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News from Every Child Counts
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02/10/13
A quick update!
Week 4 started out with the Senate passing SF 106 which conforms Iowa's internal revenue code to the updated federal tax code. This was recently agreed to as part of the deal postponing sequestration until the end of this month. The House passed the bill on Wednesday. It should be headed to the Governor for a signature.
On Tuesday, the HHS Budget SubCommittee heard presentations on Children's Mental Health Reform. Magellen provided a presentation and Orchard Place provided testimony. Also, Judy Solomon from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, provided testimony on the importance of expanding Medicaid services as part of the ACA.
On Wednesday, the Senate Education Committee heard testimony from Arlene McAtee, Executive Director, Mid-Iowa Community Action, Inc. Marshalltown and Sue Martin, former Executive Director of the Martha-Ellen Tye Foundation. They presented information on the Promise Neighborhood planning grant they received from the Dept of Education. The presentation was well received by the Committee members!!
On Thursday, the HHS Budget SubCommittee heard presentations on Autism. Steve Muller, Executive Director, the Homestead, Bobbi Schell, Alyson Beytien and Laura Keeher, Mercy Health Dubuque and Dr. Scott Lindgren, U of I, shared their personal and professional experiences in working with children and families living with Autism. You can download their presentations below.
Early Autism Intervention is Cost Effective
Autism in Iowa
Autism System of Care
One last thing. The House Subcommittee that has been meeting on the Governor's Education Reform Bill, moved the bill onto the full Education Committee. They should take it up for discussion this week and go to the floor in the next couple of weeks.
We do our best to keep you up to date on what is happening during this legislative session. Feel free to contact us with any questions or suggestions you might have. Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter! And finally, don't forget to communicate with your legislators and weigh in on important children and family issues! Sincerely,
Sheila Hansen & Danielle Oswald-Thole
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Quality Early Learning and Development:
HSB 4 - Governor's Education Reform Bill - Subcommittee of Jorgensen, Dolecheck, Hanusa, Stanerson, Steckman, Winckler and Cohoon. Read the summary here. SSB 1058 - Governor's Education Reform Bill - Subcommittee of Quirmbach, Schoenjohn and Ernst. SF 48 - An Act requiring background checks for school employees.HF 144 - Deems a child who is 4 yrs old and attending preschool as being of compulsory school age unless a parent submits a letter withdrawing the child from preschool. Child Health and Well-Being:
SSB 1001 - An act requiring pulse oximetry screening for newborns in a birthing hospital. SF 71- Medicaid expansion - The bill requires DHS to amend the medical assistance state plan to implement the bill with respect to the provision of medical homes and the coverage of certain low-income adults. (Companion bill is HF 83)
HSB 95 - Relating to the use of restraints against a pregnant inmate or detainee. (Companion Bill SF 134)
HF 97 - This bill provides eligibility for mental health services through the regional mental health and disability service system for certain children. The regions, consisting of counties, are being formed and phased in during FY 2013-2014.
HF 98 - This bill relates to the mental health and disability services (MH/DS) fund levy for FY 2013-2014 and FY
2014-2015
SF 101 - An Act relating to coverage for foster children under the Medicaid program
HSB 32 - An Act relating to the penalties for the criminal offense of sexual exploitation of a minor by the purchase or possession of child pornography. HF 80 - An Act mandating drug testing of applicants for and certain recipients of assistance under the family investment program.HF 167 - An Act establishing a child endangerment offense for the mother of a newborn child who caused an illegal drug to be present in the newborn child's body. HF 161 - An Act requiring regional mental health and disability services to be provided to both children and adults.HF 160 - Appropriates $11.63 million in FY 13 from the federal children's health insurance fund to the DHS MH Redesign Transition Fund.
Family Economic Success:HF 80 - Mandates drug testing of applicants for and certain recipients of assistance under the family investment program.HF 1 - This bill relates to the taxpayers trust fund by modifying 28 the transfer of moneys from the Iowa economic emergency fund to 29 the taxpayers trust fund. SF 88 - This bill increases the amount of the state earned income tax credit. Currently, the credit is equal to 7 percent of the amount of a taxpayer's federal earned income tax credit. The bill increases the amount of the credit to 20 percentSF 132 - This bill relates to specified aspects of the regulation of delayed deposit services businesses.SF 135 - This bill requires that designated state departments and law enforcement agencies be provided access to delayed deposit services customer information when requested by the department or agency by subpoena.HF 175 - An Act relating to eligibility determinations for the state child care assistance program.HF 178 - An Act declaring the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act invalid, null and void, and of no effect in this state. *bills listed by ECC legislative priority area. Bill listed might be helpful or harmful to the priority area. |
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Get timely updates from the Child and Family Policy Center:
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How is state policy affecting the families around you?
Tell us about it! Sheila Hansen
Every Child Counts
Director
Danielle Oswald-Thole
Every Child Counts Outreach Coordinator and Policy Advocate
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Children's Health Update 
Medicaid Expansion
SF 71 - Medicaid Expansion
The first subcommittee meeting on Senate File 71 (Medicaid Expansion) is this Monday, February 11th, at 10 am in Room 22 at the Capitol. If you can't make the subcommittee meetings, please contact your legislator and let them know the following: - Expanding Medicaid is the right thing to do for Iowans
- It will improve access to preventative health services and life saving treatment for Iowans,
- And will reduce heath care costs for everyone.
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Some Articles of Interest
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"To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world." - Heather Cortez
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