January 22,
2008
1. Blunt State of the State
& Budget Overview
Missouri: Governor Blunt delivered
his 2008 State of the State address on January 15th to members
of the General Assembly and the judiciary. Blunt outlined his
priority issues for the 2008 legislative session that include
education, health insurance affordability, property tax
modifications, and immigration reform. Despite, several
funding announcements for children’s services in the weeks
leading up to the address, the Governor did not highlight
increases to the child care subsidy program, foster care or
adoption subsidies, or the state children’s health
insurance program.
The
complete address is available at: http://gov.missouri.gov/State_of_the_State_2008.htm.
To
view Partnership for Children's Special Budget Edition of the
Capitol Child Advocate highlighting the Missouri budget items
related to children and youth, click here.
2. Sebelius State of the
State & Budget Overview
Kansas: Governor Sebelius
delivered her 2008 State of the State address on Monday, January
14th, with a strong focus on expanding opportunities for Kansas
children. In addition to highlighting her increased investments
in K-12 education, Governor Sebelius shared her commitment to
ensuring that every child enters kindergarten ready to succeed.
To address the growing problem of health care affordability,
Sebelius urged the State Legislature to pass the entire health
reform plan recommended by the Kansas Health Policy Authority.
Other legislative priorities outlined in the State of the State
include higher education, transportation, and new energy and
fuel technologies.
You
can read Sebelius’ complete 2008 State of the State
address here:
http://www.governor.ks.gov/news/sp-stateofstate2008.htm
To
view Partnership for Children's Special Budget Edition of the
Capitol Child Advocate highlighting Kansas budget items related
to children and youth, click here.
3. Quality Rating System Bill Heard in
Missouri Senate
The Senate
Education Committee listened to two hours of testimony last
Wednesday in support of a Quality Rating System for early care
& education and afterschool programs in Missouri.
SB 726 ,
sponsored by Senator Charlie Shields, would expand successful
pilot QRS programs in St. Joseph and Kansas City across the
entire state. The bill also creates a Program Improvement Grant
Fund to provide child care programs with technical assistance
and professional development scholarships to improve the quality
of care.
The latest
neuroscience research finds that 90% of a child’s brain
develops before the age of 5. Early childhood experiences
determine whether a child will have a strong or a weak
foundation for all future learning, behavior, and health
outcomes.
A Quality
Rating System for child care programs in Missouri is one of the
most cost-effective investments of our tax dollars. Improving
the quality of child care in Missouri will mean that more of our
youngest Missourians will have a solid foundation from which
they can grow, learn, and succeed throughout their
lives.
The companion bill in the House, HB
1524 sponsored by Rep. Ward Franz, is
scheduled to be heard in the House Special Committee on Family
Services on Wed, January 30th.
4. Two Missouri Bills Put Children at
Risk - PFC Testifies in
Opposition
SB 766
(Goodman): Last Tuesday, PFC testified before the
Senate Committee on Judiciary, Criminal & Civil
Jurisprudence in opposition to SB766, sponsored by Sen. Jack
Goodman. This bill would criminalize prenatal drug and
alcohol abuse. Several groups went on record
in opposition to this bill including the Maternal & Child
Health Coalition of St. Louis and the Missouri Coalition Against
Sexual Violence. In addition, many nationally respected health
organizations such as the American Medical Association, American
Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists, American Nurses Association, the American Public
Health Association and the March of Dimes also oppose this type
of legislation.
Criminalizing prenatal drug and alcohol use has many
unintended consequences and puts the health care of the unborn
child at even greater risk. Women are far less likely to
obtain preventive and primary health care during pregnancy when
there is a threat of criminal prosecution. In
addition, research indicates that the threat of incarceration
has been ineffective in reducing the incidence of alcohol and
drug use, and removing children from the home may subject them
to worse risks in the foster care system.
HB 1316
(Davis) would give
parents final authority over all health care decisions for their
children. This bill also includes a stipulation allowing
parental authority to supersede all other state
laws. Partnership for Children, Children’s
Mercy Hospital and the Child Abuse Roundtable all testified in
opposition to HB 1316. What is particularly troubling
about this bill is the impact it could have on the care and
treatment of abused and neglected children. This bill
would limit the ability of our states social workers, nurses,
domestic violence shelter staff and teachers from reporting and
treating abuse and neglect without parental notification.
This is particularly damaging if in fact the perpetrator is also
the parent or guardian. There were no organizations who
spoke in favor of this bill.
5. Kansas Graduated
Driver’s License System to be heard in committee
The House
Transportation committee is scheduled to discuss SB 294 on
Tuesday, Jan. 22, and Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 1:30 pm in Room 519-S. This
is not an official hearing, so public testimony will not be
accepted. This legislation modernizes the licensing system for
teen drivers to reflect current driving conditions. For
more information on this bill and to watch an internet video on
this issue, visit Kansas Action for Children’s website at:
http://www.kac.org/kac.aspx?pgID=912
6. Upcoming Events -
Missouri
Child Advocacy Day – Tuesday, Jan. 29th,
2008
Join
hundreds of child advocates in Jefferson City on January 29,
2008 for the 26th annual Child Advocacy Day! Come show your
support for better public policies to support children.
Participate in workshops, visit exhibit booths to learn about
new services and programs, discuss critical issues affecting
children with legislators, and network with other advocates. For
more information, visit the Child Advocacy Day Web site at
www.childadvocacyday.org
7. Committee
Hearings
MISSOURI
-
The House Appropriations Committee on
Health, Mental Health and Social Services: Overview of
the Department of Health and Senior Services’ budget.
Hearings are scheduled for: Tuesday, 1/22 at 9 AM in HR5;
Wednesday, 1/23 at 2 PM in HR5; and Thursday, 1/24 at 8 AM in
HR5.
-
The House Education Appropriations
Committee: Overview of the Budget of the Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education on Tuesday, 1/22 at11 AM in
HR.3 and will hear public testimony on Wednesday, 1/23 at 2 PM
in HR1.
-
The Special Committee on Health
Transformation: Tuesday, 1/22 at noon in HR6;
Wednesday, 1/23 at noon in HR4; and Thursday, 1/24 at 8 AM in
HR1.
KANSAS
-
House Transportation committee:
Discussion of SB 294, relating to a graduated driver's license
on Tuesday, Jan. 22, and Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 1:30 pm in Room
519-S. This is not an official hearing, so public testimony will
not be accepted.
Until next
week-
Carrie &
Emily
Policy &
Outreach Coordinators
Partnership for
Children
