Includes Increasing Tax Credits
By Hank Russell
A group of Republican Assembly members have introduced a series of bills that they say will make child care more affordable for New York families. Five of these bills are being introduced by Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square). The following legislation would:
- increase the state allowance of qualified expenses by 15% for the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit
- increase the State Earned Income Tax Credit amount from 30% to 45%
- increase the State Empire State Child Tax Credit amount to 45% of the Federal Child Tax Credit amount
- double the existing Child Care Creation & Expansion Tax Credit amount from $25 million per year to $50 million per year
- create a new Child Care Facility Capital Improvement Tax Credit to help childcare providers enhance and update facilities
Ra is currently working on another piece of legislation that would call on the federal government to reinstate the Enhanced Child Tax Credit permanently.
Another Long Island state assemblyman, Jarett Gandolfo (R-Sayvile), proposed two bills — one that would establish a waiver to allow childcare to be provided in the home to multiple families as an unlicensed and unregulated daycare setting to encourage and facilitate parental choice, and another that would institute a regional cost factor for childcare subsidies by regions across the state.
Other proposed legislation include two bills from Matt Slater (R,C-Yorktown), which would allow local governments across New York State to offer an exemption from real property taxes on licensed child daycare centers and Implementing an eligible substitute childcare database for childcare providers when in need of coverage or support; two bills from Josh Jensen (R,C-Greece) that would increase aid and provide program improvements for universal pre-K and increase provider options by adopting rules and regulations that would establish a model for childcare that includes hours outside of traditional daycare models such as nights and weekends; and a bill from Brian Maher (R,C-Walden) that would conduct a new study to examine existing barriers by the state which prevent new creation of providers.
According to Ra, these would result in over $2,300 in savings for families each year. “We have a child care crisis and providing this support will not only help families but will boost the New York State economy.,” he said.
Keith Brown (R,C-Northport) said an additional $1 billion into the state budget to improve child care will definitely benefit families.
“The high cost of living and inflation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic have taken a toll on businesses and families alike. Affordable child care programs have become scarce, and there is a disturbing shortage of child care providers available — both of these trends have correlated with increased child poverty rates in our state, which is concerning and unacceptable,” he said. “No family or mother should have to give up or be driven away from child care due to inaccessibility or unaffordability, and by investing in our child care system and making the improvements needed, we can make sure families and mothers do not face this dilemma.”
Long Island Life & Politics has reached out to the Democratic legislators for comment and is still waiting for a reply.
Ra said he expects this legislative package to pass. “Child care is a universal issue where I think we can find bipartisan support,” he said. “I hope that as we move forward in crafting our state budget we can include these items.”