Children’s Bills of Interest

An update on legislation relating to Partnership for Children’s 2009 Policy Agenda:

Rep. Bob Nance (R-Excelsior Springs) filed HB293, encouraging school districts to distribute information about the state children’s health insurance program (SCHIP) to families upon school enrollment. Of the 137,000 uninsured children in Missouri, an estimated 2/3rds are estimated to be income eligible for state coverage, but not enrolled. Combining SCHIP enrollment information with school lunch applications that school districts already send out to families could be an effective outreach strategy to uninsured children. While family income eligibility for free lunch is 130% of federal poverty (FPL) and reduced lunch is 185% FPL, eligibility for SCHIP is 300% FPL in Missouri.

Rep. Wayne Cooper (R-Camdenton) filed HB 387, establishing a Quality Rating System for early childhood and afterschool programs in Missouri. 27 Co-sponsors added their support to HB387, including Rep. Dusenberg, Nance, Talboy, Burnett, Grisamore, Kander, and Yates from the Kansas City region.

QRS is a voluntary 5-star system that would rate child care programs on quality components like staff education, annual trainings, learning environment, and family involvement. 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, which in turn means 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 Senate, SB 4 sponsored by Senate Pro-Tem Charlie Shields, has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Mental Health, Seniors, & Families. Meanwhile, related legislation (SB 94) sponsored by Senator Justus to improve the affordability of child care for low-income families has been referred to the Senate Committee on Education. SB 94 would increase Missouri’s income eligibility for child care assistance to 140% FPL (currently 127%) with transitional assistance up to 185% FPL (currently 139%).

Child care is a critical workforce support, allowing 175,000 parents to go to work every day in Missouri. The state child care assistance program helps low-income parents remain in the workforce and off of welfare. However, Missouri’s low eligibility limits means that many working families earn too much to receive assistance while still being unable to afford the high cost of safe, reliable, and quality care for their children.

Partnership for Children is also watching two Senate bills that create grant programs for school drop-out prevention efforts. Both SB 33, sponsored by Senator Wilson (D-Kansas City), and SB 116, sponsored by Senator Bray (D-St. Louis County), have been referred to the Senate Committee on Education.

View PFC’s full tracking list for legislation relating to children’s health, education, and safety.

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Senate Committees Assigned

The Missouri Senate finalized committee assignments last Thursday. The most important committees for children and families this year will likely be Appropriations; Education; Health, Mental Health, Seniors, and Families; and Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence. A surprising change from last year was the creation of a new committee for Progress and Development to be chaired by Senate Minority Leader, Victor Callahan (D-Indpendence).  Click on the committee links below to see the list of members, or you can access the full list online.   

APPROPRIATIONS

Chair: Gary Nodler (R-Joplin)

This is the most important committee for children and families, reviewing every funded item in every department budget. If a legislator wants more funding for their own priorities, they have to cut it from somewhere else. Advocates should reach out to the Senators on this committee early and often to ensure that children and families are a budget priority this year!

Senators from Kansas City region: David Pearce (R-Warrensburg), Yvonne Wilson (D-Kansas City)

EDUCATION

Chair: Rob Mayer (R-Dexter)

In addition to hearing testimony on all legislation related to the K-12 school system, this committee will also likely review bills relating to early education.

Senators from Kansas City region: David Pearce—Vice Chair(R-Warrensburg), Yvonne Wilson (D-Kansas City)

HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, SENIORS, AND FAMILIES

Chair: Norma Champion (R-Springfield)

This committee combines the Health and Mental Health Committee and the Seniors, Families, & Public Health committees from previous years. Most bills relating to children’s health and child care will likely pass through this committee.

Senators from Kansas City region: Jolie Justus (D-Kansas City), Yvonne Wilson (D-Kansas City)

JUDICIARY & CIVIL & CRIMINAL JURISPRUDENCE

Chair: Matt Bartle (R-Lee’s Summit)

The Judiciary committee reviews many changes to the child welfare system and bills relating to juvenile justice.

Senators from Kansas City region: Matt Bartle-Chair (R-Lee’s Summit), Jolie Justus (D-Kansas City)