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News from Every Child Counts
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The House and the Senate have spent a lot of time in debate the last week as they work on moving bills from one Chamber to the next. Next week marks the second funnel date. This means that next week is the final date for Senate bills to be reported out of House committees (and House bills out of Senate committees).
On the surface, it appears that things have calmed down a bit after the gun bill debate last week. Both Chambers are finalizing budget bills so debate can begin sometime next week.
HF 2435 (HHS budget bill) is expected to be brought up in the House for debate next week. After passing out of the appropriations committee with much scrutiny, we hear there will be some changes/improvements to the budget bill. There is also a NOBA (notes on bills and amendments).
There are some serious concerns with this budget. The Department of Human Services provided an overview and summary of the impact of the proposed budget on services/families.
One area of great concern is child care. The House Republicans propose a 3 million dollar "increase". But, they move several million from the children and family services budget into child care AND DHS projects their need is for a 10 million dollar increase just to maintain current services. So, in our opinion when you take money from another budget line item and you don't provide enough increase for projected caseload growth, then it is essentially a cut.
Another issue with child care is the potential to go to a waiting list for child care assistance as soon as May 1, 2012. Because of caseload growth and inadequate funding in the current budget, DHS is anticipating the waiting list. The Governor did address this potential shortfall in his budget proposal by using Children's Health Insurance Contingency Funds. (These are one time dollars awarded to states from the federal government who meet certain benchmarks - these dollars are extremely flexible). There is current legislation that states "it is the intent of the legislature to adequately fund child care assistance so that no waiting list is created."
This could mean many many things. The legislature could remove that language in the future HHS bill. The eligibility level could be decreased, provider rates decreased, quality initiatives cut or eliminated or a host of other potentially harmful reductions.
The bill also eliminates the funding for hawk-i outreach and compromises maintenance of effort because of potential reduction in enrollment.
We could go on and on about the budget. Please take a moment to read the documents mentioned above to see the impact for yourself. It does seem a little ridiculous that this is the budget put forth to protect the vulnerable citizens in Iowa during a time that our state has a budget surplus and tax receipts continue to grow. Do you think it is true that a budget reflects priorities!?
One positive item In the HHS funding bill is on page 18 line 16 - non reversion language. The Governor struck this language from his budget proposal but the House has kept it in. This language is important for the ECI local boards.
Something to keep in mind is the Senate will have a chance to amend the bill and fix some of the impending problems. Please keep pressure on the House to fund the programs at an adequate level - this means taking into account caseload growth and adequate staffing for much needed services.
We expect HF 2380 (education reform) to be debated on Tuesday. There are a couple of amendments available online but we expect a few more to be filed on Monday. On March 5th, CFPC Executive Director provided testimony at the public hearing held on education reform.
Both chambers and parties continue to discuss mental health reform. SF 2312 and HF 2421 will come down to funding (just like most of the items in this update).
And last but certainly not least, is the EITC. The House has yet to take it up after it passed the Senate 49-0. Unfortunately, House Republicans continue to use it as a bargaining chip for property tax reform. In conversations with House leaders, they have no intention of passing a separate bill - they want to attach it to other tax bills. They have even indicated that 10% is the limit. If you remember, the Senate passed an increase from 7% to 20% over two years.
It is unfortunate that a tax break for hard working, low income Iowans was not only vetoed twice by the Governor last year, but this year is being used to pass property tax reform that primarily benefits larger corporations and not main street businesses.
We wish we had some good news to pass on - well, there is the Early Childhood Iowa portion of the Senate and House Education budgets - no cuts!! Maybe, we will end this update on that note!
Have a nice weekend. Don't forget to attend a legislative forum near you!
Sincerely,
Sheila Hansen & Danielle Oswald-Thole
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President Obama and Funding for Kids
Income Support in the President's FY 2013 Budget
A detailed analysis of President Obama's federal fiscal year 2013 budget proposal for family income supports. This fact sheet is part of a series from our partners as First Focus analyzing the president's budget as it impacts kids.
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Bills of Interest
 Quality Early Care and Education HF 2380 (ed reform) - A study bill for an act relating to programs and activities under the purview of the department of education, the state board of education, the board of educational examiners, school districts, and accredited nonpublic schools; and providing for the retention of certain fees and for the use of certain funds. Update - debate scheduled for TuesdaySF 2219 - A bill for an act relating to the continuation of the Iowa early intervention block grant program and including effective date provisions. Passed Education Committee on 2/15. This bill deals with class size and literacy programs (not Early ACCESS). Update - Passed Senate 26-24 on 2/27.
SSB 3172- A study bill for an act relating to the funding of, the operation of, and appropriation of moneys to the college student aid commission, the department for the blind, the department of education, and the state board of regents, and providing effective date provisions. Update - Passed Senate Appropriations Committee on 3/7 on a party line vote.
SF 2284 (formerly SSB 3171) (ed reform)- A bill for an act relating to programs and activities under the purview of the department of education, the state board of education, the board of educational examiners, the state board of regents, school districts, and accredited nonpublic schools; and providing for the retention of certain fees and for the use of certain funds. Update - passed Education Committee on 2/27 with large amendment (now part of bill)
Child Health and Well-Being
HF 2226 - A study bill relating to child abuse reports and disposition data. Passed House - currently assigned to Senate Human Resources Committee
HF 2283 -An Act relating to the Iowa health information network, providing for fees, and including effective date provisions Companion Bill -SSB 361 Passed Senate Human Resources on 2/8. Update - House Subcommittee assigned - Subcommittee, Helland, Paustian, and Petersen.
SF 2035- A bill for an act relating to child abuse by prohibiting retaliation for reporting, providing for implementation of reporting policies at postsecondary institutions, requiring planning for training requirements, and providing for the distribution of information on child sexual abuse, and providing a remedy. Mandatory reporting task force created. Passed Senate on 2/29. Update - passed House Subcommittee on 3/8.
HF 2368 - An Act providing for the issuance of a certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth, providing for a fee, and including effective date provisions. (Companion bill SF 2176). Update - passed House on 3/6 98-0. - Senate Subcommittee, Bolkcom, Bacon, and Hatch. SF 2119 -An Act relating to the sealing and expungement of child abuse registry information . Passed HR Committee 2/2. SSB 3152 - An Act relating to redesign of publicly funded mental health and disability services by requiring certain core services and addressing other services and providing for establishment of regions and including effective date and applicability provisions. Update - Passed HR Committee on 2/23. HF 2431 (formerly HSB 646) - A study bill relating to redesign of publicly funded mental health and disability services by requiring certain core services and addressing other services and providing for establishment of regions, making appropriations, and including effective date and applicability provision. Passed Human Resources Committee on 2/23. Update - referred to Appropriations - Subcommittee, Schulte, Heaton, and Heddens.HF 2344 - A study bill relating to terminology changes in Iowa Code references to mental retardation. Passed Human Resources on 2/15. Update - Substituted SF 2247 (companion bill) - passed House 3/6.
NEW
HF 2390 - A bill for an act relating to obscene material, commercial sexual activity, and human trafficking, and providing penalties and making penalties applicable. Update - passed House on 3/8.
Child and Family Economic Success
SF 2161 (Formerly SSB 3116) - An Act relating to the amount of the earned income tax credit. Increasing credit from 7% to 13%. Update - Passed full Senate on 48-0 on 2/15. SF 2024 - An Act relating to workforce training programs in community colleges and making appropriations. Update - Passed Senate 26 - 22 on 2/22. HF 2287- A bill for an act creating a tracking and reporting system for certain tax credits awarded by the economic development authority. Referred to Ways and MeansNEW:
SSB 3192- A study bill for an act making the research activities tax credits nonrefundable and including effective date and applicability provisions. Ways and Means Subcommittee - Quirmbach, Bolkcom, Chelgren
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"If the children and youth of a nation are afforded opportunity to develop their capacities to the fullest, if they are given the knowledge to understand the world and the wisdom to change it, then the prospects for the future are bright. In contrast, a society which neglects its children, however well it may function in other respects, risks eventual disorganization and demise".
Urie Bronfenbrenner
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Building Budgets: Iowa Keeps Falling Behind
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In Education Funding ...
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In the past decade, the decrease in state appropriations for Iowa's state universities and the increase in student tuition have been startling.
For decades, general recognition of broad societal dividends from public higher education has driven higher education policy and funding. Generally, those dividends have been thought of in exclusively economic terms: higher individual earnings, increased income tax revenues and the like. Research suggests that the dividends of public higher education spill over into the social sphere as well: Higher education is correlated with robust democracies and civic engagement. Read the rest of the story from the Iowa Policy Project here.
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Get timely updates from the Child and Family Policy Center:
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How is state policy affecting the families around you?
Tell us about it! Sheila Hansen
Every Child Counts
Director
Danielle Oswald-Thole
Every Child Counts Outreach Coordinator and Policy Advocate
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A donation to
Every Child Counts helps us do what's good for Iowa kids
and families.
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Health Care Update
Did You Know?
From: Voices for America's Children |
Legislative Forums
Many of you can't make it to the State Capitol in Des Moines - that doesn't mean you can't have some face to face time with your state legislator.
Legislators host forums in their districts throughout the session. They get a chance to update constituents on the issues and listen to concerns from constituents .
House Republican Forums (it appears the House Republican forum schedule has not been updated in sometime - you have to click on member name and then click on forums)
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 The State of American Women
March 8th marked International Women's Day, a chance each year to celebrate the many advancements women have made and take stock of the overall health and well-being of women. Around the world-and here in the United States-poverty among women remains a pressing issue in need of more attention and more action.In the United States, here's what the numbers show:
to read the rest of the story from CLASP.
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