Two Bills Impacting Children Pass Legislature

Parents and providers will not have the surprise they received a year ago when the Department of Social Services abruptly shut down the Care4Kids program to new applicants, if Governor Rell puts her signature to two bills passed by the Legislature before the session ended. Two bills addressing the issue, both SB 391 and HB 5360, the Children in the Recession bill, address the need to give 30 days’ notice to both parents and providers when making changes to eligibility or restrictions. 391 also requires properly completed applications be processed within 30 days and that redetermination of families take place every eight months now, instead of every six months.

“These bills will help ensure that both parents and providers are not left in a lurch when it comes to child care,” said Ann Pratt, Executive Director of the CT Childhood Alliance.

The Act Concerning Children in the Recession (HB 5360) also creates a recession leadership team of state officials who would implement and coordinate the state's response when Connecticut's unemployment rate reaches 8 percent.

“Our children and their families deserve nothing less than our full attention, and I am proud that Connecticut will be the first state in the country to enact legislation directly addressing their needs in this recession," Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) said.

Both bills, however, are still awaiting the signature of Governor Rell.