Parents would get more information about day care centers under new NYC Council bill

NEW YORK (WABC) -- It may be one of the toughest things parents have to do: leave their children in the care of someone else.

But now New York City hopes to put parents at ease with a new way to check on a day care center's safety record.

Currently there is no easy way for a parent to find out if the day care center they're about to send their child to has had violations or is unlicensed.

The new bill would cut out the red tape and help parents make the right choice.

It all comes after the death of 3-month old Karl Towndrow this past summer.

His mother took him to SoHo Child Care on the recommendation of people in the neighborhood.

Sadly, the baby died during a midday nap, his first day away from his mother. Police say the day care center was unlicensed and the owner, who found the baby blue-lipped and unresponsive, tried to give him CPR but wasn't trained in the life-saving procedure which officials say is required of licensed providers.

It happened in Councilwoman Margaret Chin's district and that is why she joined forces with Councilman Jimmy Vacca to introduce a bill.

This would require the city to publish reports listing the names and addresses of day care centers that have been shut down or given cease and desist orders because they were unlicensed.

"We worked together on the legislation to help parents navigate this whole day care system to find out which day cares are licensed and which ones have been cited for violations so that their children will be protected," said Chin.

The bill is being introduced Wednesday. If passed, and Councilwoman Chin believes it will, a web site will be created that will allow parents to access this critical information easily.