NYC Council Passes Legislation to Strengthen Early Childhood Education Programs, Requiring Report on Permit Processes and Mandating Annual Outreach Campaigns

 

The New York City Council passed legislation to support early childhood education and child care programs by studying the processes for obtaining permits and licenses to operate them and identifying how the City can better support providers. The Council also approved legislation codifying the requirement for the Department of Education (DOE) to conduct an annual outreach and education campaign for early childhood education programs, ensuring they reach eligible families.

Together, the bills build on previous legislative efforts by the Council to elevate child care as a priority. Under Speaker Julie Menin, the Council created a new, standalone Subcommittee on Early Childhood Education, advanced legislation requiring the DOE to report quarterly on invoice payments to child care providers to address chronic late-payment failures, and passed a bill mandating the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to provide guidance on the Health Code to prospective child care programs applying for a permit.

“To achieve universal child care, our city must streamline the permitting process to make it easier for providers to set up and operate programs,” said Speaker Julie Menin. “Strengthening early childhood and child care programs remains one of my top priorities, and that’s why we’re proud to pass legislation that builds on our efforts to better support providers and working families. The Council will continue to lead on enacting policies that make these processes more efficient and easier to navigate.”

Supporting Early Childhood Education and Child Care Programs and Applicants

Introduction 9-A, sponsored by Council Member Linda Lee, would require the Office of Child Care and Early Childhood Education Care, in consultation with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), the Department of Buildings (DOB), and the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) to conduct a study on the processes for obtaining permits and licenses or registrations to operate a child care program in New York City. The Office would also be required to submit a report on the study that identifies the steps to obtain a permit from DOHMH and the necessary support from the City for child care providers to obtain a license or registration from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.

“As we expand access to early childhood education, we must ensure that the community-based organizations can efficiently navigate our City’s application, permitting, and licensing processes,” said Council Member Linda Lee. “For too many families, child care is already hard enough to find and afford. We should not also make it unnecessarily hard for providers to open their doors, expand their programs, or serve the families who are counting on them. Early childhood education remains a top priority for this Council, and I am grateful to my colleagues for their partnership and support in advancing this legislation. Streamlining these application processes is essential if we are to meet the growing demand for these critical services.”