Committee Meeting Information

November 14, 2006

1:00 p.m.

U.W. Outreach Building (951 North Poplar)

Casper, Wyoming

 

Committee Members Present

Senator Charles Scott, Co-Chairman

Representative Elaine Harvey, Co-Chairman

Senator Mike Massie

Senator Tony Ross

Senator Kathryn Sessions

Representative Rosie Berger

Representative Edward Buchanan

Representative Debbie Hammons

 

Committee Members Absent

 

Other Legislators Present

Representative Bob Brechtel

 

Legislative Service Office Staff

Joseph A. Rodriguez, Staff Attorney

 

Others Present at Meeting

Please refer to Appendix 1 to review the Committee Sign-in Sheet
for a list of other individuals who attended the meeting.

Executive Summary

The Committee met on November 14, 2006 in Casper, Wyoming to work 07LSO-0298.W4, the quality child care bill, and 07LSO-0306.W2, the quality child care appropriation bill.  The bills were presented to the Committee by Director Emmons of the Department of Workforce Services.    The Committee took public comment on the versions of the bills that were presented and then worked the bills.  The Committee voted to forward both bills, the Quality Child Care bill and the Quality Child Care Appropriations bill to the Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee with the recommendation that they be passed on to the Legislature for consideration during the upcoming session. 

 

Call To Order

Co-Chair Harvey called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m..  The following sections summarize the Committee proceedings by topic.  Please refer to Appendix 2 to review the Committee Meeting Agenda.

 

Remarks from the Co-Chairs

Representative Harvey, Co-chair indicated that it was necessary to approve the minutes of the 11-1-2006 meeting.    Upon motion made by Senator Massie and seconded by Senator Sessions  the minutes of the 11-1-2006 meeting were approved as presented. 

 

Explanation of 07LSO-0298.W4 and 07LSO-0306.W2

Director Emmons of the Department of Workforce Services explained the bills to the Committee.  The Committee was presented with Appendix 3 and Appendix 4 which were drafts of the bills.  Director Emmons presented the Committee with Appendices 5, 6, 7.  Sue Bacon of the Department of Family Services presented the Committee with Appendix 8, reimbursement rates used by DFS for child care.  The task force looked at five (5) different options to try to establish the threshold for eligibility for the quality child care program.  The options range between two hundred percent (200%) of the federal poverty level and two hundred eighty percent (280%) of the federal poverty level.    The modeling works for every county in Wyoming except for Teton County.  Director Emmons presented the Committee with three funding options.  Option one from Appendix 5 is the preferred option.  She feels like they may have undervalued the benefits in the options.  The numbers in the charts contained in the appendix are based on eight (8) children.  This is the midpoint in group sizes and does take into consideration the staffing ratios for infants. 

 

Public Comment

Joyce Hammer a childcare provider from Lusk, Wyoming addressed the Committee and presented the Committee with Appendix 9.  Mrs. Hammer is hoping that funding continues for school aged children.  She would also like to invest money in educating the public on the importance of early child education.  She would like to see those providers with substantial experience in the field be exempted from the stringent educational requirements.  Mrs. Hammer is also concerned about unlicensed daycares that get state reimbursement. 

 

Heide Sides a childcare provider from Casper, Wyoming addressed the Committee.  Mrs. Sides urged the Committee to place more emphasis on home child care and not center based childcare.  Ms. Sides indicated that wages in the child care field need to be incentives for people to go into the field.  Once the details get worked out she anticipates widespread participation in the program by providers. 

Mike Bailey a childcare provider from Riverton, Wyoming addressed the Committee.  Mr. Bailey indicated that the availability of affordable child care is one of the biggest factors that allow people to better themselves either through employment or education.  He has noticed a tremendous lack of child care slots.  Mr. Bailey hates to see the bill slanted so heavily in favor of the higher education aspect for providers.  Mr. Bailey thinks that a four year degree requirement for a level four provider is unrealistic and would only provide a training ground for teachers and school districts. 

 

Jan Lawrence a childcare center director from Laramie, Wyoming addressed the Committee.  Mrs. Lawrence believes that the level three requirements provide an incentive to the provider but at a very attainable educational level.  Where she is having difficulty is with the staff to child ratios at level three and four.  At the current time her center would either have to reduce capacity or increase payroll to add more staff. 

 

Karl Coulson a childcare provider from Cheyenne, Wyoming addressed the Committee.  Mr. Coulson had a couple of questions for the Committee.  One question was if he was not getting paid for children under 200% of the poverty level why would he accept them?  The Committee indicated that there would be reimbursement for children under 200% of the poverty level.  The second question is if his caregivers for after school program do not need to meet the same requirements why are they getting paid for them? 

 

Diana Webb a childcare provider from Casper, Wyoming addressed the Committee.    Mrs. Webb wanted to reiterate the statements made by Jan Lawrence.    Mrs. Webb indicated that the bachelor's requirement is not realistic nor is it attainable.  Mrs. Webb indicated that the educational component is wonderful but difficult to comply with.

 

Deanna Frye of the Wyoming Children's Action Alliance addressed the Committee.  Mrs. Frye thinks that there will be a lot of staff turnover because of competition with school districts especially with educated staff.  The bottom line with this project according to Mrs. Frye is that kids will win.

 

Committee work on 07LSO-0298.W4 and 07LSO-0306.W1

Cochairman Scott took the Committee through the bill.  The Committee discussed 07LSO-0298.W4 first.

 

Amendment moved by Senator Massie, page 3, line 24  after "infrastructure." insert "Cities, towns and counties with low per capita assessed valuations, upon the filing of an acceptable application, shall be given the highest priority for child care grants and loans.".  After discussion the motion passed.

 

Senator Ross moved to delete page 2, lines 2 through 24 and page 3, lines 1 through 21.  Representative Buchanon moved to split the amendment as follows:  part one of the split would be to delete page 2, lines 2 through 24 and page 3 lines 1 through 8.  part two of the split amendment would be to delete page 3, lines 10 through 21.  Cochairman Scott indicated that the motion is divisible.  After Committee discussion regarding the amendment the question was called on part one of the amendment.  The amendment failed.  After further Committee discussion regarding part two of the amendment the amendment failed.

 

The next amendment was moved by Senator Massie.  The amendment was to page 4, line 7 after "of" delete "supplementing" and insert "assisting the working families of the state by encouraging the availability of"  and then after "care" delete "to" and insert "for" .  Page 4, line 8 after "facilities" delete "consisting:" insert ".  The system consists".  After discussion the amendment passed.

 

Motion made by Senator Massie to amend the bill on page 4, line 16.  The proposed amendment is to, after "for" delete "professional" and insert "educational".  After discussion the amendment passed.

 

Senator Ross moved to delete page 4, line 22 entirely.  After discussion on the amendment the amendment failed.

Motion made by Senator Massie.  Motion is to amend page 6, line 15 by deleting "developmentally disabled children" and in its place insert "children with developmental disabilities".   After  a discussion of the amendment by the Committee, the amendment passed.

 

Motion made by Senator Massie.  Motion is to amend page 10, line 8 by inserting after "evaluating" the phrase " the level of" and after "quality" deleting the "," and inserting a "." and deleting the balance of the line.  Also page 10, line 9 delete entirely and page 10, line 10 delete "information".  After  a discussion of the amendment by the Committee, the amendment passed.

 

Motion made by Senator Massie.  The motion is to amend page 11 by reinserting the stricken language in lines 16 through 22 and on page 12 reinserting the stricken language on lines 1 through 15.  After  a discussion of the amendment by the Committee, the amendment passed.

 

Motion made by Senator Scott.  The motion is to amend page14, line 1 by deleting all language after "(i)" and inserting after "(i)" "The state will pay one hundred percent (100%) of the early childhood scholarships for families to facilities on behalf of families at or below two hundred percent (200%) of the federal poverty level and will pay seventy five percent (75%) of the early childhood scholarships for families to facilities on behalf of families that are above two hundred percent (200%) and at or below two hundred fifty percent (250%) of the federal poverty level and will pay fifty percent (50%) of the early childhood scholarships for families to facilities on behalf of families that are above two hundred fifty percent (250%) and at or below two hundred eighty percent (280%) of the federal poverty level; and" and page 14, line 2 by deleting the line entirely.  After  a discussion of the amendment by the Committee, the amendment passed.

 

Motion made by Senator Scott.  The motion is to amend page 13, lines 18 delete "The department shall" and insert "The calculation shall use the quality child care incentive level established pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and the following factors:" and delete lines 19 through 23 delete entirely.  After a discussion of the amendment by the Committee the amendment passed. 

 

Motion made by Senator Massie.  The motion is to amend page 14 by deleting lines 10 through 15 and lines 30 and 31 and page 15, lines 1 and 2.  After  a discussion of the amendment by the Committee, the amendment passed.  The Committee directed staff to develop an amendment to be considered by the Labor Committee that would be inserted as (ii).  The language of the amendment would be to state that extra payments would be made to families in counties whose cost of living is above one hundred percent (100%) of the state average.

 

Motion made by Senator Scott.  The language of the amendment was provided by Director Emmons.  The motion is to amend page 16, line 12 after "slot" insert "according to the biennial rate established in the biennial budget bill" and on line 13 after exceed delete "fifty percent (50%)" and insert "seventy-five percent (75%)" .  After  a discussion of the amendment by the Committee the amendment passed.

 

Motion made by Senator Massie.  The motion is to amend page 17, by deleting lines 26 through 30 and page 18 by deleting lines 1 and 2.  After  a discussion of the amendment by the Committee the motion passed.

 

Motion made by Senator Sessions.  The motion is to amend page 21 by deleting lines 15 through 20.  After  a discussion of the amendment by the Committee, the amendment passed.

 

Motion made by Senator Massie to delete lines 24 and 25 on page 21 and lines 1 through 7 on page 22.  After  a discussion of the amendment by the Committee, the amendment passed.

 

Motion made by Senator Scott.  (see Appendix 11)  The motion is to amend the bill by inserting a new section on page 26, line 6 "14-4-409.  Balanced budget provisions:  (a)  The department shall periodically evaluate the spending for early childhood scholarships for families and project the spending through the end of the current biennium.  If the projected spending exceeds the budget available the department shall take any combination of the following actions to bring the spending within the budget available:  (i) Impose a moratorium or a limit on new enrollment in the program; (ii) Reduce the financial eligibility criteria for new program enrollees; or (iii) Reduce the amount of the payment levels for quality care.  (b) The department shall notify the joint appropriations committee of any shortfall projected and the actions taken to remedy the shortfall.  After  a discussion of the amendment by the Committee, the motion passed.

 

Motion made by Senator Massie and seconded by Senator Sessions that the bill as amended be forwarded to the Labor Committee with the Quality Child Care Oversight Committee's recommendation that it be introduced in the session.  A roll call vote was taken and the motion passed. (see Appendix 12

After completing their work on 07LSO-0298.W4 the Committee began working 07LSO-0306.W2. 

 

Motion made by Representative Hammons to delete on page 3 lines 1 through 3.  After  a discussion of the amendment by the Committee the motion passed.

 

Motion made by Representative Harvey to delete on page 3 lines 13 through 23 and page 4 lines 1 through 8.  After  a discussion of the amendment by the Committee, the amendment passed.

 

Motion made by Senator Scott to insert on page 2, line 22 a new section (vi), renumbering the existing (vi) as (vii).  The new section shall read "(vi)  Early childhood scholarships for families – three million dollars ($3,000,000.00);   The total appropriation should be adjusted accordingly.  After a discussion by the Committee the motion passed.  The conforming amendment is on page 1, line 11 after "2008," to delete "two" and insert "five" and line 13 after "dollars" delete "($2,969,175.00)" and insert "($5,969,175.00)" and page 2, line 20 delete. 

 

Motion made by  Senator Scott to add a section 3 to the bill, renumbering subsequent sections,   which would read "For the fiscal biennium ending June 30, 2008, three million three hundred forty thousand dollars ($3,340,000.00) is appropriated from the general fund to the department of family services to raise the reimbursement for child care under the Child Care Development Fund to the 85^th percentile starting July 1, 2007.   After  a discussion of the amendment by the Committee, the amendment passed.

 

Motion made by Representative Harvey and seconded by Representative Hammons  that 07LSO-0306.W2 as amended be forwarded to the Labor Committee with the Quality Child Care Oversight Committee's recommendation that it be introduced in the session.  A roll call vote was taken and the motion passed. (see Appendix 12)    

  

Meeting Adjournment

There being no further business, Co-Chair Scott adjourned the meeting at 5:41 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Representative Harvey, Co-Chair