Policy Update, July 7, 2014

Thank you for your interest and support. The Indiana Association of United Ways provides its Policy Update on "odd Fridays" (1st, 3rd and 5th Fridays). Because of the Independence Day holiday on Friday, we issue this edition on Monday. Contact us if you have any questions or comments about content (past, present or desired for the future).

Review or submit comments and ideas about Indiana's tax system

Governor Pence hosted the Indiana Tax Competitiveness and Simplification Conference on June 20, which is now available for viewing. The invitation only event included panel discussions about income, sales and use and corporate taxes. Overly simplified, a few themes emerged, with possible forthcoming policy proposals such as:

establishing a tax system that is based on consumption;
broadening the tax base possibly through an extension of the sales tax to services (and lowering the overall rate as much as possible);
not penalizing savings and investments; and
simplifying the tax system as much as possible through the elimination of credits and deductions.

Review comments already submitted or submit your own ideas. We anticipate that the 2015 session of the Indiana General Assembly will include proposals to alter tax policies that affect low-income individuals and the organizations that serve them. We will work to keep you informed.

Early Learning Advisory Committee issues first report

Counties with High Need for Early Care Programs

The Indiana Early Learning Advisory Committee (ELAC), which was established by the Indiana General Assembly in 2013, released its first report on June 30. Highlights include findings about:

Children and Families, including how many children need care, the types of care provided and capacity issues;
Providers, including participation in Paths To Quality, capacity of preschool slots and related costs;
Funding, including the costs of quality early care and education relative to the government and private funding sources available; and
Higher Education and Workforce, including early care and education workers, education levels, turnover and prospects for increasing their educational attainment.

Local planners and funders will find value in the report and the appendices. For example, the map at the right illustrates the highest proportionate need for additional child care capacity (blue counties where the highest percentage of children have all parents who work) and have the lowest number of child care slots per hundred children (smallest circles).

The report outlines a series of next steps for the ELAC and recommendations for executive and legislative actions around data, membership in ELAC and funding.

Youth service providers: enroll children in summer financial literacy

Only a small percentage of parents are taking advantage of the everyday learning opportunities about money, according to a survey from Capital One. In Charles Schwab's "Parents and Money," 69% of parents reported feeling less prepared to give their children guidance in finances than to have "the sex talk" with them. It's never too early to start financial literacy.

The Indiana Secretary of State launched a summer financial literacy program for young children and elementary school students. Children are encouraged to read age-appropriate books and to participate in specific activities that teach financial literacy. Children who submit information will receive a piggy bank and recognition.

Introduce financial literacy to your summer program attendees and gain some recognition for your program. Learn more.

Attend meetings about NAP tax credits

Indiana Association of Community Economic Development (IACED) is holding meetings on behalf of Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) about a potential competitive process redesign for the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) tax credits. The purpose of the meetings is to gather information for a potential competitive process redesign for the NAP tax credit program. After the listening sessions are complete, IACED will evaluate the feedback and make recommendations to IHCDA to consider for the 2015 allocation period.

Click on the link to register. Each session will be approximately one hour long:

July 11, 10am ET - Richmond (City Hall - 50 N 5th Street)
July 15, 10amET - Jeffersonville (New Hope Services - 725 Wall St.)
July 16, 10am CT - Valparaiso (Housing Opportunities - 2001 Calumet Avenue #1 - enter through blue door)
July 16, 3pmET - Goshen (LaCasa, Inc. - 202 N Cottage Avenue)
July 25, 1:30pm ET - Indianapolis (as part of the IACED regional member meeting at MIBOR - 1912 N Meridian Street)

Meetings were held in Bloomington, Evansville and Huntington last week. Questions can be directed to IACED Director of Capacity Building, Rose Scovel or 317-454-8539.

HIP 2.0 proposal awaiting federal approval

Last week, Governor Pence and Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) submitted the proposal for HIP 2.0 (Healthy Indiana Plan), the plan to provide health insurance to low-wage workers who fall in the coverage gap. The federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) may approve or ask for additional changes.

Many healthcare stakeholders submitted comments in support of HIP. Read comments submitted by Indiana Coalition for Human Services .

New laws effective July 1st

Several laws that were passed during the 2014 session are now effective in Indiana.

HEA 1036 increases some health and safety standards that child care providers who accept CCDF vouchers must follow. Most provisions become effective 7/1/2015, though requirements for telephone, group sizes and death/injury reporting are effective now.
HEA 1222 provides a tax credit to adoptive families.
SEA 91 withdraws the state from following the Common Core academic standards.
SEA 85 allows schools to apply for school resource officer funding.
SEA 1 cuts corporate income taxes.
SEA 352 makes it easier for veterans and their families to apply for Indiana's Military Family Relief Fund.
SEA 222 requires training about the risks and prevention of concussions for high school football coaches as well as removal of students from play.

Legislative Study Committees

The Legislative Council has appointed the interim study committees. Only the Accountability Systems Review has been scheduled to date. Check the calendar on a regular basis. Most meetings will be held in late summer or early fall.

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.

NEW - Community Report Card - Check out key indicators in Education, Income and Health for your neighborhood, county or region.

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.