Int 0477-2022

Be it enacted by the Council as follows: Section 1. Definitions. For purposes of this local law, the following terms have the following meanings: Child care program. The term "child care program" means any program that meets the definition provided in subdivision d of section 47.01 of the New York city health code. City. The term "city" means the city of New York. Task force. The term "task force" means the child care task force established by this local law. � 2. Task force established. There is hereby established a task force to be known as the child care task force. � 3. Duties. The task force shall study how to make child care more affordable through free or low-cost child care, how to make child care more accessible for families in the city, and how to provide support and funding to child care programs and workers at such programs. The task force shall take into account the number of children ages five and under in the city, the capacity of child care providers, the average incomes of families with children in the city, the projected costs of implementing any recommended programs, and any other considerations the task force deems relevant. � 4. Membership. a. The task force shall be composed of the following members, one of whom the mayor shall designate to serve as chair: 1. The commissioner of health and mental hygiene, or such commissioner's designee; 2. The commissioner of buildings, or such commissioner's designee; 3. The commissioner of the administration for children's services, or such commissioner's designee; 4. The executive director of the commission on gender equity, or such executive director's designee; 5. Two members appointed by the mayor; and 6. Three members appointed by the speaker of the council. b. Members appointed pursuant to paragraphs 5 and 6 of subdivision a of this section shall have experience or expertise in child care advocacy or reform, child care programs in New York city, or the public education system run by the department of education. c. The chair may invite other officers and representatives of relevant federal, state, and local agencies and authorities, including the chancellor of the city school district or such chancellor's designee, to participate in the work of the task force. d. Each member of the task force shall serve at the pleasure of the officer who appointed the member. In the event of a vacancy on the task force, a successor shall be appointed in the same manner as the original appointment. All members of the task force shall serve without compensation. � 5. Meetings. a. The chair shall convene the first meeting of the task force no later than 30 days after being informed that the last member has been appointed. b. The chair may invite experts and stakeholders to attend meetings of the task force and to provide testimony and information relevant to the task force's duties. c. The task force shall meet no less than once every three months. d. The meeting requirement described in subdivision c of this section shall be suspended after the task force submits the report required by section six of this local law. � 6. Report. a. No later than one year after the first meeting of the task force, the task force shall submit a report to the mayor, the speaker of the council, and the public advocate setting forth its findings and recommendations, which shall include, but need not be limited to, the following: 1. Any challenges associated with implementing affordable child care programs; 2. The projected costs associated with implementing affordable child care programs; 3. Recommendations for policies and programs to make the costs of child care programs in the city more affordable for caregivers and families; 4. Recommendations for increasing support and funding to child care programs and workers at such programs, such as providing training or other free, low-cost or low-barrier resources; 5. Recommendations for increasing the number of child care programs in the city, including ways to increase the number of applications for licensed child care programs; and 6. A summary of information the task force considered in formulating its recommendations. b. The mayor shall post the report required by section six of this local law in a conspicuous location on the city's website no later than 10 days after its submission to the mayor, the speaker of the council, and the public advocate. � 7. Agency support. Each agency named by section four of this local law shall provide appropriate staff and resources to support the work of such agency related to the task force. � 8. Termination. The task force shall dissolve 180 days after the date on which it submits the report required by section six of this local law. � 9. This local law takes effect immediately. JEF /BM LS #7335/7652 10/3/2022 9:25p