Establishing a child care task force.

A Local Law in relation to establishing a child care task force

This bill would establish a child care task force (“task force”) to 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, taking 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. The task force would be required to submit a report setting forth its findings and recommendations no later than one year after its first meeting. The task force would be comprised of the heads of the following agencies and offices, or their designees: the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Department of Buildings, the Administration for Children’s Services, and the Commission on Gender Equity. The task force would also include two members appointed by the Mayor and three members appointed by the Speaker of the Council, and would have the ability to invite other officers and representatives of relevant federal, state, and local agencies and authorities to participate in the work of the task force. The task force would be required to convene its first meeting no later than 30 days after being informed of the last task force member’s appointment, meet no less than once every three months, and the task force would dissolve 180 days after the date on which the task force submits its report.