ActionALERT

Action Alert
April 6, 2009

Legislative Deadlines
The third committee deadline (April 16) is quickly approaching at the Legislature.   This deadline represents the date by which all omnibus spending and agency budget bills need to be submitted to the Finance committees in the House and Senate.

If you believe that afterschool and summer learning opportunities are critical to provide in your community, now, more than ever, is the time to voice your support for afterschool and summer programs by contacting our legislators.  We strongly encourage you to call and email your legislators this week, as they will be making significant decisions.

Afterschool Community Learning Act

Status in the House
Funding for the Afterschool Community Learning Grants has been included in the Early Childhood Finance and Policy Omnibus Bill (HF 1026, pp. 13, line 17) at a funding level of $500,000/year.  The Early Childhood committee includes:

Representative Nora Slawik
Representative Paul Rosenthal
Representative Keith Downey
Representative David Bly
Representative Mark Buesgens
Representative Mindy Greiling
Representative Rod Hamilton
Representative Gail Kulick Jackson
Representative Carolyn Laine
Representative Tara Mack
Representative Carlos Mariani
Representative Bud Nornes
Representative Sandra Peterson
Representative John Ward

Don’t forget to thank Chairwoman Slawik and Representative Bly for showing their commitment to continuing these programs despite the difficult financial situation facing our state.

Status in the Senate
The Afterschool Community Learning grants have not been included in the E-12 Education Omnibus Bill (SF 1328).  It is important that the committee members and Senate leadership hear just how important it is that funding for these programs be continued in their budget.  If you would like to see funding continue for afterschool and summer learning programs, then we suggest you contact members of the Senate E-12 Finance Committee and senate leadership.  The E-12 Education Committee includes:

Senator Leroy Stumpf
Senator Charles Wiger
Senator Terri Bonoff
Senator Gen Olson
Senator Ellen Anderson
Senator Kevin Dahle
Senator Lisa Fobbe
Senator Chris Gerlach
Senator David Hann
Senator Amy Koch
Senator Geoff Michel
Senator Claire Robling
Senator Sandy Rummel
Senator Kathy Saltzman
Senator Tom Saxhaug
Senator Dan Skogen
Senator Patricia Torres Ray

Senate Leadership includes:
Senator Lawrence Pogemiller – Majority Leader
Senator Tarryl Clark – Assistant Majority Leader
Senator David Senjem – Minority Leader

Senator Sandy Rummel was the chief author of SF 855, which never received a hearing by this committee.

Youth Intervention Programs Association (YIPA) Funding

Funding for Youth Intervention Programs, through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, is at risk as the legislature prepares the agency budget.  Early intervention programs include mentoring, counseling, education, out of school time, and restorative justice programs.  These programs provide critical services to keeping youth out of the correctional system. The Governor has proposed a 30% reduction ($1.5 million).  However, it is possibly that 100%, $4.8 million, could be lost as a result of the recession.     

We need your help now because we do not want to reverse the progress made during the past few years in providing more community-based early intervention services throughout the State. We are asking you to contact your legislator if you’d like to see this funding continue.   

House Public Safety Finance Division

Senate Public Safety Budget Division

For more information about YIPA or the programs funded through the youth intervention dollars, contact Scott Beaty, YIPA Executive Director by phone at 651-452-3589, or by e-mail at jsbeaty@comcast.net.   

Tracking Funding and Policy for Afterschool

Information about the 2009 Legislative Session, including our Action Alerts and Bill Tracking forms, and about stimulus funds for afterschool and summer learning opportunities can be found on the YCC website. 

Youth Community Connections
1313 - 5th Street SE, Suite 321, Minneapolis, MN 55414
PH: 612.627.0160
WEB: www.youthcommunityconnections.org