Funding & Policies Committee

There was discussion and agreement with the committee that our roles with the Department of Human Resources is advisory and that we will generally limit our policy comments to public policy issues that affect "quality" directly.

There was considerable discussion about how to stay involved with legislative activity. In addition to utilizing the web site: www.legislature.state.al.us, committee members that are involved with legislation provided the following copies of proposed legislation and recommended that the Monday morning Consortium management group familiarize themselves with their content:

Senate Bill 178 by Senator Holley
Senate Bill 177 by Senator Holley
Senate Bill 132 by Senator Sandra Escott-Russell
(This bill has been reported out of committee and will be heard later this month) (CMAs had problems with appointees that have no qualifications)
House Bill 144 by Representative Black
(This bill is a companion to SB132 and is an administration backed bill. It has been tabled and is not being worked)
Senate Bill 263 by Senators Dial and Waggoner
(Establishes pre-kindergarten authority within the Department of Education. According to members present, this legislation is not supported by the Department of Education) LATER REMOVED FROM CONSIDERATION

Additionally, a copy of committee schedules for the House of Representatives was handed out. This information for the House and Senate is also available on the web site.

There was agreement that we (committee-co-chairs) would correspond with the committee by e-mail if there is late breaking news relative to public policy issues between committee meetings.

Copies of our current data that we (Civitan Center) have started to gather were distributed. Committee comments were:

Gather the additional data we have used in other states.
Try to reflect the data as part of a trend analysis as opposed to a cross-sectional snap-shot.
See if it is possible in large urban areas, i.e., Mobile and Birmingham, to see if it is possible to examine data by "zip code."
Gather cost data.
Look at Federal dollars going to "at risk" children in public schools.
Head Start maintains information that may be usable on a "program information report."
DHR has considerable information available in it’s "Green Book" (a number of committee members remarked this information may be inaccurate, but had some utility)
Get the numbers of children in unknown childcare (would have to be an estimate – this was not exempt programs)
CMAs can give us the data on children in subsidized child care (approximately 37,000) by age level and dollars spent.
Look at comparing our cost and rates with other states. Helen Black with the Children’s Defense Fund can provide cost studies between states.
Recommended for Civitan Center to look at the prospect of doing a new market rate survey, which CMAs felt could be done in six weeks.

Committee agreed to meet again on Friday, March 24, 2000 in Montgomery at the RSA Building, fifth-floor conference room.

Committee Update Placed On-line 2/16/2000

Funding and Policies Advisory Committee
Minutes of January 26, 2000 Meeting

The committee recommends that the Consortium seek an opportunity to provide comment on pending policy changes affecting child care that are contemplated by the Department of Human Services.

Committee members will monitor proposed legislation affecting child care presented during the 2000 session of the Alabama legislature and will provide information as appropriate to the decision-makers to help assure that legislators are adequately informed of the issues involved. The restrictions on lobbying will be observed.

Committee members will be contacted to identify timely issues related to policies and/or funding for quality child care services.

Civitan Research Center staff members will initiate compilation of data in the following areas:

Southeastern state comparisons with Alabama in such areas as births, low birthweight occurrence, numbers of children in subsidized child-care settings, children participating in supported pre-school programs, and kindergarten enrollment;
Develop county-by-county data for Alabama and establish profiles by CMA regions;
Develop a financial model for quality child care.

The committee will meet monthly in order to maintain progress in pursuing its agenda. The next meeting will be on February 15, 2000, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. in the small 5^th-floor conference room of the RSA Plaza Building, Washington and Union Streets in Montgomery.

Original Advisory Report 12/99

Funding for and policy regarding child care are separate but related issues. Without the foundations laid by supportive child care policy and adequate funds to carry out policy and programs it will be impossible to substantially improve the quality of child care in Alabama. This committee identified major concerns and possible solutions regarding child care policy and funding.

What are some current challenges regarding child care policy in Alabama?

We need to determine who exactly sets policy in Alabama and other states
All child care stakeholders need to be involved in defining quality standards
Policy should allow for advocacy
Can Consortium lobby legislature?
Is providing information considered lobbying?
Exemption of 43% (in Alabama) of child care providers from licensing regulations is a barrier to improving quality for all
Universal access to quality should be guiding principle
Concern expressed for new limitations on payment for children with special needs- currently 150% of average regional payments – will change to 100% January 1, 2000

What are present challenges regarding funding in Alabama?

Funding is not adequate to improve quality
Archaic provisions in Alabama constitution and tax regulations are barriers to achieving quality in child care (limitations on authority, cumbersome process for change, inadequate tax revenue)
More business support for child care is needed
Fee structure is needed for parents in subsidy programs
Don’t know true cost of quality child care

What are some innovative solutions to these concerns?

Involve the business community (including small businesses) with the Consortium's goals
Businesses may lobby for Consortium
Serious need for policies to support blended sources of support for child care and uniformity of eligibility criteria
Parent education of quality and what it takes to have quality is essential
Must define quality and determine its cost
Provide tax incentives for businesses that support child care
Find out what is happening to money saved by welfare reform (50% should benefit child care)
Restructure/consolidate existing programs to produce savings to enhance quality

What are some possible funding sources?

Business community
State and Federal grants
Special events
Community organizations (United Way, Charity League, etc.)