|
|
Child Care Public Policy Update -
End of Legislative Session Report
|
Legislative Session comes to an end.
After weeks of negotiations between the Governor and legislative leaders, the 2008 Legislative Session ended on Sunday evening with the legislature passing a budget balancing bill, a bonding bill, and several other provisions. Two of Child Care WORKS agenda items were adopted in the final bills, the creation of a DHS Task Force to look at reducing barriers and an adjustment to the TEACH language to allow the administrator of the program to receive administrative fees. There were also other early childhood provisions that remained in the final bills such as funding for early screening and the creation of a State Advisory Council on Early Education and Care. Additionally, some changes were made to the formula by which basic sliding fee funds are allocated to counties to more accurately reflect the actual need in counties.
Unfortunately, the Supplemental Budget bill included several cuts to early care and education.
$9.227 million is cut from the Basic Sliding Fee child care appropriation. This $9 million would have provided child care assistance to many of the approximately 4,000 families currently on the waiting list. $250,000 is cut from the Pre-K Allowances pilot project and 1.8%, or $110,000, is cut from Child Care Development Grants, which affects a small amount of dollars for Pre-K Allowances, the FFN grants, quality improvements, and child care resource and referral services.
We will continue to keep you informed through In the WORKS Online this summer, but don't hesitate to be in touch with us between issues! For questions about how you can get more involved in making a difference, contact our Community Organizers Jess Luce and Alicia Frosch. For questions about legislative outcomes check in with our Director of Public Policy, Jim Carlson.
|
