A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to childcare services at public meetings

Int. No. 941

By Council Members Kallos and Rosenthal

A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to childcare services at public meetings

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

                     Section 1. Chapter 47 of the New York city charter is amended to add a new section 1069.2 to read as follows:

§ 1069.2 Childcare at public meetings. a. For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Administering agency. The term “administering agency” shall mean the administration for children’s services.

Child. The term “child” shall mean a natural person under the age of thirteen years.

Childcare Services. The term “childcare services” shall mean care for a child at a location in proximity to a covered meeting by either a provider licensed and registered pursuant to section 390 of the New York state social services law or a person or entity compliant with the standards established pursuant to subdivision c of this section.

Covered Meeting. The term “covered meeting” means any public meeting held by a mayoral agency at which testimony from the public is accepted, but does not include any event or activity for which the primary purpose is entertainment or recreation.

b. The administering agency shall, upon request in a form and manner to be determined by such agency, provide childcare services at all covered meetings. Such request shall be submitted no less than five business days prior to the covered meeting by a parent, step-parent or guardian that will be attending the covered meeting.

c. Any invitation, advertisement, poster or public notice for a covered meeting, whether in print or via electronic means, shall contain information on how a request for childcare services may be submitted and the deadline for when such a request must be received.

d. The department of health and mental hygiene shall establish, by rule, standards for the provision of childcare services provided pursuant to this section by any person or entity not required to be licensed or regulated by the New York state social services law. Such standards shall at minimum include provision for a criminal history screening, a check against the statewide central register of child abuse and maltreatment required levels of training or experience in childcare, and a ratio for the number of children to adults.

e. For any meeting, other than a covered meeting or an event or activity for which the primary purpose is entertainment or recreation, that is open to the public and held by a city governmental entity other than a mayoral agency, such city governmental entity may request that childcare services be provided for such meeting pursuant to subdivision b of this section, provided that a request from a parent, step-parent or guardian that will be attending the meeting has been received and that the administering agency is informed no less than five business days prior to the meeting.

f. The requirements of this section shall be limited by the appropriation of funds available for such purpose.

§ 2. This local law takes effect one year after becoming law.

BJR

LS 255

LS 10041 / Int. 1711-2017

12/20/17  5:30PM