• $11.5 million for voluntary preschool program new grants

• $7,477,675 is appropriated into the school ready children grants account 
• $2,575,575 for quality of early care programs
• $8,772,150 is appropriated for the preschool tuition assistance and supportive services
• $15,214,551 is appropriated for family support services and parent education programs
• $2,000,000 from the First Years First account is to be allocated to the general aid categorical funding
• $916,700 is allocated for professional development for the early care, health and education system

HF 811 (HHS approps):

• $7,350,000 is appropriated for the early childhood grants program (significant to note that no cut was experienced in this particular line item)
• $1,097,084 is allocated for professional development for the early care, health and education  
• $770,226 for HOPES grants
• $90,000 for a child vision screening program implemented through the university of Iowa hospitals and clinics in collaboration with community empowerment areas

• $176,542 for grants to individual patients who have phenylketonuria (PKU) to assist with the costs of necessary special foods 
• $159,603 to address the healthy mental development of children from birth through five years  
• $190,328 shall be used to provide audiological services and hearing aids for children
• $383,271 for child health specialty clinics
• Child Death Review Team - moved to the office of the Medical Examiner (was an independent office in Public Health)

Human Services

• $37,799,472 for child care assistance
  $1,536,181 is allocated for child care quality improvement. NEW LANGUAGE - The department shall revise the achievement bonus provisions under the voluntary quality rating system to provide that the bonus amount paid for a provider renewing a rating at levels 2 through 4 in years subsequent to the initial rating shall not be more than 50 percent of the amount of the initial bonus award.  For providers who renew at a lower rating level than previously awarded, the achievement bonus amount shall not be more than 50 percent of the award amount for the lower rating level
• $14,629,830 for hawk-i
  

SF 389 (health care coverage):

• Make hawk-i creditable coverage
• Allow for the use of one pay stub as verification of income for Medicaid and hawk-i
• Allow for the averaging of three years of income for self-employed people to establish eligibility for Medicaid and hawk-i
• Extend the period of renewal by Medicaid members by mailing the renewal form on the first day of the month prior to the month of renewal
• It allows for reimbursement for translation and interpretation services under Medicaid and hawk-i
• Creates a dental-only option in hawk-i for children who have medical but not dental coverage.

SF 478 (standings bill): 

• Child Care licensure - DHS shall implement a regulatory fee for licensure of child care facilities.  The fee requirements shall provide for tiered amounts based upon a child care facility's capacity and a child development home's regulatory category at the time of licensure. Also requires federal background checks.
• Research Activities Credit - Dept of Revenue will report annually on the usage of this credit on those who claim $500,000 or more. 
• At risk children grants -$ 11,493,891 (Shared Visions Preschool program and 0-3 parent support program included in this amount)

HF 820 - (Federal Block Grant) - this is the bill that has the language for use of the economic stimulus money.

• $2,365,556 of the $18 million from the ARRA child care development block grant is transferred to the early childhood programs grant account in the Iowa empowerment fund for child care scholarships for families from 145% to 185% poverty.

The above provides you with a list of some of the items that relate to the three priority areas of Every Child Counts which are:  Early Childhood and School Readiness, Child Well-being and Development and Family Economic Success. 

This was a challenging year because of the recession and the natural disasters.  Our Governor and Legislative leaders accomplished a lot, but they also left some work unfinished.  Items such as federal deductibility, predatory lending, mental health parity and transparency will need to be addressed next year.

Enjoy the Update ~