New York A 6982: Relates to outdoor nature-based childcare programs

Bill Text

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A06982 Summary:

BILL NOA06982 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS S07971

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SPONSORWoerner

&nbsp

COSPNSRSimpson, Carroll R

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MLTSPNSR

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Amd §§390, 390-a, 390-b, 412, 413, 424-a & 425, Soc Serv L

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Includes outdoor nature-based childcare programs under the regulatory framework for child day care providers.

Go to top A06982 Actions:

BILL NOA06982 

&nbsp

03/18/2025referred to children and families

01/07/2026referred to children and families

Go to topA06982 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA06982 Floor&nbspVotes:

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

Go to topA06982 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 6982

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN ASSEMBLY

 March 18, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. WOERNER, SIMPSON -- read once and referred to the
 Committee on Children and Families

 AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to outdoor nature-
 based child care programs

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

 1 Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 1 of section 390 of the social
 2 services law, as added by chapter 750 of the laws of 1990, is amended
 3 and a new paragraph (h) is added to read as follows:
 4 (c) "Child day care center" shall mean any program or facility caring
 5 for children for more than three hours per day per child in which child
 6 day care is provided by a child day care provider except those programs
 7 operating as a group family day care home as such term is defined in
 8 paragraph (d) of this subdivision, a family day care home, as such term
 9 is defined in paragraph (e) of this subdivision, [and] a school-age
 10 child care program, as such term is defined in paragraph (f) of this
 11 subdivision, or an outdoor nature-based child care program as defined in
 12 paragraph (h) of this subdivision.
 13 (h) "Outdoor nature-based child care program" shall mean a program
 14 operated by a child day care provider caring for children aged four
 15 years or older for more than three hours per day per child in which
 16 enrolled children spend most of their time outdoors or in a structure
 17 providing a warm and dry place to play during inclement weather. Such
 18 structure may be a studio, yurt, teepee, greenhouse or similar structure
 19 and may have a composting toilet or outhouse with an appropriate hand
 20 cleaning station. Such structure may be heated by a woodstove or other
 21 heat source, provided that such heat source is safe and inspected by the
 22 office of children and family services as well as the fire safety
 23 inspector of any local village, town or city having jurisdiction over
 24 the site of the program. Such outdoor nature-based child care program
 25 shall only be licensed on a farm or in a nature preserve, park or other

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD10300-01-5

 A. 6982 2

 1 open space comprising at least seven contiguous acres of land owned or
 2 leased by the program or by the director, owner or proprietor of such
 3 program.
 4 § 2. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 2 of section 390 of the social
 5 services law, as amended by section 3 of part H of chapter 56 of the
 6 laws of 2019, is amended to read as follows:
 7 (a) Child day care centers caring for seven or more children, outdoor
 8 nature-based child care programs and group family day care programs, as
 9 defined in subdivision one of this section, shall obtain a license from
 10 the office of children and family services and shall operate in accord-
 11 ance with the terms of such license and the regulations of such office.
 12 Initial licenses and subsequent licenses shall be valid for a period of
 13 up to four years so long as the provider remains substantially in
 14 compliance with applicable law and regulations during such period.
 15 § 3. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 2-a of section 390 of the social
 16 services law, as added by chapter 416 of the laws of 2000, is amended to
 17 read as follows:
 18 (a) The office of children and family services shall promulgate regu-
 19 lations which establish minimum quality program requirements for
 20 licensed and registered child day care homes,