NY A10596

Amends Social Services Law Section 410-x to change child care assistance payment calculations from "actual cost of care but no more than" the market rate to "actual cost of care and equal to one hundred percent of" the applicable market-related payment rate.

Requires child care assistance payments to fully match the market-related payment rate established by the Department rather than being capped below it.

Maintains existing requirements that payment rates ensure equal access to child care for eligible children in substate areas and account for variations in costs by setting, age group, and special needs.

Takes effect immediately upon enactment.