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Assembly passes measure to equalize infant ratio rules for home-based child care providers
Summary
The New York State Assembly approved Assembly Bill 4003, amending the Social Services Law to align infant labeling and ratios for home-based providers with center-based rules, with sponsors saying the change will create more slots and reduce wait lists for child care.
The New York State Assembly passed Assembly Bill 4003 on the consent calendar, a measure to amend the Social Services Law to align how 'infant' is defined for home-based child care providers with the current definition used for center-based providers.
Assemblymember Clark explained the vote on the floor, saying the bill removes a disparity that currently allows center-based providers to extend the 'infant' label only through 18 months, which can change staff-to-child ratios and allow centers to care for more children at once. "It will allow more slots to open up in our home-based providers and hopefully get some children off the wait list so those parents have care for their kids," Clark said. She added she saw no safety concern, noting similar standards already apply in center settings, and cast her vote in the affirmative.
Supporters said the change is intended to expand capacity in the home-based child care sector by making the labeling consistent across provider types. The bill text recorded on the floor states the act "shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day" after enactment.
The bill was recorded on the floor and passed on a recorded vote; the clerk announced the tally as "Ayes, 139; Noes, 0." No amendments or motions to recommit were recorded on the floor for this item.
Background: Assembly members who spoke during the brief explanation framed the change as incremental policy to ease supply constraints in child care. The bill does not, on its face, change reimbursement rates, licensing inspections, or program eligibility; it changes the statutory labeling and thus how ratios are applied for at-home providers. The transcript does not specify any accompanying funding or regulatory guidance to be issued by state agencies.
Votes at a glance: Assembly Bill 4003 (calendar 128) — Passed; recorded tally Ayes 139, Noes 0. The measure will take effect on the 180th day unless otherwise specified in the enacted text.
The Assembly moved on after the consent vote to additional calendar items and adjourned to reconvene the following day.
