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IAA Policy Update
March 19, 2021
During the state legislative session, the IAA sends out a bi-weekly legislative update. In these emails you'll get an update on what's going on at the State Capitol, and in Congress, as well as actions you can take to advocate for afterschool!
Federal Policy Update
$30 Billion for Afterschool!
Now signed into law, the American Rescue Plan provides more than $30 billion in education funding that will support and expand afterschool and summer programming across the nation. This historic allocation of funding is the first major increase in afterschool spending since the creation of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, and also includes $39 billion for childcare. 

Of the $8.45 billion in set asides for State Education Agencies, $1.22 billion must be reserved for afterschool programming, in addition to $1.22 billion to be reserved for summer programming. Approximately $6.1 billion will be allocated to Local Education Agencies to be used for learning loss recovery, which includes afterschool and summer programming as well. 

Previously, the Iowa Before and After School Grants Program was established as a state funding source for afterschool and summer programs, but was cut from the state budget during the 2009 Great Recession. With an increase in education funding, Iowa’s youth would greatly benefit from re-establishing the Before and After School Grants Program.  In an effort to make sure that afterschool is at the table when budget decisions are being made, the Iowa Afterschool Alliance, in partnership with the Advancing Afterschool Coalition has drafted a letter to be sent to Iowa’s policymakers. Now we need you to tell Iowa’s decision makers to #FundAfterschool!

The Iowa Department of Education should use these state set-asides to create a special grant competition for out-of-school time programs. Below, you can access the Iowa COVID-19 Before and After School Grants Program Advocacy and Media Toolkit, which is free for you to use. This toolkit includes resources for you to write letters to policymakers and editors, as well as social media content that is easy for you to copy and paste! Advocacy should be focused on the Governor's Office and the Iowa Department of Education, but making contact with your legislators and local boards won't hurt.
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The Iowa Afterschool Alliance would greatly appreciate your support in our upcoming advocacy efforts. If you have any questions, or are in need of support, please contact Emilee Harris at eharris@sppg.com. 
State Policy Update
Helpful Links
Click here to find your legislator. You can search by address, city, district, county, or zip code.

To find bios, contact information, and photos of all the legislators, go to the Legislators page on the Iowa Legislature website. Select either "Senators" or "Representatives" on the left-side menu to see a complete list of all members, including links to their information page and district map. 

For a complete list of Senate and House committees and members, click here.

For a full list of Senate and House leadership, click here.
Legislation
Increases income eligibility limits for the child and dependent care and early childhood development tax credits.

This bill survived the first funnel. It currently sits in the Senate Human Resources subcommittee with Costello, Bolkcom and Green.
Provides businesses with income, franchise, monies and credits, and gross premiums tax credits for providing child care benefits to employees of the business, and including applicability date provisions.

This bill survived the first funnel. It currently sits in the Senate Ways and Means subcommittee with Dawson, Goodwin and Petersen.
Establishes Child Care Future Zones Program, which will provide financial assistance to individuals looking to open a child care facility in an area with three times as many children under the age of 5 than current child care openings.

This bill did not survive funnel. It can be taken up again during the 2022 legislative session.
Relates to child care reimbursement rates under the state child care assistance program.

This bill survived the first funnel. It currently sits in the Senate Human Resources subcommittee with Costello, Mathis and Sweeney.
Establishes a new graduated phase-out for families exiting the Child Care Assistance program. Families earning between 225%-235% of the federal poverty level are required to pay 33% of child care costs. Families earning between 235%-245% of the federal poverty level are required to pay 45% of child care costs. Families earning 245%-250% of the federal poverty line are required to pay 60% of child care costs.

This bill has survived funnel. It current awaits assignment to the full Senate Human Resources committee.
Update to the number of children who can be in care at a child care home at one time. There must be 6 or fewer children in attendance if one child is school-age or older. There must be 7 or fewer children in attendance if two or more children are school-age. School-age children are defined as being 4-17 years of age.

This bill did not survive the first funnel. It can be brought up again in the 2022 legislative session.
** Bills assigned to Ways and Means or Appropriations are not subject to funnel guidelines.
Important Dates
April 2: Second Funnel
Final date for Senate bills to be passed out of House committees and House bills to be passed out of Senate committees.
April 30: Target Adjournment Date
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