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Bill No.: Summary Actions Committee&nbspVotes Floor&nbspVotes Memo Text LFIN Chamber&nbspVideo/Transcript S06550 Summary: BILL NO S06550C &nbsp SAME AS SAME AS A05352-C

&nbsp SPONSOR BRISPORT &nbsp COSPNSR &nbsp MLTSPNSR &nbsp Amd §390, Soc Serv L &nbsp Directs the department of social services to establish an outdoor, nature-based child care pilot project to explore establishing licensing guidelines for the operation of outdoor, nature-based child care programs in an outdoor space and that employ a nature-based early learning curriculum to teach enrolled children.

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STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________

6550--C

2025-2026 Regular Sessions

IN SENATE

March 17, 2025 ___________

Introduced by Sen. BRISPORT -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Children and Families -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- recommitted to the Committee on Chil- dren and Families in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- commit- tee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recom- mitted to said committee -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to outdoor, nature-based child care

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows:

1 Section 1. Legislative findings and statement of purpose. The legisla- 2 ture hereby finds that it is in the interest of the state to provide 3 children with the opportunity to learn and develop in natural outdoor 4 environments. Not only do outdoor activities promote physical fitness 5 and reduce the risk of obesity and related health issues among children, 6 but numerous studies have shown that exposure to nature enhances cogni- 7 tive abilities, creativity, problem-solving skills, and overall mental 8 health. In addition, outdoor child care fosters a sense of connection 9 and appreciation for the natural environment, promotes the development 10 of self-efficacy, autonomy, and overall confidence in interacting with 11 the natural environment, instills environmental values, and promotes 12 sustainable practices. 13 The purpose of this act is to recognize the importance of nature in 14 children's development by providing them with access to outdoor learning 15 environments, thereby encouraging them to engage in physical activities 16 and explore nature, fostering a naturally healthy lifestyle from an 17 early age and contributing to the development and well-being of children 18 in our state and, ultimately, contributing to the preservation and 19 conservation of our natural resources.

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD08350-08-6

S. 6550--C 2

1 § 2. Subdivision 1 of section 390 of the social services law is 2 amended by adding a new paragraph (h) to read as follows: 3 (h) "Outdoor, nature-based child care" shall mean a program caring for 4 children that: (i) enrolls preschool or school-age children; (ii) 5 provides early learning services in an outdoor space for not less than 6 four hours per day or fifty percent of the total daily program hours, 7 whichever is less; and (iii) employs a curriculum with nature to teach 8 enrolled children. 9 § 3. Section 390 of the social services law is amended by adding a new 10 subdivision 2-b to read as follows: 11 2-b. (a) Within one year of the effective date of this subdivision, 12 the department shall establish a pilot project to explore establishing 13 licensing guidelines for outdoor, nature-based child care programs. The 14 pilot project shall end four years after the effective date of this 15 subdivision. 16 (b) The department shall adopt rules and curriculum standards to 17 implement the pilot project and may waive or adapt licensing require- 18 ments when necessary to allow for the operation of outdoor, nature-based 19 child care programs. 20 (i) Such rules shall include, but not be limited to: 21 (1) safety protocols including ensuring adequate shelter to ensure 22 safety during inclement weather without requiring a building configured 23 for indoor program delivery; 24 (2) access to buildings for emergencies; 25 (3) requirements related to the safety of children during inclement 26 weather conditions and accounting for outdoor hazards; and 27 (4) additional training for staff in skills for outdoor child care 28 settings, including outdoor classroom management, behavior management, 29 and risky play analysis; and 30 (ii) Such curriculum standards shall include, but not be limited to: 31 (1) navigation of natural terrain; 32 (2) familiarity with flora and fauna; and 33 (3) wilderness first aid skills. 34 (c) The department shall select, or develop with eligible child care 35 providers, up to ten pilot project locations during the first year of 36 the pilot project. Beginning two years after the effective date of this 37 subdivision, additional outdoor, nature-based child care programs may 38 apply to participate in the pilot project. 39 (d) When selecting pilot project locations, the department shall aim 40 to select a mix of rural, urban and suburban locations, and shall give 41 priority to: 42 (i) existing outdoor, nature-based child care programs that are 43 already licensed by the department as child care providers; and 44 (ii) existing licensed child care centers or registered family child 45 care homes seeking to expand into nature-based early learning; 46 (iii) areas where there are few or limited licensed child care 47 programs; and 48 (iv) areas of need where licensed child care programs are at or near 49 full capacity, and where access may be restricted by enrollment wait- 50 lists. 51 (e) The department shall convene an advisory group of outdoor, 52 nature-based early learning practitioners to inform and support imple- 53 mentation of the outdoor, nature-based child care program. Such advisory 54 group shall review best practices and research for outdoor education and 55 child care in outdoor education settings and shall advise the department 56 on the development of guidelines for outdoor, nature-based child care

S. 6550--C 3

1 programs, including minimum standards for a nature-based early learning 2 curriculum. The advisory group shall be compensated only for travel. 3 (f) The department shall provide the following reports to the governor 4 and the legislature: 5 (i) within two years of the effective date of this subdivision, a 6 brief report describing the implementation of the outdoor, nature-based 7 child care pilot project, including a description of participating 8 providers and the number of children and families being served; and 9 (ii) within three years of the effective date of this subdivision, a 10 full report on the findings from the pilot project, including recommen- 11 dations for modifying or expanding the availability of outdoor, nature- 12 based child care programs. 13 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.

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