Policy Update, June 17, 2016

Thank you for your interest and support. The Indiana Association of United Ways has provided its Policy Update on "odd Fridays" (1st, 3rd and 5th Fridays) for many years. As Lucinda Nord leaves IaUW and Maggie Snyder becomes your Policy Update writer and editor, we will have ONLY ONE ISSUE IN JULY. We are also interested in your feedback; see survey below. Contact us if you have any questions or comments about content (past, present or desired for the future).

Take the quick survey to share your feedback on IaUW Public Policy and our Policy Update.

All IN 4 Pre-K launched

A grassroots advocacy campaign called All IN 4 Pre-K launched and is looking for supporters. Sign up to receive updates and learn about events near you. The All IN 4 Pre-K campaign joins with passionate people and organizations to expand Pre-K by:

Showcasing high-quality Pre-K programs;
Supporting local champions; and
Raising the voices of families of young children.

Early Education in the news

The call for pre-K is building momentum. Stories and editorials in the news in the last two weeks include:

Support exists for expanding public pre-K; but scope, funding questions remain, WLFI, 6/15/16
Rutter Column: Indiana's youngest students finally get a break, The Chicago Tribune, 6/9/16
Pence expresses renewed interest in pre-K funding, Indiana Daily Student, 6/8/16
Editorial: Time still right for pre-K funds, Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette, 6/6
Our Opinion: Way past time to expand pre-k in Indiana, South Bend Tribune, 6/5/16
IN Focus: Race for Governor heating up with new ads, pre-k debate, WTTV CBS4Indy, 6/5/16
RItz's Imagine 2020 Agenda Includes An Expansion of Pre-K for Young Hoosiers, The Hoosier Topics, 6/4/16

Legislative Study Committees Announced

During the legislative session many interim study committee topics are recommended by the General Assembly. The meetings allow experts in the field and state agencies to share information about the current state of issues in Indiana in preparation for the next legislative session.

In late May, the Legislative Council announced the topics to be studied in the interim before the 2017 session. Here are a few highlights of interest to our members and partners (only a subset of all):

Corrections and Criminal Code will study use of GPS in victim notification in domestic violence cases.
Courts and the Judiciary will study guardianship, civil rights issues related to gender identity and sexual orientation and visitation with a protected person.
Education will study ways to reduce school sexual misconduct and violations in schools.
Employment and Labor will study mis-classification of independent contractor status and payroll fraud.
Fiscal Policy will study tax incentives, food desert grant and loan program and return on investment for early childhood education spending.
Public Health, Behavioral Health and Human Services will study heroin use and treatment, loan forgiveness for certain dentists, multi-state nurse licensure, medical records confidentiality and disclosure in child abuse cases, hospital immunizations, employment first and First Steps.
Public Policy will study certain alcohol issues and daily fantasy sports, including if child support and past due taxes should be intercepted.
Public Safety and Military Affairs will study whether grants from military relief fund should be paid directly to vendors and more about district veteran service officers.
Roads and Transportation will study special group license plates and seat belts on school buses.

Separate panels were already established by law to study alternatives to ISTEP, redistricting, roads and immigration.

Upcoming committee meetings include:

Special Interim Study Committee on Redistricting - July 7
Senate Select Committee on Immigration Issues - August 17, September 21 and November 10.
Panel on Alternatives to the ISTEP Program Test - July 19, August 9, September 13, October 11, November 15.

Check the interim committee calendar for updates.

PILOTs receive more attention

IU researchers continue to delve into results from a 2010 survey of Local Government Officials about their views of PILOTs, Payments in Lieu of Taxes. A quick scan of opinions of Local Government Officials (LGOs):

41% support requiring nonprofit universities/schools to pay PILOTs,
34% support hospital PILOTs, and
27 support church PILOTs.

LGOs are more likely to support PILOTs if their communities:

are undergoing economic distress,
have instituted tax increment financing,
are urban counties, have high nonprofit assets,
have high voter turnout, and
if the LGO believes that government should exert control over nonprofits.

What are LGOs looking for as they consider implementing a PILOT? LGOs respond that the need for tax revenues and whether nonprofits provide valuable services as their main considerations.

Read the full summary or the other issues in the series about LGO views on 2-1-1, the government-nonprofit relationship or SILOTs and PILOTs.

Personal letter to my fellow advocates: Part II of II

Today marks my last day with Indiana Association of United Ways. It has been my privilege to have served 25 years in the United Way family--as a volunteer with funded agencies and UW committees, as a UW donor, and as a professional in a local UW, two funded agencies, IN211 and IaUW.

While I have seen many changes in United Way since 1991, the heart of our work remains the same: volunteers and donors coming together to improve their communities. Advocacy is a critical part of our work. Most great policy advancements result from volunteers raising their voices.

I hope that you will continue to raise your voice, show the evidence of what works and tell your story about why you are involved. Please continue to advocate for quality education, fair tax policy, human service supports, healthcare access, 2-1-1 and more. And please provide a model for civil discussion around the important issues of our time.

Thank you for your service to our neighbors. Until we meet again.... Lucinda Nord

(You may find me somewhere around the state or at the Indiana Library Federation.)

Weigh in on issues important to you!

Submitting comments during rulemaking periods is an important way to shape policy. State and federal agencies appreciate specific comments about possible impacts and ways to improve proposed rules. Below are a few open comment periods in Indiana. Note the special attention on opioids and e-liquids in upcoming rulemaking.

IN Medical Licensing Board will hold a hearing on 6/23/16 at 2pm to discuss standards and protocols regarding the prescribing of abuse deterrent formulations for opioids. See LSA # 15-415, as well as requirements for the prescribing of opioid controlled substances for pain management by physician assistants in LSA#15-420.
FSSA, Division of Mental Health and Addictions will consider minimum standards for opioid addiction treatment programs. See LSA #16-1, or proposed rule. Deadline: 6/30/16.
Alcohol and Tobacco Commission will hold a hearing on July 6 at 1pm to discuss the proposed rule to require e-liquid manufacturers to report a list of their products and maintain a list of ingredients for each batch of those products See LSA # 15-290.
State School Bus Committee, DOE, will hold a hearing on rules related to child alert systems, contents of first aid kits and optional rear stop arms. See LSA #15-426. Hearing on 9/6/16 at 9am.

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.