assistance.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for the Office of Children and Family Services to use a cost estimation model to determine actual costs incurred by child care providers, including employee salaries, benefits, facility costs, and compliance costs.

Added requirement that the cost estimation model must be statistically valid using complete and current data with rigorous collection methods.

Added requirement for the office to consult with stakeholders including child care resource and referral agencies, providers, and state advisory councils when developing the cost estimation model.

Added requirement that the cost estimation model must account for costs of providing services at different quality levels if a quality rating system is being used.

DEFINITION

Modified the definition of payment rates to specify they must be set in accordance with either a market-rate survey or an approved alternative methodology.

TIMELINE

Added new subdivision 5-a to Section 410-x of the social services law establishing the cost estimation model requirements.

S4472 → S4472A · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill amends the social services law to simplify how child care assistance payment rates are calculated. The change removes language that previously capped payments at actual costs and clarifies that payments should equal the applicable market-related rate established by the department. This provides more flexibility for the state to set rates based on market conditions rather than being strictly limited to actual costs.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on child care assistance under the block grant, but the mechanism for determining payment rates has been modified.

FISCAL

Removed the phrase 'actual cost of care but no more than' from the payment rate calculation, allowing the department to set rates based on market-related payment rates without the previous cost cap language.

DEFINITION

Changed 'market-related' to 'market-related' in brackets, indicating a clarification or adjustment to how the payment rate is defined in the statute.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting and bracket adjustments to clarify what text is new versus old law, with no substantive policy impact.

Implements automatic market rate increases for child care assistance

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