How would you feel if we told you New York State gave about $30 million to the State Police to create a program that, right now, troopers say isn't even possible? Keep in mind that money is made up of your tax dollars.

Here's what happened: Under the Safe Act, the law calls for a database that can do background checks on a person buying ammunition. New York State Police was tasked with designing and implementing this. It was supposed to be up and running in January of 2014, but State Police say they just don't have the technology to do it.

As a part of this report we looked into other ways that money could be spent.

Child Care Council CEO Barbara-Ann Mattle says, "We develop and learn more in the first three years of our lives than we ever will again. So if you can get kids at that age into an education program they have a far better chance to succeed in life."

Child Care Council is a group that helps low income families find subsidies so they can send their children to day care and educational programs. In Rochester, we have more than 50 percent of children living in poverty.

Mattle says, "$33 million would go a long way to improve that statistic in our area."

When we told Mattle there is about $30 million sitting with the State Police untouched she said, "That's a crime. It really is a crime. The money needs to be where it can be used and where it can do the most good to the community."

The money was given to the New York State Police so they could develop and create a system to run background checks on anyone who buys ammunition. It is a requirement under the New York State SAFE Act. The system was supposed to be up and running more than a year ago and when asked where the system stands last month, Superintendent Joseph D'Amico of New York State Police said, "So as of today we continue to work with the technology people to find the solution, but nothing is in place."

Senator Patrick Gallivan was the one asking about the background check system as the superintendent testified in front of the State Senate. We asked him if he thinks the system will ever be operational.

Senator Gallivan: "I think it is nearly impossible."

Amanda Ciavarri: "Did we essentially allocate money to a program that may never exist?"

Senator Gallivan: "I think the potential is there for that."

At Child Care Council, Mattle says they serve about 22 percent of eligible children in Rochester. If they were given a grant that was just part of the untouched money they could help almost all the children that are in need. Governor Andrew Cuomo says, for now, the money is staying where it is.

Ciavarri: "What would you say to taxpayers about the fact that $30 million was allocated to design and develop an ammunition background system, under the SAFE Act, that a year after it was supposed to be implemented has yet to be created."

Governor Cuomo: "We allocated money to create the database. The State Police are working on it, but it also has to be right. I would rather they do it right than they rush it, waste money and come up with bad information."

"For it not to be allocated there and be allocated where it will not be used seems crazy," says Mattle.

Right now, there are bills that have bipartisan support in Albany that would amend parts of the SAFE Act. One calls for eliminating the background checks on ammunition purchases (Bill 5629).

Legislation:

Bill 5628

Bill 5629

Bill 5630A

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