MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:     
FEBRUARY 6, 2008

CONTACT: JOSHUA SLAUGHTER
    Office:  (631) 852-1300
Cell:  (631) 456-1718
 Email: Joshua.Slaughter@suffolkcountyny.gov

Browning And Colleagues Override Veto And Pass
Prompt Payment Policy For Day Care Providers

Hauppauge, NY- Legislator Kate Browning (WF-Shirley) was able to garner support from both her colleagues in the majority caucus, as well as across the aisle from the minority caucus, to override County Executive Steve Levy’s veto of Resolution 1353-2007, which was sponsored by Legislator Vivian Viloria-Fischer (D-Setauket) and co-sponsored by Legislator Browning. The legislature overrode the veto with a 16-1 vote. The new law requires the county to pay interest on payments to day care providers if they are not paid within 30 days after services are rendered to the county.

Over the last several years day care providers, who accept children receiving social services subsidies for childcare, were being paid as late as 60 days after they had submitted paperwork for services rendered on behalf of social services. This delay in payment was causing many providers, who run small local businesses, to be in jeopardy of paying basic bills, and in some cases even losing their homes. Day care providers were being forced to make a tough decision, continue to provide services and possibly lose their businesses, or refuse to accept children from social services. This could have left many mothers and fathers, who depend on this service so they can work, to either pay for day care on their own, or to stay at home and go back on welfare. “This override was a win for Suffolk’s children, Suffolk’s needy families and Suffolk’s economy,” said Legislator Vivian Viloria-Fischer. Viloria-Fisher continued, “These children's families are among the most vulnerable members of our community. Delayed payment to childcare providers has forced some to shut their doors or deny services to these Social Services clients.  This in turn affects the health and well being of children. Children for whom a safe, professionally run center can offer the nourishment of both mind and body to which we believe every child in our county is entitled.

Legislator Browning stated, “This is a business, and like any business we need to pay our bills in a timely fashion. The county has an obligation to pay day care providers within thirty days after services have been provided to the county. By delaying these payments we put our children in danger of not receiving the care they need, and may even force hard working parents to stay at home to care for their kids”. Many day care providers affected by this problem reside and operate day care centers in the third legislative district, which Legislator Browning represents. Kathy Liguori, who runs Tudor Time Centers in Medford and Middle Island, as well as Edna Guarino and Tatyana Reyes, who run day care centers in Mastic Beach and Shirley respectively, were strong activists for this policy. These providers attended countless legislative meetings for the past year to speak before the legislature, and they were integral in raising awareness for this issue. “Without the hard work and determination of the day care providers, we would never have never been able to accomplish this. They deserve all the credit for bringing this issue to the forefront of the Suffolk County Legislature”.

This law will take effect 90 days after its filing with the Secretary of State.