Key Early Childhood Bills Still Alive in Legislature

Several pieces of legislation, including two that reflect the Alliance's priorities, continue circulating through the Connecticut Legislature.

H.B. 5426, “An Act Concerning Child Care Subsidies for the Unemployed Under the Care4Kids Program,” would require the Department of Social Services (DSS) to establish an extended period of eligibility, up to 26 weeks, for child care benefits for recipients who have otherwise become ineligible due to an interruption in their employment. The funding to do so, according to the bill's fiscal note, would come from the federal stimulus money. The bill was amended and approved by the Human Services Committee on March 12 and referred to the Appropriations Committee on April 17.

H.B. 5841, “An Act Concerning A Uniform Reporting Form for Preschool and Child Care Programs,” which would reduce duplicative reporting requirements, had a subject matter public hearing on February 5 and was approved 19-0 by the Human Services Committee on March 17. It passed in the House on April 7 and was referred to the Senate on April 9. On April 22, the Senate referred the bill to the Education Committee. If it passes, the bill would require the Department of Social Services, in collaboration with the Departments of Public Health and Education, to develop a single form to report certain information necessary to receive state funding. The departments can develop a reporting form with minimal additional administrative costs. This shall be done no later than January 1, 2010.

H.B. 6544, “An Act Simplifying Procedures for Early Care and Education Faciliites,” which is similar to H.B. 5841, was reported favorably out of the Legislative Commissioners' Office on March 24 and has been tabled for the House Calendar. If passed, it would streamline procedures for caregivers of young children and eliminate unnecessary costs. It was referred to the Education Committee (April 14) and received a joint favorable report on April 21. It has been tabled for the House Calendar again, as of April 22. Should it pass, the bill would require the Departments of Social Services, Education and Public Health to conduct a joint study of the requirements and procedures related to early childcare and early childhood education to simplify procedures for caregivers of young children. The study would include an examination of regulations and other requirements of the departments that apply to caregivers of young children. The departments will determine which existing requirements/procedures are duplicative or unnecessary and make recommendations for simplification. The joint report would be submitted to the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2010.

There are a number of bills concerning early care and education posted to the CT Early Childhood Alliance's Web site, www.earlychildhoodalliance.com. As committee deadlines have now passed, you can track a bill's progress on the Web site or see where it may have died in committee this year.