Policy Update, February 21, 2014

Thank you for caring about sound public policy in Indiana. Contact us anytime with your feedback or questions.

Lucinda Nord, 317-921-1394 or cell 317-502-8504

Child care bill awaiting vote in Health Committee on 2/26

Our highest policy priority this session, HB1036 Child Care Development Fund Eligibility, is scheduled for "amend and vote" on Wed, 2/26 by the Senate Health Committee. HB1036 would ensure that taxpayer funds are being utilized at child care providers that meet common sense health and safety requirements, child-staff ratios, group sizes and minimal training of staff. See HB1036 Summary and Grid. The House passed this important legislation on 1/28 with a 71-24 vote.

Taxpayers are already spending $178 million annually on child care in Indiana, with over 15% of it going to unlicensed providers who are not subject to basic standards. The State of Indiana is not maximizing its return on investment and should make better use of these federal and state dollars.

Contact your state senator:

Pass HB1036 to protect children!

Please contact your state senator and urge support of HB1036 (see above). You may call the Senate switchboard at 1-800-382-9467 or 317-232-9400 or email him/her through the state's website. You may look up your legislator, view a sample message or detailed talking points.

Pre-K pilot bill amended to a study

HB1004, Early Education Vouchers, was amended by the Senate Education Committee on 2/19 to create a study of a range of public early education initiatives and their effectiveness, public and private funding options, income thresholds for beneficiaries, administrative structure and more. See the amendment.

Background: The original "pre-k pilot" bill aimed to provide low-income children with vouchers to attend high-quality school-based or community-based pre-kindergarten programs. A priority of Governor Pence and Speaker Bosma, this bill passed in the House on 1/16 with a 87-9 vote. HB1004 was amended by the Senate Education Committee on 2/19 to have the issue studied this summer. While disappointing to advocates, many understood the obstacles to move a pre-K bill in a short, non-budget session.

Photos from United Way Day at the Statehouse

United Way leaders from Allen County met with Education Committee Chair Sen. Kruse (left).

Volunteers and staff of United Ways and key partners met with legislators on

Tuesday, February 18, 2014. Despite early morning icy road conditions, community leaders from throughout the state gathered to rally support for child care quality and early education.

Check out the video and photos from the day. Many thanks to all the legislators and assistants who took time out of busy schedules to meet with us during the day and/or to attend the reception sponsored by United Way of Central Indiana.

Economics of Early Education: Dr. Dugger delivered strong message

On Wed, Feb. 19, eleven communities around the state joined United Way of Central Indiana and WFYI in hosting the "Economics of Early Education Summit." Prize-winning economist Robert Dugger, Ph.D., shared the research about the return on investment of high-quality early education. He made the case that the State of Indiana cannot afford to continue to rank near the bottom in educational attainment, income and health. Check out the documentary, The Raising of America: Are We Crazy about Our Kids? or the full recording of the summit (Dr. Dugger's presentation begins at 35 minutes). Take the Ready Nation pledge.

Indiana General Assembly is in Session

The "short session" of the Indiana General Assembly has passed the half-way mark and will conclude by March 14. Check out the new Indiana General Assembly website and the links most used by our readers:

See our IaUW bill list. While much of this issue if focused on our highest public policy priority with early care and education, IaUW is monitoring and/or active in a number of other bills.

IN Department of Education seeks hosts for summer food program

Almost half of Indiana children depend on free and reduced priced school meals for their daily nutrition needs during the school year. Children may continue to receive free meals through USDA's Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Administered by the Indiana Department of Education, the SFSP provides reimbursement to organizations willing to prepare (or contract with a school or a food service management company) and serve meals to low income children at approved sites. Do you know a school or community organization willing to host this program? Training sessions are available March 6 through May 15. See which schools and organizations participated in 2013.

Attend a "Third House" session with your legislator(s)

State legislators hold "Third House" or "Meet Your Legislator" sessions throughout the legislative session. Legislators share the latest updates from the Statehouse and usually take questions and feedback from constituents. IaUW updates the Third House calendar in two formats: a clickable calendar with map links and a downloadable document. Are you aware of other sessions? Email us.

IaUW and partners are monitoring bills related to tax credits

Several active bills include possible changes to tax credits. After a two-year study in 2012-2013, a couple out-dated tax credits were identified to be repealed. Early this session, other tax credits were identified to help offset the business personal property tax. And finally, there is an effort to create a periodic review of all tax credits and, perhaps, to view them as "tax expenditures" in future budgets (which are both good policy practices). Current language sunsets certain credits as a part of the review. IaUW and many coalition partners will continue to monitor possible changes (and advocate as needed) with:

Earned Income Tax Credit and Unified Tax Credit for the Elderly;
Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) and College Contribution tax credits;
529 College Savings, IDA, 21st Century Scholarship and School Scholarship tax credits;
and many more.

IaUW supports tax policy that incentivizes certain behaviors such as charitable giving, employment, and saving for the future. Stay tuned!

Register for the Legislative Update Webinar or view prior session

IaUW partnered with Indiana Coalition for Human Services (ICHS) and Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network (NRN) to provide three webinars throughout the legislative session. Sessions require pre-registration, and the last "wrap-up" session will be held on Thursday, March 20, 3pmET/2pmCT. Register here. Participants receive related documents.

View the January 23 session starter recording or view the slides. The first webinar provided an overview of introduced bills and ways to advocate. A mid-session Feb. 20 update offered a summary of what bills are still alive. Learn what's happened with healthcare, drug testing for welfare, consolidation of study committees, tax credits and more.

IaUW Public Policy

IaUW is a nonpartisan organization that works to advance policy principles and compromise solutions for the common good. We focus on programs and policies that help:

children prepare for and succeed in school;
individuals achieve and sustain financial stability;
individuals access quality healthcare; and
communities thrive, including a strong 2-1-1 network and charitable sector.

Our policy priorities are developed and guided by our Public Policy Committee and our IaUW members, based on their work in Hoosier communities.

Frequently Requested Links / Documents

iauw.org - Learn about the Indiana Association of United Ways, current trainings and conferences and the ways we support local United Ways/Funds, partners and communities.

IaUW Policy / Advocacy info - Review and download IaUW Policy Priorities, Third House calendar, bill lists, fact sheets, talking points and testimony.

Advocacy Action Center - Contact your member of Congress or State Legislator, provided through our partnership with United Way Worldwide.

IaUW Policy Update Archive - Read prior issues, special articles and key documents produced by IaUW related to public policy and advocacy.

IN211.org - Search for human service information available through the referral database or by calling 2-1-1. Download reports about resources, needs, gaps and trends from Indiana 211 Partnership.

NRN Calendar - Register for high-quality and affordable training for nonprofit staff and volunteers by the Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network.

Funding and Other Opportunities - Explore current requests for proposals, funding and recognition opportunities.

Indiana General Assembly - Check the hearing or floor schedule, watch a live or recorded hearing or floor session and look up your legislators.

Library of Congress - Look up bills introduced in Congress. Note that the THOMAS site will be maintained through 2014 and fully replaced by Congress.gov.