Requires social services districts to maintain a waiting list of families who have applied for child care assistance and data regarding the income of such families

New tracking for families seeking child care

Beginning October 1, 2026, New York social services districts must track eligible families who applied for child care assistance but have not received it. Waiting lists must record request and assistance dates, children’s ages, and family totals on the first day of each month. Districts must send annual reports to the Office of Children and Family Services, starting October 15, 2027. Each report covers monthly data for the preceding October 1–September 30 period. Reports must show average waiting times and family counts in six waiting-time groups: under 2 weeks; 2 weeks to under 1 month; 1 to under 3 months; 3 to under 6 months; 6 months to under 1 year; and 1 year or more. They must also show average child ages, children eligible for infant, toddler, preschool, and school-age slots, and existing subsidized slots by age. Reports must count families who could receive help if slots were available in a particular program. Districts must also report applicant incomes by family size and counts of families receiving or denied help. Those counts must be grouped by state median income: under 50%, 50%–75%, and 75%–85%. The state office must combine the data into a county-by-county report by December 1, 2027, and annually afterward. It must send that report to the Governor, Assembly Speaker, Senate Temporary President, and legislative committee chairs overseeing children and families and state finances. All reports must exclude names, addresses, and other identifying details. Districts need not create waiting lists for earlier dates or collect the required applicant data for applications made before October 1, 2026. Districts must also send block-grant child care data to the state office on its schedule to meet federal reporting rules. The law allows needed rule changes on or before its effective date. It does not add funding, guarantee assistance, or change eligibility or benefit amounts.