ALBANY, NY (WENY)--CURRENTLY NEW YORK’S LAWS TIE CHILD CARE access TO THE HOURS A PARENT WORKS.  

ADVOCATES SAID THIS RULE IS OUTDATED AND EXCLUDES FAMILIES WHO WORK FLUCTUATING HOURS OR SIMPLY NEED TO TAKE TIME OFF FOR A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT, FROM CARE THEY NEED. 

“These are things that—it makes it incredibly difficult to one establish the consistency that a child needs in routine. And two, it makes it really difficult for working parents. Life happens and this is just such an onerous requirement and a barrier,” said Shoshana Hershkowitz, campaign manager for the Empire State Campaign for Child Care
 
THE legislation, NICKNAMED THE ‘DECOUPLING BILL’ Would LET FAMILIES ACCESS CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE REGARDLESS OF THE HOURS THEY WORK.  
 
SOME LAWMAKERS SAid THIS LEGISLATION, IF SIGNED, WILL NOT ONLY MAKE A difference FOR FAMILIES, BUT ALSO CHILDCARE PROVIDERS. 
 
“I think it would give a lot of stability to the providers as well knowing that they could get paid for the child for the full week instead of certain days. And that’s honestly something that providers have been asking for is to get paid for the enrollment of the child not the attendance,” said Sen. Jabari Brisport (D-25th Senate District).
 
WHILE THIS LEGISLATION HAS BEEN VETOED IN THE PAST, ADVOCATES SAid THERE ARE A FEW REASONS THEY BELIEVE THIS TIME IT WILL BECOME LAW.
 
THAT INCLUDES THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNOR’S CHILDCARE AVAILABILITY TASK FORCE HAS HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR THIS BILL.  
 
ADVOCATES ALSO POINT OUT NEW FEDERAL REGULATIONS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO FUNDS FOR THE STATES CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM COULD BE A PUSH FOR GOV. KATHY HOCHUL TO SIGN THIS BILL INTO LAW.  
 
“One of the principal points of those rules and what it calls for states to do is to break down barriers just like this one that are keeping some of the families that need childcare assistance most from being able to access that assistance,” said Dede Hill, director of policy at the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy.