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Faced with a bill (SB 1216) that
would jeopardize the future of Children's Services Councils, the
Florida CSC board of directors gathered in Tallahassee this week for
their annual Capitol Hill Days. Board members were updated on
conversations with bill sponsor Sen. Joe Negron (R-Martin) that
attempted to address his concerns about accountability, transparency,
and citizen engagement. The board then spent hours deliberating options
for a compromise that would make the bill more reasonable.
Unfortunately, a compromise could not be reached that would preserve
the integrity of CSC governance and keep local children's councils
above the political fray.
As a result, Sen.
Negron introduced an amendment that
would force five of Florida's eight CSCs to be placed on a local ballot
this August for voters to determine their fate - less than six
months away. In the amended bill, which passed the Children, Family
& Elderly Affairs Committee, the five CSCs that would go to ballot
in August this year are JWB-CSC of Pinellas County, CSC of Martin
County, Children's Board of Hillsborough County, CSC of St. Lucie, and
CSC of Okeechobee County. The amended bill also would require the
remaining three CSCs to go to ballot in 2012 (CSC of Palm Beach and CSC
of Broward) and in 2018 (The Children's Trust). Sen. Negron removed
language in the bill that would have required county commission
oversight of council budgets, millage and building construction.
Sadly, CSCs will
have their hands tied in making their case to their communities because
they (and other local governments) were prohibited by the Legislature
last year from campaigning on any ballot measure (see SB216/ 2009). For
CSCs on an August ballot, citizens leading private efforts to educate
voters will not be able to lay the groundwork and raise the resources
in time. Voters will be cheated
out of the opportunity to make an informed decision about investments
in their community's children.
The amended bill
passed Thursday on a 6-2 vote with yes votes from Sens. Storms
(chair), Hill, Diaz de la Portilla, Garcia, Wise, and Detert. Sens. Rich
and Justice voted no. The next stop for SB 1216 is the Community
Affairs Committee. In the House, a similar bill (HB 1227) by Rep.
Debbie Mayfield (R-Indian River) is expected to be heard next week in
the Committee on Military and Local Affairs.
Special thanks go
to community leaders who testified in opposition to the bill during
yesterday's committee meeting: David Kennedy (former Board Chair,
Children's Board of Hillsborough County), Lynn Frank (Board Member,
Boys & Girls Club in Martin County), Maureen Dinnen (Member,
Broward County School Board), Ted Granger (President, United Way of
Florida), Karen Woodall (Coordinator, Coalition for Fair and
Comprehensive Tax Reform), and Bobbie Sewell (State Government
Relations, Broward County).
CALL
TO ACTION: SB 1216 now goes
to the Senate Community Affairs Committee.
Contact members of the committee to tell them to vote NO
on this bad bill. Please also contact members of the House
Military & Local Affairs
Committee immediately to voice your opposition
to this bill.
At a time when funding for children's programs is
being cut to levels that will endanger thousands of children, the
possibility of losing locally invested dollars will make the crisis
even worse. This unnecessary proposal
impinges on local communities and could not come at a worse time for
state-funded programs that rely on CSC support. Download additional talk
points.
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Florida CSC Board Convenes for Capitol Hill Days in Tallahassee
In addition to their work
on SB 1216, the Florida CSC Board of Directors heard from Dr. Brittany
Birken, Director of the AWI Office of Early Learning (OEL), who
provided a report on major initiatives underway led by OEL, including
development of the Early Learning Information System and the
Professional Development initiative.
Dr. Birken also updated Florida CSC members on the up-to-the
minute status of legislative budget proposals for VPK and School
Readiness which are, along with most state programs, very vulnerable to
catastrophic reductions.
Department of Children and Families Secretary
George Sheldon also participated in the meeting to brief the board on
recent department accomplishments and ongoing challenges. He too
reviewed the grave outlook for funding in the midst of Florida's budget
crisis. Both leaders expressed gratitude for the important part CSCs
play in assisting their state programs, and lauded the strengthening of
the working partnership between CSCs and state agencies in recent
years.
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Budget is Primary
Focus in Week Three
Standing on the brink of a $3-billion budget hole,
lawmakers focused on little else this week except cutting costs. Entire
state agencies were even offered up for restructuring or dismantling in
an effort to reduce expenses. Not surprisingly, very few bills of
interest saw movement. In the House, budget committees released more
details on allocations for specific programs. Among those hardest hit
were VPK and Healthy Start. VPK was reduced approximately $54 million
from just a week ago. Budget negotiations are expected to begin much
earlier than usual according to leadership. As of this week, here's
where the House stands on other issues of interest.
- KidCare - Overall
increase of $37 million to cover enrollment growth, capitation
rate freeze for HK resulting in $10 million savings, and funds
dental benefit at $12 per member
- Healthy Start -- $4
million cut (eliminates Healthy Start Coalitions)
- Healthy Families - Funded
at current level
- Children's Medical
Services -- $3.4 million cut
- Community Based Care -
Funded at current levels for programs (some admin cuts)
- Child Protection
Investigation - Funded at current levels
- Independent Living -
Reduces stipend from $875 per child to $675
- Adoption Maintenance
Subsidy -- $12.8 million (replaces non-recurring)
CALLS
TO ACTION:
A full court press is needed on calls to Representatives on the House
Full Appropriations Council and the Senate Ways and Means Committee
regarding VPK funding. Ask legislators not to reduce the "per
student" funding amount (Base Student Allocation). See AWI fact sheet.
The House Health Care Appropriations Committee proposal
would eliminate Healthy Start Coalitions and shift service
dollars and responsibilities to the local County Health Departments.
The state will save $4 million, but it will lose $32 million annually
in additional funds leveraged by Healthy Start Coalitions. Call your
Representative and urge them not to make these cuts. See FAHSC alert.
Lawmakers Attempt to Gain Control
of Medicaid Costs
With Medicaid spending accounting for about half of the
state shortfall, the Health and Human Services (HHS) budget committee
advanced a plan to move 247,671 Medicaid recipients across 19 counties
into HMOs, a shift expected to save the state $28.6 million next year -
but close to $100 million annually in future years. Still, with 2.7
million Floridians crowded onto Medicaid rolls now absorbing about
one-quarter of all state spending, HHS budget chairman Sen. Durell
Peaden conceded that gains from the dramatic effort were less than
hoped for once they were reviewed by state analysts. The 19 counties
targeted for the HMO move are those that have two or more managed care
Medicaid plans already operating and are considered to have the
capacity to serve a larger population. Among them are most Central
Florida counties, including Orange, Seminole and Osceola, along with
Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, Palm Beach and Pinellas counties. Already,
about 1 million Florida Medicaid patients are treated through managed
care.
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ELC Bills by Wise and Nelson Move
The Early Learning bill, SB 2014
by Sen. Stephen Wise (R-Duval), which addresses various administrative
and governance issues, cleared its first hurdle having been heard,
amended and passed unanimously by the Senate Commerce Committee. Now a
Committee Substitute, the bill travels on to the Education PreK-12
Committee with 4 amendments including one that directs the Agency for
Workforce Innovation to adopt procedures for merging early learning
coalitions and for early termination of the terms of coalition members.
A similar bill, HB 1203 by Rep. Nelson, passed the Pre-K-12 Committee
on March 17 with an amendment to
address exemptions for the kindergarten readiness rate for
children with disabilities.
by Rep. Greg Evers
(R-Santa Rosa) and SB 2710 by Sen. Mike Bennett (R-Manatee) were filed in
both the House and Senate. The bills address administrative issues
affecting the early learning coalitions including establishment of
standardized procurement and exemption from the Administrative
Procedures Act. No action this
week.
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Property
/ Annual Assessment / Exemption
SJR 1254
by Mike Fasano (R-Pasco) passed Senate Community Affairs on Wednesday
this week on an 11-0 vote. The
resolution proposes amendments to the State Constitution to reduce from
10 percent to 5 percent the limitation on annual assessment increases
applicable to non-homestead real property, provide an additional
homestead exemption for new owners of homestead property and
application and limitations with respect thereto. Referred to Community
Affairs, Finance & Tax, Education PreK-12 Appropriations, Policy
& Steering Committee On Ways & Means, and Rules. Similar Bill, HB 655
by Carl Domino (R- Palm Beach), awaits hearing in Finance & Tax
Council.
TABOR
SJR 2420 by Sen. Mike Haridopolos
(R-Brevard), also known as TABOR, proposes an amendment to the state
constitution to limit state and local government tax revenues and, if
passed by the electorate, would require voter approval of new taxes and
fees. It is scheduled to be heard in the Community Affairs Committee on
March 23. No House version has
been filed.
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Each year, older foster youth make the difficult
transition to independent living. Many of these young adults have spent
their entire lives in the foster care system drifting from placement to
placement. They need strong support - from the state of Florida and our
communities - as they move toward adulthood. Unfortunately, HCA 4
passed out of the House Health Care Appropriations Committee on Tuesday
with language limiting the Road to Independence Award to an amount
"not to exceed amount of $675 per month." This is tantamount to a 50% reduction.
In addition, the bill prorates the award in the month the youth turns
age 18. Currently the youth gets a full-month subsidy. The most
expensive month for a former foster youth is the one in which they
strike out on their own. They desperately need funds to assist with
utility and housing deposits. Without the strongest level of Road to
Independence support, former foster youth could wind up homeless or in
prison. We urge the House and Senate to maintain existing levels of
support for the Road to Independence Program
Transition Services for Youth
HB 627 by Rep. Ari Porth (D-Broward) and SB 1356 by Sen. Stephen Wise (R-Duval), permits the
Department of Juvenile Justice to provide transition to adulthood
services to youth in DJJ's custody or supervision. Both bills moved forward
during the second week of session. HB 627 was unanimously approved by
the Public Safety & Domestic Security Committee and now heads to
the Full Appropriations Council on Education & Economic
Development. No action this week.
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Florida KidCare
SB 2082 by Sen. Nan Rich (D-Broward) provides that:
children under the age of 1 may participate in the Medikids program; an
eligible child who is a lawful immigrant may enroll in the Florida
Kidcare Program regardless of the child's date of entry; authorizes Kidcare
coverage for temporomandibular joint disease. provides that
Medicaid-eligible children are deemed eligible for 12 months of
coverage regardless of any change in circumstances, etc. Referred to
Health Regulation, Banking & Insurance, Health & Human Services
Appropriations, and Way & Means. No action thus far. No action on
similar bill, HB 1545 by Juan Zapata (R-Miami).
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Bill Would Eliminate Life Sentences
for Juveniles
SB 184
would establish parole for adolescent offenders, making it likely that
life sentences for juveniles would be eliminated. The measure would
establish parole for kids who committed a crime when they were 15 years
old or younger and were sentenced to more than 10 years in prison.
Approved last week by Senate Criminal Justice Committee, the proposal
is next slated for the Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations
Committee. The House companion (HB 23)
also passed the Public Safety & Domestic Security Policy Committee,
and is now before the House Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations
Committee. There was no action
in either house on the proposal this week.
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Booster Seats
SB 316 by Sen.
Thad Altman (R-Brevard) would require booster seats, in addition to
seat belts, for children aged 4 through 7 and less than 4'9" to
protect the child by properly using a crash tested, federally approved
child restraint device. It also provides certain exceptions, and
redefines the term "motor vehicle" to exclude certain
vehicles from such requirements. No action this week.
CALL TO ACTION: Please call Reps. Dave Murzin and Dean Cannon to urge
them to allow HB 387 to move forward in
the House.
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Early Learning Challenge Fund, Child
Nutrition
The U.S. Senate has removed the Early Learning
Challenge Fund from the student loan section of the budget
reconciliation bill on health care reform. Education Committee chairs
are talking about other possible vehicles, but it is not clear what the
other options might be. The Senate Agriculture committee released the
Chairman's Mark of the Child Nutrition Act (markup next week) and it
has some positive things, but it does not include opportunities to
increase access to preschool CACFP.
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TAKE
NOTE
Rally for
Afterschool
April 20
Washington, DC
One Goal Summer Conference
July 21-23
Tampa
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St. Lucie CSC Launches "Do You Know" Campaign
The St. Lucie CSC has
launched a new campaign designed to generate greater awareness of the
many ways it serves children in the community. As part of the campaign, a
video titled, "Do You Know? Now You Know," was created and
placed on You Tube. The video taps into audiences that may recognize a
program, such as the Boys & Girls Club, but not know that the St.
Lucie CSC provides funds for the program. The video helps viewers connect
the CSC to the programs it funds. A special page was also created on the
CSC web site to direct viewers to the site where additional videos and
information about the other CSC funded programs will be posted. View the video.
Federal Funding
Available for Communities
A federal funding opportunity is being offered to strengthen, through
granting organizations, the capacity of community-based organizations to
serve low-income communities through innovative and replicable
programming. The Corporation for National and Community Service is
accepting applications for the Social Innovation Fund. Applications are
due by April 8, 2010. The Governor's Commission on Volunteerism and
Community Service, Volunteer Florida, invites nonprofit foundations
throughout Florida to partner in seeking up to $5 million in funding from
the new Social Innovation Fund. More information about this funding
opportunity is available at: www.nationalservice.org
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Capitol
Connection is also available online at the FCSC web site.
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