NY A09900

Requires the Office of Children and Family Services to develop and utilize a cost estimation model to determine actual costs child care providers incur, updated at the same frequency as payment rate determinations.

Cost estimation model must account for cost drivers including employee salary and benefits, enrollment levels, facility costs, regulatory compliance, and quality service levels if a quality rating system is in use.

Office of Children and Family Services must consult with stakeholders including child care resource and referral agencies, providers, and state advisory councils when developing the model, ensuring statistical validity with complete and current data.

Requires submission of a biennial report to the governor, assembly speaker, and senate president by June 1, 2018 and every other year thereafter, detailing actual costs by setting, age group, special needs care, quality levels, major cost drivers, and comparison to market rates.

Office of Children and Family Services must post cost estimation report information on its website.