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On a day traditionally marked with celebration and hope in
Tallahassee, lawmakers converged on the Capitol this week for what
promises to be one of the toughest legislative sessions Florida has
ever seen. State lawmakers have 60 days to stave off an $800-million
deficit in the current budget year. They also must deal with an
anticipated $5 billion revenue shortage in 2009-10.
Last month, Gov. Charlie Crist released his proposed $66.5
billion budget for 2009-10,
which uses $4.7 billion in federal stimulus funds. Crist wants to use
some of that money to increase spending on health and human services by
$101 million. He would also boost funding for K-12 public education by
$183 per student. The Governor has also proposed additional property
tax reform measures - this time for businesses and first-time
homebuyers (more detail under "Other Issues").
New estimates
Wednesday indicated Florida will get $1.2 billion more in federal
stimulus money than previously anticipated, bring the total to $13.4
billion. The bad news, state economists announced Thursday that real
estate values across Florida are likely to fall so fast in 2009, the
money local schools districts can raise from property taxes is going to
plummet more than $1.1 billion next year. Of course, this will also wreak havoc
on CSC programs, cities, counties, and other special districts services
important to Floridians.
On the revenue
side, advocacy groups and legislators have been rolling out ideas to
try to generate more money for state coffers. The Florida Teachers
Union has proposed a three-year penny sales tax hike to benefit
education. The measure is estimated to raise about $3.5 billion a year,
or $10.5 billion over three years. The coalition known as Florida's
People, Florida's Promise is challenging lawmakers to review $1 billion
in sales tax exemptions. A few weeks ago, Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel
Vasilinda and Sen. Evelyn Lynn filed bills (HB 329 & SB 1134) that would enable Florida to collect sales
tax on Internet purchases. Congress would have to pass legislation
first to enable states to collect these taxes. Sen. Ted Deutch has
filed a Cigarette User Fee bill (SB 1840) that, if passed, is estimated to raise
more than $500 million a year. Companion bills (HB 887 & HB 11) were filed
in the House by Reps. Juan Zapata (R-Mami-Dade) and Jim Waldman
(D-Broward), respectively.
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Governor's State of the State Address and Proposed
Budget
On Tuesday evening, Gov. Charlie Crist delivered his State
of the State address. In his address, he emphasized ways in which
Florida will be able to preserve education, health care and spending
for family supports with the aid of the federal stimulus package.
However, a number of legislators have expressed doubts, citing the
"strings" attached to and non-recurring nature of some of the
funds. Other legislators admit there is no choice except to use the
stimulus money. Yet, they are concerned that the public may be left
with the perception that stimulus dollars will fill in the entire state
deficit, and forgo meaningful tax reform and new revenue discussions.
New revenue estimates will be released next Friday and legislators are
anticipating a $5-$8 billion shortfall. Legislators plan to work
quickly thereafter to identify cuts.
Jerry McDaniel, the Governor's budget director, made budget
presentations to all of the appropriation committees this week, laying
out the plans to use the federal stimulus money and other non-recurring
revenue. He told committees that revenue could drop by $1.2 billion to
$1.9 billion when the new forecast is released. Anticipating this, many
budget chairs have asked the Governor's office to recast its spending
plan.
- See
Governor's State of the State Address
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Parents
Making Their Voices Heard
Coordinated by the Florida PTA, a "Rally in
Tally" on March 18 will bring thousands of parents and educators
to the Capitol to deliver one message to the legislature, "Stop
the Cutting and Invest in Public Education." An historic turnout
may be in the making. At a recent town hall meeting in Brevard County,
the local legislative delegation was confronted by parents and teachers
estimated at 10,000 people. Other large events have taken place and
others are in the planning. The PTA is reaching out to a broad range of
constituencies and urging participating in the March 18 rally at the
Capitol. FCSC will be engaged with a message targeted at early care and
education, a key part of the puzzle.
Florida Gets Federal Stimulus Czar
Gov. Charlie Crist
announced his appointment of Don Winstead to serve as his Special Advisor for the
Implementation of the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009. Gov. Crist appointed Winstead to work in coordination with the
Federal Stimulus Working Group he created in early February to oversee
and track the distribution of Florida's stimulus dollars.
Winstead is the deputy secretary of the state Department of Children
and Families. Plans are in place
for the FCSC team to closely monitor developments.
CFO
Sink Says Florida Must Do More to Draw Down Federal Funds
Florida CFO Alex Sink issued a report this week that
included recommendations to maximize federal funding for the state of
Florida. Her report found that Florida ranks 45th in the nation in per
capita federal grants funding. In her report, Sink offered 10
preliminary recommendations intended to enhance coordination among key
state agencies and increase awareness of the federal grant process. In
a letter to state leaders, she stated, "Florida lacks effective
and proactive systems to maximize the draw down of federal grants.
Florida also has not been providing the matching state funds necessary
to receiving many of the federal grants." Read Sink's letter and
recommendations.
Longtime Child Advocate Sen.
Nan Rich Selected as Democratic Leader
 State Sen. Nan Rich, (D- Broward) was selected Wednesday
as the Senate Democratic leader beginning after the 2010 elections,
becoming the first woman to hold the post. Rich pledged to work over
the next two years to pick up Democratic seats in the Senate. The
current party leader in the Senate is Al Lawson Jr. (D-Leon). Florida
Democratic Party Chair Karen Thurman issued a statement saying, "I
would like to congratulate Sen. Nan Rich on her designation as the
leader of the Senate Democratic Caucus for the 2010-2012 Legislative
Session. As a fierce advocate for children, Nan has a proven track
record of fighting for the issues and causes she is passionate
about." Rich was first
elected to the Florida House in 2000, serving two terms before winning
her Senate seat.
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U.S. House of
Representatives Passes Omnibus Appropriations for FY 2009
On
Feb. 25, the U.S. House passed the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill
(H.R. 1105) to fund federal programs through the end of the fiscal
year. The bill, which comprises nine appropriations bills that were not
finished by the end of the 110th Congress, provides $410 billion in
discretionary spending. This represents about $31 billion more
than total funding in the FY 2008 versions of the nine spending bills.
Currently, federal programs are funded via a continuing resolution that
expires March 6, 2009. The Senate is expected to consider the
measure next week. For child care, the bill includes $2.1 billion for
CCDBG. In addition to the 4 percent quality set-aside, an
additional $271.4 million is set aside for quality activities, of which
$99.5 million is to improve the quality of infant and toddler care. The
measure continues to include $18.9 million for child care resource and
referral and school-aged child care activities and $1 million for Child
Care Aware. Within funding provided for Child Abuse Discretionary
Activities, $13.5 million was included to expand the home visitation
initiative. These funds are to support continuing and new
competitive grants to states to encourage investment of existing
funding streams into evidence-based home visitation models that have
been shown to improve the health, well-being, and self-sufficiency of
low income, first-time parents and their children. All applicants
to the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) for this funding
are instructed to adhere closely to evidence-based models of home
visitation (per House report language). With ACF program administration
funding, the bill includes $1.5 million for the National Commission on
Children and Disasters. House report language directs the Commission to
operate independently from the Administration in order to provide
unbiased recommendations to the President and Congress.
With
regard to other early childhood development programs, the bill
includes:
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House
Omnibus Appropriations Bill, HR 1105 ($ in Millions)
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Program
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FY2008
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FY2009
Omnibus
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Community
Services Block Grant (CSBG)
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$653.80
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$700.0
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Social
Services Block Grant (SSBG)
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$1,700.00
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$1,700.0
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Even
Start
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$66.40
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$66.4
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IDEA
Part C (Infants & Toddlers)
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$435.60
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$439.4
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IDEA
Sec 619 (Preschool)
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$374.00
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$374.0
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21st
Century Community Learning Ctrs
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$1,081.00
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$1,131.0
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For information on the
Omnibus Appropriations bill, including legislative language and
summary, please click here: http://appropriations.house.gov/.
~ Courtesy of National Association of
Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies newsletter
CSC Contingency Goes to Washington
 A
contingency of members from the Florida CSC policy team known as
"the Firm" traveled to Washington, DC, a few weeks ago to
attend the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) Conference. While
there, Amy Petrila (Hillsborough CSC), Gabrielle Bargerstock (Palm
Beach CSC), Evan Goldman (Broward CSC), and others participated in Hill
Day. They met with Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Kathy Castor
regarding issues relating to children and families. They also met with
senior CWLA staff about collaborations on policy initiatives.
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Danger
of Additional Property Tax Reform Very Real
Local governments and CSC leaders are alarmed by property
tax proposals touted by legislative leaders and Gov. Charlie Crist.
Four separate tax proposals would further reduce property taxes,
thereby causing more slashing of budgets for schools and important
local services. The proposals would be constitutional amendments to be
placed on the 2010 ballot for voter approval. The four constitutional
amendments would:
- Cap
local government spending by limiting tax collections. Addressed
in HB 385
(Rivera) and SB 738
(Bennett), which limit total aggregate ad valorem taxes levied by
counties, municipalities, school districts and special districts
on any parcel of real property to 1.35% of the highest taxable
value of the property.
- Limit growth in the assessed value of
businesses, vacation homes and other non-homesteaded properties to
5 percent annually. Those assessment increases are now capped at
10 percent a year due to the passage of Amendment 1 in Jan. 2008.
Addressed in HB 97
(Domino) and SB 532
(Lynn).
- Aid first-time home buyers by increasing the
homestead exemption to 50 percent of the market value of the home.
The exemption's value would decrease back to zero over five years.
Maximum exemption: $500,000. Addressed in HB 97
(Domino) and SB 532
(Lynn).
- Prohibit tax-assessment increases on
homesteaded properties whose market values decline - a quirk in
the current Save Our Homes system known as "the recapture
rule." Addressed in HB 105
(Ford), SB 304
(Bennett) and SB 464
(Fasano).
The constitutional
amendments will need to pass by a three-fifths vote in each house: 24
in the Senate and 72 in the House. Voters must approve the final
amendments with a 60 percent vote. The FCSC policy team will closely
monitor these proposals as they pose a direct threat to CSCs' ability
to strategically invest in services for children and families in their
communities.
House Committee Approves CSC Public Records Exemption Bill
The House
Governmental Affairs Policy Committee passed a proposed committee bill
(PCB GAP 09-08) Wednesday that removes a sunset
provision for a CSC public records exemption. The bill would make
permanent a public records exemption (Section 125.901, F.S.) for
children's services councils. The exemption protects a child's or
family's personal identifying information held by a CSC or by a service
provider or researcher under contract with a CSC. Under current law,
the exemption is subject to review under the Open Government Sunset
Review Act, and is scheduled to sunset on Oct. 9, 2009, unless it is
reauthorized. In January, the Senate Committee on Children, Families and
Elder Affairs passed its own version (SPB) 7004, which
also repeals the sunset provision. FCSC has worked closely with Senate
and House staff to ensure the exemption remains in place.
House Reviews Sales Tax Exemptions
The House Finance and Tax Council reviewed 51 tax
exemptions this week, including those on fill dirt, docked boats,
bottled water and the Professional Golf Hall of fame, among others that
could be eliminated. The Council took testimony regarding why these
exemptions should or should not be retained. See Council Meeting Packet.
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KidCare
Streamlining Bill Gets Committee Assignments
SB 918 by Sen.
Nan Rich (D-Broward) to streamline the Florida Kidcare Act received
committee assignments this week. The companion bill (HB 1329) by Rep.
Jimmy Patronis (R-Bay) is awaiting committee assignments. The bill
defines Florida Kidcare Plus as health benefits coverage for children
with special health care needs delivered through the Children's Medical
Services (CMS) Network, and it provides for assignment of these
children to the CMS Network with an opt-out provision. The bill reduces
the penalty for premium nonpayment from 60 to 30 days, and provides for
60 days of continued eligibility without a premium for children who
lose Medicaid coverage due to age or income. Additionally, the bill
provides eligibility for subsidy when employer coverage is lost due to
cost, and it reduces the required waiting period for loss of
employer-sponsored coverage from 6 months to 60 days. The bill also
provides 12 months of continuous eligibility for all Florida Kidcare
components, and provides for electronic verification of income.
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EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION & CARE
Bills
Filed to Reduce or Eliminate Early Learning Coalitions
Sen. Stephen Wise (R-Duval) has filed SB 2570, which
reduces the number of ELCs from 31 to 20, thereby reorganizing the
early learning and afterschool system in the midst of a budget crisis
and implementation of the fast-tracked stimulus funding. The bill also
reduces the governing boards of the ELCs, changes the voting authority
of some members, and reduces the number of board members on the
Children's Trust board. The
63-page bill amends several
other components of ELC authority, provider rates, data requirements,
etc. A similar bill (HB 501) in the
House by Rep. Greg Evers (R-Santa Rosa) would abolish Florida's Early
Learning Coalitions altogether and transfer the functions of ELCs to
the Agency for Workforce Innovation.
Pre-K Degreed Teacher Bills Filed in House and Senate
Degreed teacher
bills (SB 602 & HB 487) have been
filed by Sens. Mike Fasano (R-Pasco) and Nan Rich (D-Broward), along
with Reps. Will Weatherford (R-Pasco) and Janet Long (D-Pinellas). The
bills would require that all Florida pre-kindergarten classrooms have a
lead bachelor degreed teacher by the year 2013.
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Zero
Tolerance Bill Passes First Committee
The Zero-Tolerance bill (SB 1540) by Sen.
Stephen Wise (R-Duval) passed unanimously through the Education Pre-K
Committee yesterday. The bill revises the requirements for
zero-tolerance policies, and deletes provisions relating to agreements
with the county sheriff's office and local police departments. It
requires that such agreements specify guidelines for addressing acts
that pose a serious threat to school safety and prohibits said policies
from requiring the reporting of petty acts of misconduct and
misdemeanors to a law enforcement agency.
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TAKE NOTE
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National Child Care Group Launches Online Economic
Stimulus Briefing Room
The National Association of
Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) has created an
online economic stimulus briefing room to serve as a resource for
materials released related to the implementation of the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act. The web site will be updated every week to ensure
that the most recent available resources are posted. Visit the briefing room.
ZERO
TO THREE Report Urges States to Focus on Early Childhood Education
ZERO TO THREE has put out a
new paper, A
Focus on Infants and Toddlers in State Advisory Councils to help
ensure that infants and toddlers are a focus of State Advisory Councils
on Early Childhood Education and Care, mandated by the 2007
reauthorization of Head Start. This paper could be a useful tool to
use in this critical time for children.
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Capitol
Connection is also available online at the FCSC web site.
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