After School Advocacy Update on State Budget and DPH Licensing
State Budget Update
The Connecticut 2010 Legislative session officially ended at midnight. The legislature passed a state budget, which the Governor is expected to sign today. In terms of funding for after school and related programs, we are happy to report a generally positive outcome:
CSDE After School Grant program $4,500,000 - this reflects a 10% cut from last year.
Youth Employment programs, Neighborhood Youth Centers, Family Resource Centers, Youth Service Bureaus we all funded at expected levels. Care4Kids and many child-care related programs were also funded, and some actually show an increase, reflecting federal stimulus dollars.
The state budget avoids official tax hikes but relies on borrowing nearly $1 billion, which will be paid back through a surcharge on consumers’ electric bills. The remainder of the $726 million deficit will be closed through about $170 million in spending cuts, $366 million in federal funds, $365 million in anticipated federal stimulus funds, deferral of a $100 million payment to the state employees pension plan, and improved revenue collections. It is important to note however that systemic budget issues were not addressed, leaving an expected $3.4 billion problem for Connecticut's next governor and legislature to solve.
DPH Child Care Licensing for After School Programs
The other top priority of the Advocacy Task Force was addressing concerns with DPH Child Care Licensing for After School Programs, especially those in school buildings. House Bill 5306 passed the House and Senate unanimously as of Tuesday night and now awaits the Governor's signature. The final language of the bill can be viewed here.
The bill requires the Department of Public Health to establish physical plant requirements for licensed child day care centers and group day care homes that exclusively serve school-age children, and allows them to implement these new policies quickly, instead of waiting until the entire regulation revision process (which can take years) is completed. The Network's Regulations Review Task Force will continue to work with the Department of Public Health this summer on the details, but on-going negotiations have been very constructive and we are looking forward to a resolution in the coming months. We will keep you posted!
Special thanks go to State Representatives Beth Bye and Betty Boukus who helped with this bill. Calls saying thank you would be wonderful (860-240-8500). The bill's cosponsors were:
Rep. Ted C. Graziani, 57th Dist.
Rep. Beth Bye, 19th Dist.
Rep. Richard Roy, 119th Dist.
Rep. Catherine F. Abercrombie, 83rd Dist.
Rep. Michelle L. Cook, 65th Dist.
Rep. Elizabeth A. Boukus, 22nd Dist.
Rep. Kathleen M. Tallarita, 58th Dist.
Rep. John (Jack) F. Hennessy, 127th Dist.
Rep. Barbara L. Lambert, 118th Dist.
Rep. Bruce Zalaski, 81st Dist.
Rep. Peggy Sayers, 60th Dist.
Rep. Patricia B. Miller, 145th Dist.
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State legislatures represent critical decision-making bodies that directly shape policies impacting children, youth and families. They play an important role in shaping outcomes for children and youth and they set priorities for how states invest resources to achieve those outcomes. Now is the time to contact your legislator and let them know how important after school programs are to you and your community.
- For a full list of Connecticut State Representatives, click here.
- For a full list of Connecticut State Senators, click here.
Democratic Leaders Budget Primer: Understanding the State Budget