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Policy Update, January 4, 2016 
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). You are receiving this issue on a Monday because of the Jan. 1 holiday.  Contact us if you have any questions or comments about content (past, present or desired for the future).

In case you have been off for the holidays, be sure to review our 12/18 issue.
Welcome to Maureen Noe - Watch our 2-minute Update
Indiana Association of United Ways (IaUW) welcomes the new year with a new president. Maureen Noe brings 22 years of United Way experience from communities of three sizes, including United Way of the Heart of Western Michigan in Grand Rapids and one of our members, United Way of Greater Cincinnati. 

We try to include a 2-minute update for those who prefer to view an update to decide what to review. In this update, you will find information about the new legislative session, nonprofit-government relationships and health insurance enrollments in Indiana. This update is provided by Maggie Snyder and Maureen Noe. 
Charitable Sector Priority Area Happy New Year! Ideas for our readers in 2016.
We start the new year with optimism and realize that each of us is part of the solution. Whether or not you make resolutions, we encourage you to: 
  1. Promote civility--in policy debates and in all interactions.
  2. Seek to understand different views--seek out multiple news sources and experts. Perhaps there are common values under the differences.
  3. Communicate with elected officials--they need your input. You may tweet, email or attend a  Third House/Meet your legislator session.
  4. Vote in May and November! Indiana's voter registration deadlines are April 4 for the May 3 primary. 
  5. Serve--public and nonprofit programs rely on volunteers in direct service and in committees and boards. 
At the Statehouse
StateCapitolDayIndiana General Assembly convenes Tuesday
The Indiana General Assembly will convene for the short session on January 5. About 175 senate bills are already posted. Others will be posted over the next few weeks. 

The process: Bills are filed, receive a first reading and are referred to a committee. Only a fraction of the bills filed actually receive a hearing--especially in a short session. If passed out of committee, bills receive a second reading by the chamber of origin, at which time floor amendments may be made. The deadline for third readings is February 3, at which times bills that did not pass first chamber die. Bills that passed "cross over" to the second chamber to repeat the process of first reading, committee assignment, possible hearing and possible committee passage, second and third floor reading. If the bill passed by the second chamber is not identical to the bill passed by the first chamber, then the bill may go to conference committee for resolution or may die.
  
Key links: 
At the Statehouse
business-cellphone-woman.jpg Communicating with your legislators
Members of the Indiana General Assembly simply cannot be experts at all of the nearly 2,000 bills filed each year. They need YOU! Not sure of your state Representative or Senator? Find your legislator. Sign up for their email newsletters and complete their surveys.

Communicate with your legislator:
  • Email or call. The Statehouse number and email is usually answered by a legislative assistant. 
    • Be specific. "My name is ___. I am a constituent of  Rep/Sen ____. I may be reached at ____. I would like to (meet, share information about ____, ask that he/she support/oppose ____)." 
    • Nonprofit service organizations are encouraged to share information that is relevant to an issue, population or the district. 
  • Visit with them in the home district. Invite them to your organization.
  • Attend a "Third House" or Meet your legislator event (see below).
  • Attend a "Day at the Statehouse" event.
  • Follow up with a thank you after they meet with you or when you observe them doing something you like.
Check out our Third House Calendar.
Legislators often offer a preview, progress report or summary at "Third House" sessions or "meet your legislator" sessions. We at Indiana Association of United Ways work to maintain the calendar of Third House meetings throughout the state. Check the calendar for a date and location near you. The first weeks of January have sessions in Delaware, Elkhart, Hamilton, Monroe, St. Joseph, Tippecanoe and Vanderburgh counties.  
  
Charitable Sector Priority Area
Local nonprofit-government relationships in Indiana 
How do Indiana's local government officials perceive nonprofits in their communities?  A new report explores the key findings and policy implications. Generally, local governments choose to work collaboratively with nonprofits when local officials view their personal involvement important to their work. Most local government officials (LGOs) are, or have been, involved with some type of nonprofit in their community--as members, leaders or volunteers, most frequently with sports-types of nonprofit organizations. Some local governments prefer to have some control over how nonprofits interact with government. 

The researchers observe a negative correlation for LGO opinions of nonprofits that have high levels of assets (hospitals, universities, foundations)--the more resources, the less positive view about collaboration. Researchers speculate that local government officials may view their alignment less closely with wealthier nonprofit institutions. IaUW highlights this, as it may relate to how local government officials view property tax exemption, an important issue in a time of declining local property tax revenues and a policy priority for IaUW.

View the brief Indiana Government Officials' Opinions on Nonprofit-Government Relationships.  Explore previously issued briefs about PILOTs (payments in lieu of taxes) and SILOTs (services in lieu of taxes) and 2-1-1 service, in the series by the Indiana Nonprofits: Scope and Community Dimensions project by IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs and Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
Health Priority Area
More enrolled in Marketplace plans and HIP 2.0
With stiffer penalties for being uninsured in 2016 and the January 31 deadline fast approaching, the federal Health and Human Services reported that 181,995 Hoosiers signed up for Marketplace plans as of December 26. See Week 8 Enrollment report. Learn more about Marketplace plans at www.healthcare.gov.

About 40,000 Hoosiers who formerly held Marketplace plans shifted to HIP 2.0 which now covers 367,916 Hoosiers (as of November 2015). Combined with all types of Medicaid, 1,345,983 Hoosiers (over 1 in 5 Hoosiers) are covered by a type of Medicaid. See the enrollment by county for November.
At the Statehouse - Take Action
bullhorn Weigh in on issues important to you!
We work to highlight important opportunities to weigh in on rulemaking or public comment periods.  Here are a few opportunities.
  • The initial draft of Indiana's Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Unified State Plan is now available for public comment.  Public meetings will be held in South Bend 1/11, Indianapolis 1/12, Vincennes 1/12 and via conference call on 1/11.  See meeting details. Each state is required to submit a four-year state plan to the US Department of Labor and US Department of Education by March 3, 2016.  
  • The Department of Child Services (DCS) is holding a public hearing on residential provider, child placing agency and DCS managed foster care rates for 2017 in Indianapolis on February 18. 
At the Statehouse
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 60 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. 

Review our public policy documents, including fact sheets, testimony and bill summaries. 
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.
  
Federal Advocacy Action Center - Contact your member of Congress 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.

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. 

Congress.gov  - Look up bills introduced or passed in Congress. 

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