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News from Every Child Counts
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4/09/12
The Legislators returned to work today after a Holiday weekend. The countdown begins with 8 days left until the 100th and last day of session. Lots of rumors floating around as to when the session will really end. We plan to be here until the end.....whenever that may be.
SF 2284 (education reform) was debated on the Senate floor last week but ended up being deferred because a number of Senators were absent. We expect debate to be picked up again today. Amendment S-5166 was adopted as a strike all and replacement amendment before the bill was deferred.
Mental health reform has been on the debate calendar for a few days now but the House is yet to bring it to the floor for debate. We hear lots of rumors that there was agreement and now there are some areas where there is disagreement. We hope it will be brought up for debate some time this week.
HF 2435 (HHS budget bill) is still waiting to be brought up for debate in the House. We have heard that the House won't bring it to the floor until an agreement has been reached by both Chambers. The Senate should have their version of HHS funding out either today or tomorrow.
The Standings bill (HF 2465) passed the House Appropriations Committee last week and is on the House calendar for debate. This bill cuts Shared Visions funding , Prevention of Child Abuse Grants and many other programs by 10%.
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is still being held hostage. After passing (for the third time in two years) unanimously in the Senate a few weeks ago, the House is yet to bring it up for discussion. The Governor stated last week that he would accept earned income tax expansion for a 'permanent commercial tax relief' deal. Check out this policy brief by the Iowa Fiscal Partnership, EITC Improves Fairness, Benefits to Working Families.
We still expect most of the above items to be worked out in Conference Committees.
Sincerely,
Sheila Hansen & Danielle Oswald-Thole
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 Harkin Introduces Rebuild America Act - Includes new CCDBG Plus! On March 29, Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee introduced the Rebuild America Act - comprehensive legislation aimed at improving the economic security of the middle class. The bill has a number of education and other provisions but also includes expanding families' access to the high-quality, affordable child care that they need to reach or remain in the middle class. The bill establishes a new program - CCDBG Plus - administered by the Department of Health and Human Service that allows for five-year grants to states to create more high-quality child care options for families and to strengthen the quality of care - including about a third of the funds dedicated to providing afterschool care for school-age children. Under the bill, CCDBG Plus is authorized at $5 billion a year for FY 2013 through FY 2022, and would serve children under age 13 in families with income less than or equal to state median income. Priority would be given to children in low-income families (families with incomes that are less than or equal to 200 percent of the federal poverty level).. |
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. Passed House.SF 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). Passed Senate 26-24 on 2/27. Currently on House Calendar for debate. Fiscal Note
SF 2321- 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. Passed House with amendment. Back to Senate - headed to Conference Committee.
SF 2284 (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. Fiscal Note can be read here. Update - debated in Senate today.
Child Health and Well-Being
HF 2226 - A study bill relating to child abuse reports and disposition data. Update - final passage in both Chambers - heading to Governor for signature.
SF 2318- A bill for an act relating to the Iowa health information network, providing for fees, and including effective date provisions. Update - sent to Governor for signature.
SF 2225- 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. Update - heading to Governor for signature.
SF 2315 - An Act relating to redesign of publicly funded mental health and disability services.. Update - Passed Senate on 3/12. Passed House Approps Committee with amendment on 3/22. Headed to House floor for debate.
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%. Passed full Senate on 48-0 on 2/15. SF 2024 - An Act relating to workforce training programs in community colleges and making appropriations. 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 MeansSSB 3192- A study bill for an act making the research activities tax credits nonrefundable and including effective date and applicability provisions. Subcommittee held- bill will probably not proceedSF 2325 (companion bill is HSB 673) - A bill for an act relating to the income tax checkoffs for the child abuse prevention program fund and the veterans trust fund and volunteer fire fighter preparedness fund, and including retroactive applicability provisions. Update - passed Senate on 4/5. Passed House Ways and Means Subcommittee on 3/29.
Signed by Governor: HF 2390- A bill for an act relating to obscene material, commercial sexual activity, and human trafficking, and providing penalties and making penalties applicable. Signed 4/4/12. 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. Signed 3/26/12.
SF 2247- A study bill relating to terminology changes in Iowa Code references to mental retardation. Signed 3/22/12.
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"We need not to be let alone. We need to be really bothered once in a while. How long is it since you were really bothered? About something important, about something real?" - Ray Bradbury."
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ELECTION 2012 DEBATE WATCH UPDATE:
Moving America's Children into the Spotlight |
by Child and Family Policy Center and VOICES for America's Children |
How will the President of the United States represent the more than 74 million children in America who, due to their age, have no ability to speak for themselves at the ballot box?
The first twenty Republican Presidential Debates have covered many topics, but of the over 1000 questions asked by moderators in these debates, fewer than two percent have focused upon federal child policy issues related to education reform, children's health, child welfare and safety, addressing the needs of children with disabilities, early childhood development, or responding to child poverty. This is despite the fact that the federal budget includes over $374 billion in investments in child health, safety, education, and security - over one-third of all public (federal, state, and local) investments in these areas. Read the rest of the article 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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Every Child Counts helps us do what's good for Iowa kids
and families.
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Health Care Update
Mar. 23, 2012 marked the two-year anniversary of passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. On this occasion, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched a new initiative, called MyCare, to highlight stories and "educate Americans about new programs, benefits, and rights under the health care law." More information and initial stories shared via MyCare are available
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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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Child-care assistance:
Iowa providers feel the pain of low reimbursement rates
Every Child Counts recently surveyed Iowa child-care owners and directors on the financial ramifications of the state's child-care assistance program. The responses were stark: Because the rates they are paid through the program are so low relative to current market rates, providers reported significant losses by accepting child-care subsidies (see reverse for examples). As a result, providers who can fill those slots with private-pay families reported they are increasingly choosing to do so. Providers in areas with few private-pay families reported sacrificing quality-in teacher pay, materials, repairs-to balance the books. Download the document here.
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