ALBANY — The state Assembly has transformed an Albany conference room into a free ... child care,” he said. “The average middle-class family doesn’t have access to a free, taxpayer-funded ...

It includes proposals to provide universal free preschool and make child care more affordable ... “Obviously, there are safety considerations … entrance and exits, and windows and outlets.” ...

Child care providers have used the money to raise teachers’ pay, buy supplies and pay mortgages. In September, those funds expire, one of the last of the pandemic-era safety net benefits to end.