BILL NUMBER: S5207
SPONSOR: SCARCELLA-SPANTON
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the military law, in relation to establishing the "guard
our children act"
 
PURPOSE:
This bill provides child care fee assistance to families of National
Guard members, with subsidies.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Titles this legislation the "Guard our Children Act".
Section 2: Creates the Childcare Program for the New York National
Guard, to be established under the Division of Military and Naval
Affairs and the Office of Children and Family Services. The Program
shall provide assistance in locating, selecting and offsetting the cost
of civilian childcare when on-base child care is not available. Creates
an online database to input family information and a method to quickly
activate an account when a member is deployed and needs childcare.
Creates a subsidy for childcare and the amount of child care fee assist-
ance provided by the Federal Department of Defense. Child Care subsidies
are submitted directly to the childcare provider.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In order to both retain and attract more National Guard members, New
York State needs to address one of the many deterrents for National
Guard families - affording quality child care when they are deployed.
New York needs to step(p in because even with fee assistance from the
Federal Department of Defense, childcare for National Guard members is
still more expensive than the on base care that is afforded to most
other military groups. Outside of the cost, the burden of finding quali-
ty child care weighs heavily on National Guard families. This program
seeks to alleviate the burden by providing assistance in locating and
selecting childcare.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024; Held in Veterans, Homeland Security, and Military Affairs Senate
Committee.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
90 Days after it becomes law; however, effective immediately, any addi-
tions, amendments, or repeal of any rule/regulation needed for its
implementation may be made.