| Contact: | Sunny Mindel/Edward Skyler 212/788-295 |
-Remarks By Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani At Public Hearing On Local Laws-
The bill before me today is Introductory Number 291-B, sponsored by Speaker Vallone, Council Member Ronnie Eldridge and several of their colleagues. This bill expands the oversight and improves the quality of certain subsidized family child care services.
This legislation would guarantee a minimum of five annual on-site inspections by the Administration for Children's Services (ACS), or its approved designee, of all homes where subsidized child care is provided. An increased schedule of visits would be required for new child care providers and for those providers whose status has been restored after a temporary period of ineligibility.
Subsidized child care providers will receive additional instruction and training to ensure that they are compliant with all laws and regulations. ACS will assist providers in the collection, review and monitoring of medical and immunization records of children in their care, as well as the creation and maintenance of fingerprint records and child abuse clearance files of providers. In addition, ACS will monitor the medical records of providers. Child care providers will be encouraged to offer off-hour child care for parents who have alternative work or education-related schedules.
The care and protection of our City's children continues to be a priority of my Administration. Introductory Number 291-B will go a long way towards assuring parents that their children are being placed in safe, supportive and nurturing environments. My Administration has worked with the Council to design a bill that guarantees that proper attention and monitoring will be paid to all subsidized child care providers in the City.
Today, I will also be reintroducing legislation that would make ACS a permanent charter agency to ensure that the care and protection of our City's children remain focuses of future administrations. I look forward to working with the City Council on this proposal cooperatively, as we have on the legislation before me today.
For the reasons previously stated, I will now sign the bill.