NY A01894

Exempts parents and caretaker relatives of eligible children from losing public assistance eligibility when lack of appropriate, suitable, and reasonably-accessible child care prevents them from meeting work or activity requirements.

Adds parents and caretaker relatives facing child care barriers as an exempt category under the work participation requirements, allowing them to maintain benefits during periods when child care is unavailable.

Specifies that child care must be appropriate, suitable, within a reasonable distance, and reflective of parental preferences or preferences included in the parent's assessment to qualify for the exemption.

Applies the child care exemption to ineligibility provisions across multiple sections of social services law governing public assistance, employment acceptance requirements, and self-sufficiency efforts.

Takes effect 120 days after the bill becomes law, with rule and regulation changes authorized immediately to implement the provisions.