Hi John,

There is another critical piece of legislation that would help break down barriers to child care assistance for families, currently awaiting Governor Hochul’s signature.

The presumptive eligibility bill will allow families to access child care assistance while they await processing of their applications. For many families, this would help prevent parents from missing out on job opportunities and allow children to experience more continuity of care. This bill was unanimously passed by both the NYS Senate and Assembly. Now, Governor Hochul needs to sign it for it to become law.

Here’s why presumptive eligibility (A.4099-A/S.4667-A.) matters:

Relief for Families - Current state laws often leave families waiting weeks, even months, for child care assistance approval. Passage of the presumptive eligibility bill would enable immediate access to care, without unnecessary delays.
Promise of Federal Funding - A recently enacted federal rule, the Improving Child Care Access, Affordability, and the Child Care and Development Fund, clarifies that federal funds can cover the presumptive eligibility period and encourages states to implement this policy broadly.
Bipartisan Support - The presumptive eligibility bill has strong bipartisan support (147 Y, 0 N in Assembly; 60 Y, 0 N in Senate), reflecting its importance to everyone in our NYS community.

Getting Governor Hochul’s signature on this sooner rather than later is crucial to providing much-needed support for New York’s working families.

Join us in advocating for presumptive eligibility, to advance equity and ensure every child in New York has access to the care they and their families need for a brighter future.

Thank you for your continued dedication to our shared goal of equity and opportunity for all.

Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari
Co-Executive Director
Alliance for Quality Education