CLARIFICATION -
House Budget Still Proposes Elimination of Healthy Start Coalitions
The budget chart
in Saturday's Capitol
Connection did not include budget information on the
House's proposal to eliminate funding for
Healthy Start Coalitions -- a $4-million cut -- and move the remaining
service funds into the County Health Departments. See Healthy Start
talk points for more information.
- Contact
the Senate
leadership (President Atwater) and the chair of the Senate Health and
Human Services Appropriations (Sen. Peaden) and ask them to stay firm with maintaining
funding for Healthy Start during conference negotiations.
- Contact House leadership
(Speaker Cretul), the Chair of the Full Appropriations Council on
General Government and Health Care (Rep. Rivera), and the
Chair of the Health Care Appropriations Committee (Rep. Grimsley) to restore funding
for Healthy Start Coalitions during conference negotiations.
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The House Military and Local Affairs Policy Committee was
scheduled Thursday to consider CSC bill, HB 1227
by Rep. Debbie Mayfield (R-Indian River). In an unexpected turn of
events, the bill was not fully debated and voted on because the
committee ran out of time. Now a Proposed Committee Substitute (PCS),
the House bill is likely to be considered when the committee meets one
last time on April 8 at 1 p.m. Before the committee adjourned, it did
adopt two amendments to the PCS. A third amendment was introduced, but
did not get voted on due to time. A fourth amendment was filed, but not
introduced.
The House PCS now
conforms the House bill to the Committee
Substitute for SB 1216, which removes all other requirements
except the referendum piece. The first adopted amendment, sponsored by
Rep. Juan Zapata (R-Miami-Dade), moves the August primary requirement
to a General election. The second adopted amendment, also by Rep.
Zapata, changes the schedule for CSCs established in 1990 or before to
go to referendum in 2012 (instead of 2010.) The third amendment, by
Rep. Mark Pafford (D-Palm Beach), was under discussion when time ran
out. Rep. Pafford's amendment sought to change the referendum
requirement so that all CSCs, except Miami-Dade, would go to referendum
on or before the general election in 2016 (instead of 2010). Miami-Dade
would remain at 2018 since they just went to referendum in 2008. A
fourth amendment, also by Rep. Pafford but not heard, seeks to replace
the referendum provision with a requirement that CSCs undergo a
comprehensive statutory review of their operations and functions as
prescribed in an existing statute for special districts (s. 189.428).
Several opponents
to the bill were in the audience to offer testimony, but did not have
the opportunity to speak because of time. Special thanks go to: Jane
Murphy, CEO of Hillsborough Healthy Start Coalition, Rayme Nuckles, CEO
of the Hillsborough Homeless Coalition, Sarah Obdie, FSU student and
former member of the Hillsborough Youth Collaborative, Chris Card,
former CEO of Hillsborough Kids, Inc.,
Kathy Adams, Chair of the Palm Beach ELC and former board chair
of the Palm Beach CSC, Commissioner Paula Lewis, St. Lucie Board of
County Commissioners, Gordon Tremaine, Alachua County Early Learning
Coalition, Evelio Torres, CEO of the Miami-Dade ELC and Board Member of
The Children's Trust, and many members of the PTAs from around the
state.
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 programs that rely on CSC support.
Download additional
talk points.
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Budget
Deliberations Continue
The House and Senate full appropriations committees
deliberated their respective budgets this week. A number of changes and
amendments were made to improve the lives of children. In Early
Childhood, an amendment offered by Rep. Anitere Flores (R-Miami-Dade)
nearly fully funds (1 percent reduction) the VPK program, which was
previously positioned for a 15 percent reduction. Her amendment
restores $56 million. This holds ratios and per child payments to
providers virtually harmless. In the Senate, $17 million was restored
for 1,728 slots in the subsidized child care program, preventing any
disenrollment from the program. However, approximately 84,000 children
will remain on the waiting list. In the Senate, funds were restored
(some of which came from the enhanced FMAP) for the child welfare
system for CBCs, protective investigators. In Health Care, funds were
appropriated for KidCare enrollment growth ($39 million), and to keep
CMS, Healthy Start and Early steps whole. The Senate budget banks on
more than $800 million in federal Medicaid money, which is anticipated
to come to Florida. In Juvenile Justice, which experienced a 5 percent
reduction in General Revenue, intervention and prevention were held
harmless for programs such as PACE, CINS/FINS and AMI. In addition, $4
million was restored for secure and non-secure residential beds.
The House and Senate Appropriations bills HB 5001
and SB 2700,
as well as implementing and conforming bills move to the floor next
week. Below is an early side-by-side comparison of how the House and
Senate budgets compare.
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PROPOSED
CHANGES (+/-) FROM 2009-10 BUDGET AS OF 3/26/10
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ISSUE
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SENATE
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HOUSE
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COMMENT
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School
Readiness
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-
$3 M
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0
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Senate cut would result in
the inability to draw down $3.9 million in CCDF matching funds
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VPK
(Non-admin.)
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-
$16.3 M
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+ $35 M
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Senate BSA
increased from $2,200 to $2,390; House provides school year BSA of
$2,549 and summer BSA of $2168.
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Healthy
Kids (Kid Care)
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+ $17.6 M
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+ $7.4 M
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Healthy
Start
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0
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- $4 M
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House
budget proposes eliminating Healthy Start Coalitions
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Healthy Families
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0
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0
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Early Steps
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-
$1.8 M
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-
$1.8 M
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Uses
non-recurring stimulus
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Children's
Medical Services
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+ $24 M
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+ 23.9 M
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Community
Based Care (CBC)
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- $14.5 M
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- $29.4 M
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Child
Protection Investigation
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+ $158,091
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- $1.4 M
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CINS/FINS
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+ $100,596
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+ $100,869
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NOTE:
Additional numbers for Independent Living, Adoption Maintenance
Subsidies and JACs are still being verified. We will report on those in
the next issue.
CSC
Bills Draw Media Response
As voters learn
more about proposed legislation (SB 1216 and HB 1227) that could
negatively impact the way their Children's Services Councils operate,
the media has also taken notice. Below are just a few of the recent
editorials and letters to the editor.
Early
Childhood Caucus Has New Mascot
The founding
member of the Florida Early Childhood Caucus, Rep. Ari Porth,
celebrated the birth of his first child recently. Gabriel Benjamin
weighed in at a healthy 7 lbs., 4 ozs. Florida CSC congratulates the
Porth family on their new addition.
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ELC Bills
The Early Learning bill, SB 2014
by Sen. Stephen Wise (R-Duval), which addresses various administrative
and governance issues, is currently in Education PreK-12, but may go
straight to the floor if the bill gets withdrawn from committees. A
similar bill, HB 1203 by Rep. Nelson (R-Orange) and
members of the PreK-12 Policy Committee is now in Full Appropriations
Council on Education and Economic Development.
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TABOR
SJR 2420 by Sen. Mike
Haridopolos (R-Brevard), also known as TABOR, passed the Community
Affairs committee 5-3 and is headed to Government Oversight &
Accountability. The bill proposes an amendment to the state
constitution to limit tax revenues and, if passed by the electorate,
would require voter approval of new taxes and fees. Acknowledging
mounting opposition from city and county governments, Haridopolos
amended the bill to remove local governments from the spending cap so
it would only apply to state revenues. The bill needs a three-fifths
vote from both the House and Senate to get on this fall's ballot. No
House version has been filed.
Property / Annual
Assessment / Exemption
SJR 1254 by Mike Fasano (R-Pasco) was passed favorably by
Community Affairs and is now in the Finance and Tax Committee. 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. Similar Bill, HB 655 by Carl Domino (R- Palm Beach), passed favorably
in Finance and Tax Council 16-1.
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Transition Services for Youth
SB 1356 by
Sen. Stephen Wise (R-Duval) passed unanimously in Criminal Justice. The
bill permits the Department of Juvenile Justice to provide transition
to adulthood services to youth in DJJ's custody or supervision. HB 627
by Rep. Ari Porth (D-Broward) is currently in Full Appropriations
Council on Education & Economic Development (no action since
3/9/10).
Background
Screenings
HB 7069 by the Criminal & Civil Justice Policy Council
along with Rep. Snyder (R-Martin) and Rep. Ari Porth (D- Broward) was
passed unanimously by the House with 110 yes votes, and is in Senate
Messages awaiting approval by the full Senate.The bill prevents
individuals from working with children, disabled adults or adults over
65 until they pass a background screening. It also prevents those
classified as sexual predators from ever being able to work with
vulnerable individuals. This legislation is a significant step toward
protecting Floridians from those who would prey on them.
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Florida KidCare
SB 2082 by Sen. Nan Rich (D-Broward) has not moved. The
bill 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.
Similar bill, HB 1545 by Juan Zapata (R-Miami), has also not seen
action. Although the bills have not moved, funding for enrollment
growth is proposed in the budgets.
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Booster Seat Bill
SB 316
by Sen. Thad Altman (R-Brevard) is still in Transportation &
Economic Development Appropriations. It 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. Sadly, the House bill (HB 387)
still has not been heard in the Roads, Bridges and Ports Committee, and
House committees are coming to an end.
CALL
TO ACTION: Please call Reps. Dave Murzin and
Dean Cannon to urge them to place HB 387 on the committee calendar so it
can move forward in the House.
High
School Students Present Smoking Bill
Students from
three different Hillsborough County high schools presented HB 1141
by Rep. Kevin Ambler (R-Hillsborough), Smoking in Vehicles with Minor
Passengers, in a workshop in the Roads, Bridges & Ports Policy
Committee on Thursday. The group presented the bill as part of Rep.
Ambler's "Ought to be a Law" (OTBAL) Student Legislation
Program.
Bills
Propose Changes in State Employee Retirement Plan
Legislation (CS/SB 2022)
by Sen. JD Alexander would require public employees to pay one-quarter
of one percent of their gross pay into the Florida Retirement System
starting Jan. 1, 2011. This would help to offset a potential
$15-billion shortfall in the fund, its first deficit in
a dozen years.
On the House side, the
House has introduced HB 5701,
which eliminates the retiree health insurance subsidy, which equals $5
per month for every year of service up to a maximum of $150 a month.
These bills are part of the overall budgets that the House and Senate
will each consider on the floor next week and then begin conferencing.
The House and Senate are likely to reach agreement on changes related
to FRS as part of the budget conference process.
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Healthcare Reform
On Tuesday, President Obama signed legislation into law
that will reform the country's health care insurance practices.
Arguably one of the most significant pieces of legislation in a
generation, this health care bill will have a major impact across the
country. At-risk young children and families will benefit from a new home
visiting provision within the health care legislation. Home visiting
will be funded at $1.5 billion over five years. States will be able to
establish and expand high-quality, evidence-based, voluntary home
visiting services to expectant families and those with young children.
All states will receive funds, if they so choose, through a formula
process. The legislation calls for funds to be used to serve high-need
areas, offer training and technical assistance, and promote
coordination and collaboration.
While the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA) was
included in the budget reconciliation bill with health care reform, the
unfortunate news from Washington, D.C. is that the Early Learning
Challenge Fund provision within SAFRA was removed. Shortly after the
fund was eliminated, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said, "The
president is absolutely committed on this issue, I'm absolutely
committed, and we're going to find another vehicle to help the early
learning community."
~ Excerpted
from Ounce of Prevention Fund newsletter
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TAKE
NOTE
Capitol
Connection is also available online at the FCSC web site.
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