Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget proposes to use $280 million in leftover COVID-19 relief funds to provide an additional round of workforce compensation bonuses to eligible child care workers throughout New York State.

The Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) has indicated in meetings and public presentations it plans to limit participation in this next round of bonus payments to providers who received bonuses in 2023. In total, 5,292 of the 18,350 providers currently operating in the state will be ineligible for 2024 child care workforce bonus payments if Governor Hochul’s budget proposal is adopted. These providers represent 29% of the licensed and registered programs in New York State.

Given the number of providers who would be excluded under the Governor’s budget proposal, the 2024-25 budget agreement must add state funds to the workforce compensation program. The Senate and Assembly proposals to include $220 million in state funds to the workforce compensation program would allow OCFS to open the program to all licensed and registered programs in the state and ensure that all eligible workers can receive payments.