Every Child Counts Newsletter
Legislative Update
March 20, 2009 |
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Legislative Term of the Week:
Concurrence: Agreement by one Chamber to a proposal or action taken by the other Chamber.
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Quote of the Week:
"The only tired I was, was tired of giving in."
Rosa Parks ________________
RESULTS Workshop on Sunday, March 22 in Waterloo, Iowa
At the meeting, you will learn about RESULTS and their anti-poverty work, get trained on effective advocacy techniques, and take action on health care reform. You will also learn how you can become a volunteer with RESULTS. For more information, click here.
Every Child Matters is pleased to announce the release of their second free video in as many weeks, "Homeland Insecurity: Why New Investments in Children and Youth Must Be a Priority for the Obama Administration and the 111th Congress." _________________
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| Greetings! |
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It was another interesting week at the Capitol. Both Houses spent a lot of time debating bills and not a lot of time in Committees. Many of the bills listed below have had some kind of movement. I have several items to share with you today:
I am pleased to report that payday lending legislation is once again alive. SSB 1307 was introduced as a Ways and Means bill. A Subcommittee meeting was held on the bill on 3/18 and the bill was voted out of the Sub and on to the full Committee.
Governor Culver announced the launching of a webiste to see how the money from the Economic Recovery Act is being used in Iowa. The website is to help Iowans learn about the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and is also intended to track state efforts to make the best use of Iowa's funds, providing accountability and transparency.
The Revenue Estimating Conference met today.
This group discusses the revenue estimates for the state and these estimates are used by the Governor in the preparation of the budget and by the General Assembly. Unfortunately, the news is not good. They projected a further drop of almost $130 million this fiscal year, and $270 million next fiscal year, compared with its estimates in December. The governor already had cut the current fiscal year 2009 budget 1.5 percent across the board, and had recommended deeper cuts for many services for the next budget year, beginning July 1. More news to come on the budget........ And finally, the third in series of regional White House Forums on Health Reform will be Held Monday in Des Moines. You will be able to watch the forum from your computer. You can also submit questions to be raised at the Forum. Enjoy the Update ~
Sheila
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| The Federal Update |
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Early Childhood Hearings
On March 19th, the House Education and Labor Committee held a committee hearing on strengthening early childhood education. The hearings examined early learning and child care needs of children and families, as well as collaborative state efforts and other initiatives to deliver high quality care and education to children from birth through age five. Click on the name of the Witness to view individual testimony. Archived Webcast
Witnesses:
- Harriet Dichter, Deputy Secretary Office of Child Development and Early Learning Harrisburg, PA
- Sue Russell, President, Child Care Services Association Chapel Hill, NC
- Gina Adams, Senior Fellow, Urban Institute
Center on Labor, Human Services and Population Washington, DC
- Dr. Lillian Lowery, Secretary, Delaware Department of Education Dover, DE
View shorter video excerpts of testimony.
On March 17th, the Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education Subcommittee held a hearing on Improving Early Childhood Development Policies and Practices.
Archived Webcast Rep. George Miller (CA) Opening Statement
Witnesses:
- Harriet Meyer, Co-Chair Illinois Early Learning Council
- Jessie Rasmussen, Vice President, Buffett Early Childhood Fund Nebraska
- James Redmon, Executive Director, Kansas Children's Cabinet and Trust Fund
- Holly Robinson, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning
- Don Soifer, Executive Vice President, Lexington Institute Virginia
- Helene Stebbins, Project Coordinator, National Center on Children in Poverty New York
Child and Adult Food Program Reauthorization
The Child and Adult Care Food Program, which serves more than two million healthy meals and snacks a day to children in child care settings, is up for reauthorization this year. It is a vital support for children who might otherwise go through the day hungry. With the increasing price of food and overall food insecurity among families and communities in today's economy, the role of CACFP is all the more critical.
Congress is taking notice. On March 4, the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee held a hearing on improving nutrition for America's children in difficult economic times. It was clear in testimony that more needs to be done to support CACFP and other child nutrition programs. Keep in mind that Senator Tom Harkin in Chair of the Committee. | |
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Bills
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 Early Childhood and School Readiness
HF 7- An Act establishing a parental involvement grant program and making an appropriation. Referred to Education. Subcommittee, Abdul-Samad, Bukta,and Sweeney. Subcommittee passed bill on 1/21. STATUS - Referred to Approps
HF 562 - STATE CHILD CARE ADVISORY COUNCIL -Requires one of the seven members of the Council on Human Services to be a member of the Child Care Advisory Council. Makes changes to the membership on the council, including that a slot for an unregistered child care home provider be for a "family, friend, and neighbor child care" provider. Identifies four additional slots for the advisory council (business, from nominees by the Chamber of Commerce executives, community empowerment office, and Iowa after-school alliance, the statewide preschool program for four-year-old children). Allows the council to advise the DHS on additional matters, including the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant and other funding sources. Requires the DHS to give the council various financial information. Requires the council to make reports to the DHS and the Governor. Introduced by Representative Petersen, et al. UPDATE - Passed House of Representatives with amendments (included now in bill) 94 - 0 on 3/19.
SF 414 - An Act providing for a pilot project supporting high=quality child care for low=income children. Introduced by Senator Bolkcom. Referred to Human Resources. Subcommittee, Bolkcom (C), Boettger , Schmitz UPDATE - passed Senate. On to House and referred to House Human Resources Committee
HF 703 - An Act relating to preschool support provided through school ready children grants under the community empowerment initiative. Status - passed House Education Committee. Placed on debate calendar.
HF 754 -(formerly HF 419) - An Act relating to regulation of child care by the department of human services by providing for licensing of child development homes, establishing a regulatory fee and appropriating the fee proceeds, making penalties applicable, and providing effective dates. Subcommittee, Mascher, Petersen and Soderberg. Passed Human Resources Committee. UPDATE - Referred to Appropriations Committee.
HF 739 (formerly HF 565) - An Act providing for a state research and development prekindergarten through grade twelve school. Passed out of Education Committee on 3/11. UPDATE - Referred to Appropriations. Subcommittee, Cohoon, Huseman, and Wenthe NEW
HF 576 - An Act relating to the criteria used for selection of school districts for participation in the statewide preschool program for four=year=old children and providing effective and applicability dates Child Well-being and Development
SF 389- An Act relating to health care, health care providers, and health care coverage, providing for appropriations, providing penalties, and providing retroactive and other effective dates. Has many divisions. The purpose of the chapter is to ensure that all children and all other Iowans in the state have affordable, quality health care coverage, and to decrease health care costs and health care coverage costs. UPDATE - Passed Senate Passed 30-18. Moved to House and Referred to House Human Resources Committee.
HF 382 - A study bill relating to the public health system by providing for the voluntary accreditation of certain public health agencies, the adoption of Iowa public health standards, the establishment of an accreditation data collection system, creating a fund, and providing for a penalty and an effective date. 1-29-09. Passed House Human Resources Committee. UPDATE - Referred to Appropriations.
HF 448 - A bill for an act requiring testing and abatement of lead hazards in certain residential dwellings and child care facilities, requiring inspections of certain residential housing for lead hazards prior to sale, establishing a childhood lead poisoning prevention and control committee. Referred to Human Resources. Sponsored by Ford, Hunter, Smith and Petersen. Companion bill SF 213.
HF 636- STATE CHILD & DEPENDENT CARE CREDIT (Sands) Increases the income level before the state child & dependent care credit ends to $50,000, and increases the other income thresholds. (Ways & Means)
SSB 1307 -A study bill for an act relating to the regulation of delayed deposit service businesses. Referred to Ways and Means. Subcommittee: Stewart, Bolkcom, Feenstra
Other Bills of Interest
HF 10 - An Act relating to employees who are breast=feeding. UPDATE - Passed out of Labor Committee 11/6
SF 137 - An Act providing that wage discrimination is an unfair employment
practice under the Iowa civil rights Act and providing an enhanced remedy. UPDATE - House passed but with an amendment so it will have to return to the Senate. The Senate approved the bill originally 32-18
SF 264 - A study bill for an act concerning the appointment of members to local boards, commissions, committees, and councils. UPDATE - Passed House on 3/18.
HSB 268 - ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS (Education) Requires the state universities and community colleges to develop a statewide articulation system for an associate or bachelor of applied science. Requires the Regents to accept up to 80 hours of credit from a community college transfer. Requires the agreement to include the general education courses needed and a guarantee that an associates degree from a community college is fully transferable. Requires an appeal process and annual reviews. STATUS - passed House Education Committee.
HF 602 - ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING OFFICE Establishes an independent office of Administrative Hearings in the DIA. Makes the administrator a chief administrative law judge appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. PASSED, 20-0 FM: Isenhart
Bills Signed by the Governor
An Act relating to disaster assistance by providing a jumpstart
housing assistance program, disaster aid individual assistance grants, and community disaster grants, making appropriations, and providing effective and retroactive applicability dates. Signed by Governor Culver on 2/2.
SF 101- Establishing a shaken baby syndrome prevention program in the department of public health. Signed by Governor on 3/5. |
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