| Special Edition: 2013 Legislative Wrap-Up |
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Rhode Island KIDS COUNT is pleased to release the 2013 Legislative Wrap-Up, which reports on selected laws and budget appropriations affecting children in the areas of economic well-being, health, safety, early learning, and education considered in the Rhode Island General Assembly's Legislative Session.
Below is an overview of victories for Rhode Island children and families in the 2013 Legislative Session:
Economic Well-Being
- Establishes a Paid Family Leave Program through TDI that allows partial wage replacement for employees who need time off for caregiving for the birth or adoption of a child, or care of an ill family member
- Increases the minimum wage to $8.00 per hour
- Provides $750,000 in rental assistance to help low-income families afford the high cost of housing
- Gives the Office of Child Support Services an additional tool to locate non-custodial parents who are not paying owed child support
Health
- Eliminates monthly premiums for children with RIte Care coverage
- Maintains level funding for the Healthy Homes and Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program through an appropriation of $600,000
Safety
- Provides DCYF with an additional $5.4 million to support the System of Care transformation
- Creates a Behavioral Health and Firearms Safety Task Force to study and make recommendations about state participation in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System
Early Learning
- Expands the State Pre-K Program through the education funding formula by an additional appropriation of $500,000
- Provides initial funding in the amount of $250,000 for the Full-Day Kindergarten Incentive Fund
- Maintains current level of state funding for Head Start (but did not increase state funding to retain Head Start seats that will be lost due to federal sequester)
- Establishes a pilot Child Care Transition Program to enable low-income, working families to maintain eligibility for the Child Care Assistance Program as family income increases up to 225% FPL
Education
- Increases funding for education through the funding formula by $30.3 million (including Pre-K)
- Increases funding for public higher education by $6 million
For the full 2013 Legislative Wrap-Up, please click here. |
| Keep up-to-date on Rhode Island children and families! |
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT regularly publishes the following E-Newsletters:
- General E-News: Timely news, research, and policy information on issues related to child well-being.
- Children's Health Insurance
E-News: Monthly updates on health coverage, as well as other health topics affecting Rhode Island children and families. - Early Childhood Policy Updates: Periodic updates on access to early care and education in Rhode Island.
- Child Welfare/Juvenile Justice E-News: Provides periodic updates on child welfare, safety, and juvenile justice issues in Rhode Island.
- Legislative E-Briefs: Timely updates on Legislative issues in the area of health insurance, early childhood, education, and child welfare.
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