Important Child Care Legislation

HB1322 Paths to quality tax credits. (Behning) Establishes the paths to quality tax credit. Provides that an individual is entitled to a refundable income tax credit for each child attending a child care facility that voluntarily participates in the paths to quality rating system (qualified child care facility) that has a quality rating of level 2 or higher. Provides that a taxpayer is entitled to a refundable income tax credit for certain eligible business and employer child care expenses. Provides that a qualified child care facility is entitled to a refundable income tax credit for providing child care services to a child participating in the child care and development voucher program, or if the child is in foster care. Provides that the amount of the credit is calculated based on the quality rating of the qualified child care facility and the monthly average number of children who participate in the child care and development voucher program and attend the qualified child care facility. Requires the division of family resources to adopt rules to administer the paths to quality rating system.

01/10/2012 H: 1st Reading Assigned Ways and Means

 01/12/2012 H: Reassign Assigned Education

HB1323 Child care and development fund. (Behning) Specifies requirements that must be met by a child care provider as a condition of eligibility to receive a federal Child Care and Development Fund voucher payment. Sets forth a disciplinary process for suspension or revocation of eligibility.

01/10/2012 H: 1st Reading Assigned Family, Children and Human Affairs

 01/12/2012 H: Reassign Assigned Education

 

 

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Senate Education and Career Development Hearing Tomorrow

The Senate Committee on Education and Career Development will hold a hearing tomorrow and on the agenda is SB0268 , Advisory Committee on Early Education. Committee hearings are open to the public. The hearing will begin at 1:30pm on January 18th in room 233 of the Statehouse. If you would prefer to watch the hearing online you can do so at http://www.in.gov/legislative/2441.htm.

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Early Childhood Literacy Pilot Program

Earlier this week Senate Bill 0379 was introduced and referred to Committee on Appropriations. The bill establishes the early childhood literacy grant program as a two year pilot program within the bureau of child care. Requires the bureau of child care to establish, implement, and evaluate the program and report to the legislative council concerning the program. Appropriates money from the build Indiana fund. Click here to read the bill in its entirety.

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Child Care Ministry Advisory Committee

On January 6th House Bill #1136, Child care ministry advisory committee was read and referred to Committee on Family, Children and Human Affairs. The bill comes from the recommendation of the Committee on Child Care to formally recognize the child care ministry advisory committee. Click here to read the full bill.

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Update on Indiana General Assembly

Several more bills have been introduced that have impact on early childhood education.

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Indiana General Assembly Reconvenes Today

The 2012 General Assembly session begins today. With the deadline for proposed legislation quickly approaching several bills of interest have already been introduced.

Among them is SB#204, The Pre-Kindergarten Grant Program. The bill proposes a grant program within the bureau of child care to fund child care and pre-kindergarten for certain low-income families. To read the full bill go to http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2012&session=1&request=getBill&doctype=SB&docno=0204.

Another bill to watch is SB #126, Mandatory half-day kindergarten making half-day kindergarten mandatory for all children that are six years of age. The full bill information is available at http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2012&session=1&request=getBill&doctype=SB&docno=0126

Also introduced is SB#0035, Definition of a Child Care Ministry. The bill  amends the definition of “child care ministry” to specify the grounds for the organization’s federal tax exemption and to require annual filing of supporting documentation with the division of family resources. Grandfathers organizations registered under the state law regulating child care ministries on January 1, 2011. To read the full proposed bill go to http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2012&session=1&request=getBill&docno=0035&doctype=SB.

We will update the blog as bills of interest are proposed and go into committees. Looking forward to an exciting legislative session!

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Some Parent Advocacy Success Stories in 2011

As we wrap up the end of 2011, we would like to give a big THANK YOU to our fearless parent advocate Casey Williams. Casey has spent the last year speaking to anyone and everyone about the importance of quality, safe, and affordable child care for all children. We look forward to seeing her continue her work in the new year.

Parent advocates across the nation have worked hard this year to improve the care across the nation.You can read more of these success stories in this recent memo from Child Care Aware.

For more information on current NACCRRA public policy campaigns and ways you can help visit their website at http://www.naccrra.org/policy/.

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