1. I. Powers and Responsibilities

   The commission shall advise and assist the Governor in the development of policies and programs designed to provide quality, affordable and accessible child care. It shall explore child care alternatives and costs and, based on its analysis, develop a comprehensive plan for public and private financing, increased availability, improved quality and diversification of child care services to children and parents throughout the State. Specifically, the commission shall:

2. (1) conduct a statewide assessment to identify the various populations in need of child care, and the public and private services now available;
3. (2) study the financial, developmental, work-related and family benefits to be derived by parents, children and the community from the ready access to quality child care;
4. (3) develop proposals for State guidelines, specific program initiatives and methods to combine the resources of government, voluntary groups, nonprofit organizations and the private sector in order to expand and improve child care facilities;
5. (4) study current methods of payment and levels of funding and identify new ways of financing in order to make child care readily available and affordable in the State, with particular emphasis on those developments that minimize the burden borne by the State's taxpayers;
6. (5) estimate the jobs generated from the establishment of a variety of child care programs throughout the State;
7. (6) make recommendations to the Governor on State child care policy, the establishment of standards for care and their enforcement, the provision of technical assistance and the development of resource and referral programs; and
8. (7) advise the Governor concerning Federal policies and actions that may affect the State's child care programs.

9. II. Membership

   The commission shall consist of not less than 25 members, including representatives of local governments, private sector corporations, private foundations, child care providers, voluntary organizations, child care advocates, women's and parents' organizations, parents, unions, and public and private educational institutions. The members of the commission shall be appointed by the Governor. Two of the members shall be appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the Assembly; two of the members shall be appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the Temporary President of the Senate; one of the members shall be appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the Minority Leader of the Assembly; and one of the members shall be appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the Minority Leader of the Senate. The commission shall be co-chaired by the Director of the Women's Division and the Honorary Chair of the Council on Children and Families.

   An Advisory Board to the commission, comprised of the commissioners and directors of State agencies which are involved with the problem of child care, as well as other appropriate public officials, shall also be established.

   Signed: Mario M. Cuomo Dated: December 12, 1984

WHEREAS, society's response to the needs of children and parents is a measure of its concern and compassion; and

WHEREAS, societal changes have dramatically increased the numbers of working parents and single heads of families with children in need of infant, preschool and after-school supervision; and

WHEREAS, quality and affordable child care is needed by parents of all income levels, and serves to enhance the economic, social and psychological stability of the family;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mario M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of New York, do hereby establish the New York State Commission on Child Care.