Policy Update, April 17, 2015

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

Restore Early Education Matching Grants

The senate version of the budget did not include funding for the Early Education Matching Grant (EEMG) program. The Governor's and House version of the budget both included $2 million to continue EEMG. The EEMG program leverages local matching funds to create high-quality early education slots for 540 low-income children in 14 underserved counties across the state. View a map of counties who received awards in 2014 and 2015.

Take action and urge your legislators to restore $2 million for the EEMG in the final version of the budget.

Invest $2M in 2-1-1 funding in state budget

The Senate version of the budget bill, HB1001, did not include funding for Indiana's 2-1-1 network. Additionally, HB1010, which included some technical language, died in the Senate after it passed unanimously out of the Senate Utilities Committee.

Many thanks to the 1,300+ business, civic and faith-based community leaders who signed on to an urgent advocacy letter within the last week. The letter calls on legislators to prioritize the $2 million annual investment by the state in this critical public-private partnership.

Take action and urge your legislators to invest $2 million for 2-1-1 in the final version of the budget.

State budget in final negotiations

The Indiana General Assembly is negotiating the final version of the $31.5 billion state budget. A conference committee accepts testimony on April 17 and then will make final adjustments between different funding priorities of the Governor's proposal, the House-passed budget and the Senate-passed budget. See our quick summary of important human service items in the budget.

A revenue forecast presented on April 16 shows that tax revenues are expected to generate $213 million less than what was expected. Sales tax comprises nearly half (48%) of state revenues and income taxes comprise one-third (35%) of state revenues. Corporate and gaming taxes are also anticipated to come in lower than projected. The legislature must adjourn by April 29.

Stay informed and get involved

The Indiana General Assembly has eight days remaining. While over 1,200 bills were filed, only a few hundred are still alive. Below are key links.

Calendar of Third House / Meet Your Legislator in easy-view or printable format
Find Your Legislator.
Review the bills and the committees.
Note that the Conference Committee Grid can change multiple times each day, with only a two-hour notice required before a hearing. View the Conference Committees.

Volunteers, thank you!

As we conclude National Volunteer Recognition Week (April 12-18), we want to recognize the importance of volunteers in our state. Whether you help raise funds, serve on a committee or board, or volunteer in direct service at a local nonprofit, your time and talents make a stronger Indiana. A thriving charitable sector relies on dedicated volunteers. We want to send a special thanks to all of the volunteers who make our work possible!

Conference committee on State EITC and various tax issues

Various tax provisions are moving in and out of various tax bills in conference committee negotiations. Here is the quick summary of United Way priority tax issues:

* HB1349 does not include the re-coupling provision for

State Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The current bill preserves Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) tax credits but removes tax credits for Individual Development Accounts (IDAs).

* SB441 does include the recoupling of state EITC provision as well as other provisions, making it more similar to the HB1349 that left the House.

Re-coupling State EITC and preservation of NAP credits are priorities for IaUW. Each year, nearly 500,000 Hoosier taxpayers claim the State EITC, with an average benefit of $194. State EITC helps lift working Hoosiers out of poverty. Review our one-pager on EITC. NAP credits help nonprofits raise charitable funds to invest in housing, child care, senior services, domestic violence shelters and rural transportation.

How hungry is America?

The Food Research and Action Center 2014 hunger survey report found that one in six households suffers from food hardship nationally, a statistic was true for 23 states and 72% of large metropolitan areas. Households across the country were asked, "Have there been times in the past twelve months when you did not have enough money to buy food that you or your family needed?" Other interesting findings include:

among the 50 states, the low was 9.3% in North Dakota and the high was 24.7% in Mississippi;
the national food hardship rate has dropped to 17.2% which is lower than it was in 2008; and
Indiana's rate is slightly below the national average at 17%.

Some Hoosiers that face food hardship may be ALICE - Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. They work and earn incomes above poverty but below the cost of living. Food hardship may be a common issue among the 37% of households that do not have enough to make ends meet. View the United Way ALICE Report.

Know someone uninsured who was subject to the Tax Penalty?

Special Enrollment Period available through April 30.

Please post this flier and encourage enrollment in health insurance. Individuals who were subject to the tax penalty for being uninsured in 2014 may be eligible for the

"Special Enrollment Period" (SEP) in the Health Insurance Marketplace, even though the open enrollment period ended Feb. 15. Note that tax penalties will increase substantially for tax years 2015 and 2016.

Tax penalties for each year:

2014 - $95/adult; $47.50/child; $285 maximum or 1% of income

2015 - $325/adult; $162.50/child; $975 maximum or 2% of income

2016 - $695/adult; $347.50/child; $2,085 maximum or 2.5% of income

Consumers may still enroll for 2015 coverage, if eligible. Go to www.healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596. Call 2-1-1 for information or pre-screening and find an enrollment event near you.

Recent documents from the policy team

We are receiving requests for a number of documents we prepared over the last month.

One-page fact sheets on

Facts about Enrollment in Indiana (presented to Senate Appropriations 4/2 in discussion of HIP and Marketplace enrollment and possible consequences in Indiana if Supreme Court negates subsidies)
Early Education--Child Care and Pre-K
Smoothing the Cliff Effect and
Taxpayer Fairness and the State EITC.

Recent testimony about

Pre-K and child care in the budget,
HB1616, a bill to smooth the cliff effect, and
HB1349, a bill addressing various tax matters including State Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and various tax credits such as Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) Tax Credits.
Work scheduling practices

Our quick summaries about

budget snapshot comparison of key human service priorities NEW and
tax credits.

IaUW Public Policy

IaUW is a nonpartisan organization that works to advance policy principles and compromise solutions for the common good. We focus on policies that are aligned with the impact work in local communities conducted by our 61 United Ways and United Funds.

Education, so that children are prepared for and succeed in school;
Income/Financial Stability, so that individuals and families may achieve and sustain financial stability;
Health, so that individuals may access quality healthcare; and
Strong Communities, where a statewide 2-1-1 network and a strong charitable sector help communities thrive.

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.