Legislative Updates

Legislative Update

Week Five

March 31 – April 4, 2008

April 4th marked the final day of the 13th Annual Children’s Week at the state Capitol. Policy maker platitudes about "children being our greatest resource" have never seemed more hollow to veterans of the child advocacy movement.

Facing a budget in crisis, key legislators are not standing strong enough for our kids. Rather than putting Florida’s children on the cutting edge, children are falling to the cutting floor. Necessary, long-standing and vital programs are being slashed. Shortsighted “progress” toward this year’s budget goals is setting the stage for Florida's children to live in need and crisis. Unable to pay a little now, only a few stalwarts are thinking about how much the state will have to pay later.

“Precision Cuts”
This week the line that legislators have been using to defend budget cuts has been “precision cuts” – cutting the pieces that, in their view, the state can afford to lose. Key legislators have decided that vital elements of children’s programs are dispensable. Infant and maternal health (Healthy Start), parental education (Healthy Families), subsidized child care (School Readiness), foster care services, after school programs, Juvenile Assessment Centers, prevention programs for juvenile justice, and gender specific programs (GAP) are a few of the programs that came under the “precision” knife. More are likely to follow.

The House and Senate have taken different approaches to handling the budget shortfall. Advocates for children’s programs know that several severe cuts for children’s programs have been recommended. But he worst may be yet to come. If additional sources of revenue are not identified, we can expect more cuts. Decisions determining the future of Florida’s children are being made right now. We will have a clearer picture within the coming week as more details become available.

New Approaches Needed
Legislative leaders have first turned to cuts. So far at least, few have suggested that new potential sources of revenue should be identified. Now, more than ever, it is time to examine all options for additional dollars. Cigarette taxes, the trust fund and reserve funds need to be considered.

Some creative thinking has occurred. Senate Minority Leader Steven Geller ( D-Cooper City) and Senator Nan Rich (D-Weston) announced their plan to close loopholes available to wealthy corporations and high-end commercial developers. According to the Senators, the worst of the budget cuts could be avoided by closing three major tax loopholes. Tightening the tax laws surrounding the real estate transfer tax; combined financial reporting; and deep-sea fishing charters could combine to produce over $900-million in new revenue.

Down Today, Out Tomorrow?
The long-term impact of the budget cuts in children’s programs will be severe and hugely expensive to the state in the long run. Unless the legislature dramatically reverses course and comes to bat for kids, they will be felt for years. Will the young adults of the next decades be ready for the job market? Will they be acceptable to Florida’s excellent public universities and colleges? Will they be prepared to simply raise a family free from the worst elements of society? A human life is a continuum that must be built on a strong foundation. All of Florida needs to be in this together. Our future is at stake.

Children already bear tremendous burdens in this economic time. Parents are losing houses and jobs. Kids are changing schools. Gas to get to after school activities may simply not be affordable. Solutions are available to keep children from bearing the full weight of what families are encountering today. These solutions need support.

Here are highlights of developments this week by promise:

Promise 1 – Health Care

Planned Cuts to Healthy Moms and Babies

The Florida House Healthcare Council is considering dramatic cuts to vital programs:

• Cut of $3-million services from Healthy Start’s already underfunded prenatal and infant health care program;
• A roll-back of Medicaid eligibility from 185% to 150% of the federal poverty level for pregnant women. 

If enacted, thousands of the state's most vulnerable families will lose critical services that help keep their families together. There could not be a worse time than now to pull the rug out from under these citizens. Contact Healthy Start here for more information.

“Chartbook” on Florida’s Older Kids

An editorial penned by Dr. Stephen Lawless, vice president of quality and safety for Nemours, was recently featured in The Florida Times Union. This piece focused on the release of the study entitled “Child Health and Health Care Quality, A Chartbook." Nemours, All Children’s Hospital, and the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration sponsored the study. It identified a number of areas of concern for the health of Florida’s children, including;

• One of every three children in Florida from ages 10-17 is overweight or obese;
• Three in 10 Florida high school students report having symptoms of depression for two weeks or more;
• Over 10% of Florida high school students have considered suicide in the past 12 months.

Dr. Lawless states, “While the Chartbook doesn't provide the answers, it provides us with the data to make the best decisions for Florida's youth - who are counting on us.” Learn more about the Chartbook online.

Autism

On Wednesday, April 2, Governor Crist launched the Governor’s Task Force on Autism Spectrum Disorders. The group intends to recommend a unified and coordinated agenda for addressing autism in Florida and to advance public policy for the research, screening, education and the treatment of the disease. The task force will submit a final report to the Governor by March 20, 2009.

Take Action

• Stand up for healthy Florida moms and babies now! Make your voice heard to the House Healthcare Council. Contact them here.
• Arm yourself with the best information. Look over the Chartbook online.

Promise 2 – Child Protection

Secretary Butterworth Stands Against Cuts

Secretary Bob Butterworth decried proposed cuts to children in a recent article in the Tampa Tribune. "They're cutting more than anyone ever anticipated," Butterworth said. "We cannot stand by and allow these kinds of cuts to take place."

The Department of Children and Families is facing many cuts, including those highlighted in the piece were:

• Healthy Families, a program that offers help to families to keep children out of foster care, faces $3.8-million in cuts;
• Foster Care Services currently faces a $32 million cut in the House and $25-million in the Senate.

Secretary Butterworth was especially outspoken about cuts to child protection workers. In times of economic downturn many negative behaviors, such as substance abuse, domestic violence and child abuse, experience an upturn. “This is not when you cut the safety net; this is when you expand it,” stated the Secretary.

Children’s Cabinet Action

The Children’s Cabinet met on April 1st. Jim Kallinger, Chief Child Advocate provided an overview of what the cabinet has accomplished and spoke of the creation of a foundation.

The staff of the Cabinet provided the members an Overview of the State Agency Budgets. They also identified areas where departments can eliminate duplication and partner more effectively. Lt. Governor Kottcamp cited screenings of children in need of services as a place where departments should look to work together in the interests of children.

Dick Batchelor, a former legislator and Cabinet member, raised concern that the legislature is currently “eviscerating the children’s services budget.” He spoke in support of the Cabinet’s efforts to put a face on the programs and potential cuts and hopes the legislative and executive branches will take notice.

Take Action

Write DCF Secretary Butterworth and thank him for his commitment. Contact other key executive agency and department heads and encourage them to follow his lead.

Promise 3 – Early Learning

Planned Cuts to Early Care

School Readiness (subsidized child care) is facing cuts in both the House ($12.4-million), and Senate ($16.9-million). Through these cuts, the Agency for Workforce Innovation would continue care to children 5 years and younger; children in protective services, and children at risk. The House also removed funding from the Early Learning Information System.

Uniting for Pre-K Nationally

Children’s Campaign, Inc., Pre-K Now, The Florida PTA, and the Early Childhood Association of Florida (ECA of FL) are supporting federal legislation to help states increase the quality of current pre-k or create pre-k programs. One such bill, HR 3289, Pre-K Act, would provide grants to enhance or improve state-funded preschool programs. U.S. Congressman Ric Keller (R- Orlando) sits on the House committee of jurisdiction. The Children’s Campaign coordinated a successful meeting between Rep. Keller and the Florida PTA and ECA of FL. Rep. Keller asked several insightful questions and expressed interest in the efforts going forward.

Children’s Cabinet Focuses on Early Learning

Early Learning and School Readiness was a topic for the Children’s Cabinet’s April 1st meeting. Phyllis Kalifeh provided the Cabinet members with a presentation on the T.E.A.C.H. early childhood program. Dean Isaac Prilleltensky, Dean School of Education, University of Miami , focused his remarks on the benefits of quality early learning in lowering dropout rates. Studies, like those performed by the Chapin Hall Center at the University of Chicago, quantify the importance of early education. According to their and other analyses, investment in early learning and in prevention programs can return upwards of $7.00 for every dollar invested.

Take Action

Quality Pre-k will save the state millions of dollars in future years. Contact your state legislators and encourage them to support high quality pre-k bills SB 702 and HB 741.

Promise 4 – After School

21st Century Early Learning Centers – Time for the Florida Delegation to Weigh In!

The Afterschool Alliance has been coordinating support for 21st Century Early Learning Centers in the U.S. Congress. A bipartisan letter of support for the program was circulated to members of the U.S. House in hopes that they would join as cosigners. The primary authors of the letter are Representatives Dale Kildee (D-MI), founding member of the House Afterschool Caucus, and Randy Kuhl (R-NY). The letter, addressed to the Chair and Ranking Member of the appropriations subcommittee of jurisdiction, requests a $250-million increase for fiscal year 2009.

If enacted as requested, Florida would receive an additional $10-million – enough to provide services to 10,000 more children. 

Take Action

It is not too late to contact your member of the U.S. Congress. Express your support for the Kildee-Kuhl letter and urge them to write a similar letter.

Promise 5 – Juvenile Justice

Rep. Needelman Agrees - "Get Smart" before you "Get Tough"

In a letter to the Palm Beach Post Florida Representative Mitch Needelman (R-Melbourne), Chair of the House Juvenile Justice Committee, spoke out against House Bill 273. On several points, he agreed with and even cited Children’s Campaign, Inc. positions that the bill discards key recommendations of the Blueprint Commission. Chairman Needelman stated, “HB 273 is moving through House committees, set to expand the State’s wrongheaded 'get tough' approach to troubled juveniles.”

Rep. Needelman’s letter focused on the many reasons that HB 273 would hurt more than help the current juvenile justice system. Rep. Needelman joins the Children’s Campaign in opposing several specific provisions of the bill, including:

• Unjustified further expansion of secure detention, especially prior to court dates;
• Making children wait longer before placement in the residential programs they need;
• Removing the Department of Juvenile Justice from key decisions on the best programs for individual children.

Rep. Needelman closed by saying that the Legislators still have a chance to get it right for Florida’s troubled youth, “There's still time for the Legislature, as the blueprint commission urged, to… "get smart."

Gainesville Sun Tracks Lower Youth Crime

A recent article in the Gainesville Sun addressed a countywide decline in the number of juveniles who commit crimes. The decline was linked to a crackdown on probation violation. Alachua County officials claimed that probation violations were met with house arrest, or other stricter sanctions, resulting in less juvenile offenders to commit crimes.

The county also looked at data that would provide insight to risk factors for children becoming involved with the juvenile justice system. Identified populations at risk of committing youth crimes include:

• Those with out of school activity between the hours of noon and 9 pm;
• Males age 14 to 17 years old who:
• Failed a core course in school in either math or English, or;
• Were not likely not to go to class.

The Alachua County Juvenile Justice Council also noted that “reducing juvenile crime requires acknowledging that most children who get involved with crime come from dysfunctional families and that reducing juvenile crimes requires finding ways to overcome the family problems.”

Final Thoughts

The colored hands of children decorate the rotunda of the Capitol during Children’s Week. As legislators pass them by, too many are not recognizing their significance. Those hands are open and portray needs to be met. They need our support, and they need legislators to take action on their behalf.

There is much work ahead of us.

Note to readers: More detailed budget cut information to come next week.

To read bills for each of the Promise areas simply click on the Promise of interest:

1. Promise 1 - Pre-natal, Infant, and Child Health Care

2. Promise 2 - Safety, Permanence, and Services to Children in Out-of-Home Settings

3. Promise 3 - High Quality Pre-K, Child Care, and Early Learning Opportunities

4. Promise 4 - Safe and Enriching Before and After-School Experience

5. Promise 5 - Delinquency Prevention Programs and Services to Treat Children with Problem

Legislative Update was brought to you by:

Roy Miller, President

Christen Smiley, Communications Coordinator

Amanda Ostrander, Editor, Legislative Update

We acknowledge the entire Legislative Team of Children’s Campaign, Inc. who work tirelessly during legislative session on behalf of Florida’s children.