2013 Interim Study Committee Update – 10/4/13

The following is a brief summary of the meetings as of 10/4/2013:

Commission on Improving the Status of Children

The Commission’s next meeting is on October 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and is open to public.  It will be held in the Indiana Government Center South, Conference Rooms 1 & 2.  Proposed agenda items include:

·         Crafting the mission and vision statements

·         Setting priorities for topics to be studied

·         Assessing access and availability of services to vulnerable youth

·         Infant and child mortality

·         Legislative assignments to the committee

o   Due process for child care providers

o   Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

·         Child Services Oversight Committee

Commission on Education

The Commission on Education met on September 13.  Topics included coaching education standards for football coaches concerning concussions and teacher preparation programs.  The next meeting is scheduled for October 8 at 1:00 p.m. in the Senate Chambers. (As of 10/4, the meeting agenda has not been posted on the committee’s webpage)

Committee on Child Care

The Committee on Child Care met on October 1 and reviewed several preliminary drafts of legislation.  Below is a summary:

·         PD 3088 - Specifies training requirements that must be met by a childcare provider as a condition of eligibility to receive a Federal Child Care and Development Fund voucher payment:

• At least 1 adult must maintain CPR Certification
• First aid certification for staff
• Staff training for child abuse detection and prevention for all employees
• 12 hours of continuing education credits

·         PD 3089 - Division shall establish a child care advisory committee for each of the following categories of child care:

• Child care for homes
• Child care centers
• Child care ministries

·         PD 3091 - Staffing ratios for Federal Child Care voucher eligibility

• Provider shall ensure that a child in the providers care is continually supervised by a caregiver
• If children less than 12 months old are being cared for- complete training course on safe sleep practice and ensure caregivers follow protocol

·         PD 3092 - Applies group size requirements that apply to licensed child care homes and centers to child care providers that receive federal child care and development fund voucher payments

• Complete safe sleep training for children 12 months old and under
• Caregiver to child ratio similar to PD 3091

·         PD 3093 - Requires a child care provider to implement a developmentally appropriate education curriculum based on the Department of Education’s early learning guidelines as a condition of eligibility for Federal Child Care and Development Fund voucher payments

·         PD 3094 - Requires criminal history background checks for all volunteers for a school corporation

·         PD 3095 - Annual appropriations shall be made to pay for all mandated criminal background checks required under state childcare law

·         PD 3123 - Determines licensed status as the only eligibility factor for the federal child care and development fund voucher program

·         PD 3124 - Specifies requirements for federal voucher program, including, staffing, training, facilities, fire safety, and discipline

·         PD 3125 - Specifies more requirements for federal voucher eligibility including training and orientation, staff to child ratios, and requires reports in cases where children are injured or die in the facility

·         PD 3143 - Specifies requirements for voucher eligibility, including the previous training, orientation, and staff ratios, also allows for decertification under certain situations

The next meeting is scheduled for October 15 at 1:00 p.m. in room 431.  The committee will vote on the preliminary drafts.

Child Services Oversight Committee

The next meeting is October 23 at 1:00 p.m. in the Senate Chambers.

Commission on Mental Health and Addiction

The Commission on Mental Health and Addiction met on September 9 and heard testimony on the use of methadone and opioids in treatment programs and clinic settings.  The next meeting is scheduled for October 21 at 1:00 p.m.

School Safety Interim Study Committee

The School Safety Interim Study Committee met on September 24.  Testimony was heard on the use of police officers in schools, technology available to schools to protect the physical building, the importance of training on safety for all staff working in a school and how teachers should not be armed when in the classroom.  The committee voted 11-1 to accept the final report, which did not include any preliminary draft legislation.

Central Indiana Transit Study Committee

The Central Indiana Transit Study Committee met on October 3 and heard testimony from both supporters and those who oppose.  For a look at the issue of transportation, visit MCCOY’s blog post by Sara Ferriell, MSW public policy intern, at http://mccoyouth.blogspot.com/.  The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for October 31 at 9:00 a.m. in room 431.

For more information about the committees, visit the General Assembly’s website: http://www.in.gov/legislative/interim/committee/index.html