New York S 5207: Establishes the guard our children act

Bill Text

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S05207 Summary:

BILL NOS05207 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORSCARCELLA-SPANTON

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COSPNSRASHBY

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MLTSPNSR

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Add §257, Mil L

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Establishes a childcare program to provide active duty members of the New York national guard assistance in locating, selecting, and offsetting the cost of civilian childcare when on-base childcare is not available to such members.

Go to top S05207 Actions:

BILL NOS05207 

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02/19/2025REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS

05/28/2025REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE

01/07/2026REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS

Go to topS05207 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS05207 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS05207 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 5207

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 February 19, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. SCARCELLA-SPANTON -- read twice and ordered printed,
 and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Home-
 land Security and Military Affairs

 AN ACT to amend the military law, in relation to establishing the "guard
 our children act"

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "guard our
 2 children act".
 3 § 2. The military law is amended by adding a new section 257 to read
 4 as follows:
 5 § 257. Childcare program for New York national guard. 1. Definitions.
 6 For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the
 7 following meanings:
 8 (a) "Childcare program" or "program" means the childcare program
 9 established pursuant to subdivision two of this section.
 10 (b) "Childcare provider" means an entity licensed or registered to
 11 operate under section three hundred ninety of the social services law.
 12 (c) "Eligible children" means children between the ages of six weeks
 13 and twelve years old who are dependents of members of the New York
 14 national guard.
 15 (d) "Enrolled childcare provider" means a childcare provider enrolled
 16 in the program pursuant to this section.
 17 (e) "Member" means a member of the New York national guard.
 18 2. Establishment and purpose. The division of military and naval
 19 affairs, in conjunction with the office of children and family services,
 20 shall develop and implement a childcare program to benefit members of
 21 the New York national guard in accordance with the provisions of this
 22 section. Such program shall provide members of the New York national
 23 guard assistance in locating, selecting, and offsetting the cost of

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD08188-01-5

 S. 5207 2

 1 civilian childcare when on-base childcare is not available to such
 2 members.
 3 3. Online database. In developing the childcare program pursuant to
 4 subdivision two of this section, the division of military and naval
 5 affairs, in conjunction with the office of children and family services,
 6 shall create an online database that is accessible to all members of the
 7 New York national guard and childcare providers in the state, and that
 8 shall contain:
 9 (a) A method for any member to submit family information, including
 10 information on any eligible children in such member's family, and where-
 11 by such member may quickly activate a request for childcare under the
 12 program when such member is called to active service;
 13 (b) A list of all qualifying criteria, identification, and eligibility
 14 requirements that are needed for members to apply for subsidies under
 15 the program;
 16 (c) An application process for childcare providers to enroll in the
 17 program;
 18 (d) A searchable list of childcare providers that have been accepted
 19 into the program, including details on each such childcare provider that
 20 the division of military and naval affairs and the office of children
 21 and family services shall deem useful to members seeking a childcare
 22 provider under the program;
 23 (e) Eligibility requirements for childcare providers seeking to enroll
 24 in the program; and
 25 (f) A subsidy calculator th