Latest news with #MattieDaughtry
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill to support later high school start times passes in House, Senate
Jun. 4—Lawmakers approved an amended bill this week that would offer grant funding to Maine school districts to explore pushing back high school start times to 8:30 a.m. or later. The amendment replaced the original version of LD 396, sponsored by Senate President Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick, that sought to mandate an 8:30 a.m. or later start time for all high schools. Daughtry has long advocated for pushing back start times, arguing that research shows teens need more sleep to be safe and productive at school. Her efforts have stalled in the past, and while this year's bill advanced in both the House and Senate this week, it was not without significant changes. Following amendments in committee and on the Senate floor, LD 396 no longer mandates a start time for all districts. Instead, it creates a grant-funded pilot program that would support districts financially if they want to explore changing their high school start time to 8:30 a.m. or later, either within their own district or in collaboration with neighboring ones. The bill has a $206,078 fiscal note, which includes $100,000 for the grant program and $106,078 for the Department of Education, which would be tasked with creating an application process, timeline and criteria for the grant program. "I've been dreaming about making this happen at the state level since high school. My classmates and I wanted adults to change this back when we were teenagers, struggling through our early mornings," Daughtry said Wednesday. "While this isn't a statewide requirement, it's still a meaningful step forward and a real win for Maine's high schoolers." The amended bill passed the Senate in a 20-13 vote on Tuesday and passed through the House unanimously Wednesday. It still needs additional votes in both chambers, and approval from the Appropriations Committee, before being sent to Gov. Janet Mills. A spokesperson for the governor did not say whether Mills had a stance on the bill, just that she would review the bill as enacted if it reaches her desk. At a public hearing on LD 396 in February, students and parents testified that a later start time would improve safety and academic outcomes. Pediatric health experts said research shows later high school start times lead to improved attendance, better grades, less tardiness and fewer car accidents. But statewide education groups and the Maine Department of Education submitted testimony in opposition, arguing that a statewide mandate would not acknowledge districts' varied needs. "(Districts) across Maine vary significantly in their geographic, demographic and logistical realities. Decisions about school start and end times are complex and deeply interconnected with transportation, after-school programming, extracurricular activities, student employment and family schedules," Chief Teaching and Learning Officer Beth Lambert said on behalf of the department. "Each district must be free to determine the start and end times that work best for their students, families, and communities." The pilot program, called the School Start Time Fund, would provide one-time grants to be used by schools to coordinate start time changes. Districts are also free to push back their start times on their own, and several Maine districts — including Portland, South Portland, Bath and Biddeford — have already implemented their own late-start policies. Copy the Story Link
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
After much discussion, Maine Legislature keeps paid family and medical leave mostly intact
Sen. Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland) and Rep. Kristen Cloutier (D-Lewiston) cheer supporters of paid family and medical leave who rallied at the Maine State House in May 2023. The bill was signed into law a month later. (Courtesy of Maine Paid Family Leave campaign) Following the Senate earlier this week, the House on Wednesday passed LD 894, which proposes a series of amendments to the state's paid family and medical leave program to create certain enforcement mechanisms and penalties, as well as clarify intermittent leave. But the vote was not without significant debate. Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland) introduced the bill on behalf of the Labor Department to make specific refinements to the policy that were noticed during the rulemaking process. However, during the House floor debate, Rep. Michael Soboleski (R-Phillips) called it 'legislation that threatens the very foundation of Maine's economic landscape.' But underscoring the human rather than economic impacts, Rep. Valli Geiger (D-Rockland) said, 'We are not just a series of businesses. We are not just a series of workers.' She went on to say that 'we thrive when there is a blend of work and life, and all of us age, all of us fall into illness, many of us have children, and when we do, it is part of our culture and a decent society to give us time to recover, to allow us to take care of our elderly, our frail, our beloved ones.' Though it isn't expected to be available until May 2026, the paid family and medical leave program will allow eligible public and private sector workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for reasons such as illness, to care for a loved one or the birth of a new child. Others supportive of the overall program argued that LD 894 does not do enough to ensure it will be effective. 'While LD 894 focuses on infrastructure, it leaves behind the operational reforms that matter most to the people on the ground,' said Rep. Tiffany Roberts (D-South Berwick). Rep. Nathan Carlow (R-Buxton) attempted two floor amendments to the bill, which both failed. One amendment sought to require an employee to be employed with an employer for a minimum of 120 days before being eligible for paid leave. Rep. Amy Roeder (D-Bangor) said the Department of Labor is opposed to any change that would delay the implementation of the program. Rep. Charles Skold (D-Portland) argued the amendment would prevent people from taking leave when they need it. A motion to indefinitely postpone the amendment narrowly prevailed, 72-70. Carlow then presented another floor amendment that would allow workers and businesses who have contributed to the state fund but choose to adopt a qualifying private plan before the start of 2026 to be eligible for a refund from the Department of Labor. A motion to indefinitely postpone also narrowly prevailed 71-70. The Senate had its own, albeit smaller, debate on paid family and medical leave Wednesday. Despite urging from Sen. Dick Bradstreet (R-Kennebec) to back LD 1712, which hopes to strike a better balance between employee and employer interests by modifying how much an employer is required to contribute, when an employee needs to apply for the benefit and how much is paid out. He described it as 'a reasonable compromise and a responsible compromise,' the upper chamber voted against it 20-14. The House rejected the bill earlier this week, so it is now effectively killed. That bill joined a series of other proposals to modify or repeal the program that were also rejected earlier this week, including LD 406, LD 1273, LD 1333, LD 952 and LD 1307. Reporter AnnMarie Hilton contributed to this story. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Legislative recap for Monday, June 2
Newly sworn-in Maine Senate President Mattie Daughtry addresses senators in the Senate chamber in Augusta on Dec. 4, 2024. (Photo by Jim Neuger/Maine Morning Star) As the Maine Legislature approaches its final weeks of work, each day is packed with dozens and dozens of consequential votes. After starting around 10 a.m. on Monday, the Senate cast its final vote just after 6:30 p.m. but the House did not until close to 10 p.m. 'We're done for the night,' House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor) said, asking his caucus to walk out of the chamber. Throughout the day, both chambers rejected a slew of proposals to make significant changes to the state's Paid Family and Medical Leave program before it starts. The Senate also supported a measure to guarantee agricultural workers state minimum wage. But other votes — hundreds — were also cast that take legislation one step closer, or farther, from becoming Maine law. Here are some takeaways from Monday: Legislation (LD 3) that would have Maine adopt Eastern Standard Time year-round, contingent on federal approval, now heads to the governor's desk. It received enactment votes in both chambers on Monday. That was also the case for: LD 186, which would clarify the Public Utilities Commission's authority to establish time-of-use pricing for standard-offer service, LD 1258, which would add qualified out-of-state electric vehicle providers under the Electric Vehicle Fund, and LD 1473, which would require utilities to monitor meters for natural gas leaks. The following bills have received the initial approval of both chambers, but still need enactment votes: LD 496: 'An Act Regarding the Time Frame for Issuing a Silver Alert and to Require Silver Alerts for All Persons Missing from Certain Inpatient Facilities.' LD 626: 'An Act to Explicitly Allow the Department of Corrections to Charge Room and Board to Residents Who Perform Remote Work in Detention and Correctional Facilities and to Amend the Laws Governing Rehabilitative Programs' LD 1146: 'An Act Regarding the Required State of Mind Relating to Robbery' LD 996: 'An Act to Create the Weatherization Plus Program and Weatherization Plus Fund' LD 434: 'An Act to Authorize the Maine Governmental Facilities Authority to Issue Additional Securities for the Replacement of the Legislative Management System for the Senate and the House of Representatives' LD 138: 'An Act to Exempt Airports from Certain State Endangered and Threatened Species Habitat Protections' LD 1287: 'An Act to Support Workforce Development by Establishing the Housing Stability Fund' LD 366: 'An Act to Ensure Consistency of Income Tax Deductions for Retired Members of the Uniformed Services' LD 9: 'An Act Regarding Campaign Finance Disclosure' LD 496: 'An Act Regarding the Time Frame for Issuing a Silver Alert and to Require Silver Alerts for All Persons Missing from Certain Inpatient Facilities' LD 626: 'An Act to Explicitly Allow the Department of Corrections to Charge Room and Board to Residents Who Perform Remote Work in Detention and Correctional Facilities and to Amend the Laws Governing Rehabilitative Programs (Department Bill)' LD 1146: 'An Act Regarding the Required State of Mind Relating to Robbery' LD 996: 'An Act to Create the Weatherization Plus Program and Weatherization Plus Fund' LD 1221: 'RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Prohibit the Legislature from Using Paid Family and Medical Leave Program Funds for Any Other Purpose' LD 434: 'An Act to Authorize the Maine Governmental Facilities Authority to Issue Additional Securities for the Replacement of the Legislative Management System for the Senate and the House of Representatives' LD 1681: 'An Act to Consider Municipal Shelter Facilities and Housing Projects Essential for Public Health, Welfare and Safety by Updating the Definition of 'Public Service Infrastructure' LD 1176 'An Act to Provide for the Sustainable Management of Marine Resources and Create a Noncommercial Northern Shrimp License (Department Bill) LD 1561: 'Resolve, Regarding the Percentage of a Lobster and Crab Fishing' Licensee's Lobster Traps That May Be Fished in a Lobster Management Zone Listed on the License as a Secondary Zone LD 1595: 'An Act to Strengthen Working Waterfronts Against Nuisance Complaints Regarding Aquaculture' LD 1323: 'An Act to Prohibit the Use of Neonicotinoid Pesticides and the Use and Sale of Neonicotinoid-treated Seeds' LD 1925: 'An Act to Improve Access to Grant Funding for the Maine Farms for the Future Program' LD 730: 'Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 132: Learning Results: Parameters for Essential Instruction, a Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Education (Emergency)' LD 62: 'An Act to Support Municipal and County Actions on Dam Ownership and to Make Other Changes to the Laws Regulating Release from Dam Ownership (Department Bill)' LD 269 'Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 375: No Adverse Environmental Effect Standards of the Site Location of Development Act, a Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Environmental Protection (Emergency)' LD 764: 'An Act to Improve the Efficiency of Certain Department of Health and Human Services Licensing Investigations (Department Bill)' LD 1157: 'An Act to Amend the Laws Relating to the State's Background Check Center (Department Bill)' LD 1469: 'An Act to Clarify the Quality Rating System for Child Care Services in Maine' LD 1945: 'An Act to Clarify Data Collection Processes in Health Care Facilities' LD 876: 'An Act to Support the Maine Service Fellows Program' LD 1246: 'Resolve, Directing the Department of Economic and Community' Development to Convene a Working Group to Review the Process of Setting Impact Fees (Emergency)' LD 1516: 'An Act to Strengthen the Maine Development Foundation' LD 1478: 'An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Baitfish Wholesaler's Licenses' 706: 'An Act Regarding the Laws Relating to Unemployment Insurance (Department Bill)' LD 1514: 'An Act to Change the Laws Regarding Real Estate Appraisers LD 44: 'An Act to Amend the Laws Pertaining to Elver Fishing (Department Bill)' LD 64: 'An Act to Eliminate the Cultchless American Oyster Growers License (Department Bill)' LD 1279: 'Establishing the Biotoxin Testing of Cultured Scallops Pilot Program' LD 1708: 'An Act to Create the Commercial Fishing Safety Fund to Further Develop Training and Provide Equipment to Recover Ships and Other Watercraft and Persons in Distress or Lost at Sea' (Read more about this bill here.)' LD 915: 'An Act to Modernize Deed Duplication from Microfilm to a Digital Image' LD 447: 'An Act to Amend the Law Governing Ferry Service to Matinicus Isle' LD 1874: 'An Act to Enable the Maine Pilotage Commission to Oversee Pilots Operating in Portland Harbor' LD 494: 'An Act to Update and Clarify Certain Provisions of State Liquor and Lottery Laws' (Emergency)' LD 820: 'RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Establish the Right to Hunt and Fish' LD 1588: 'An Act to Ensure Transparency in Student Transfer Requests' LD 1564: 'An Act to Delay Implementation of Certain Recent Changes to the Beverage Container Redemption Law and to Make Other Necessary Changes to That Law (Emergency)' LD 1782: 'Resolve, Regarding Host Community Compensation for the Juniper Ridge Landfill in the City of Old Town' LD 960: 'Resolve, to Allow the Placement of Hospitalized Patients in Nursing Facilities in Alternative Locations Under Certain Circumstances' LD 1406: 'An Act to Amend Certain Definitions in the Child and Family Services and Child Protection Act (Emergency)' LD 526: 'An Act to Reduce the Time Period for Challenging the Validity of a Property Tax Lien on Commercial Real Estate' LD 1783: 'An Act to Clarify Municipal Affordable Housing Tax Increment Financing' LD 623:'An Act to Enhance Support Services for Individuals with an Acquired Brain Injury' LD 901: 'Resolve, Directing the Maine State Housing Authority to Negotiate for the Purchase of or Acquire by Eminent Domain the Land and Buildings Commonly Known as the Bangor Mall' The following bills have been rejected by both chambers: LD 1903: 'An Act to Conform the State's Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Laws to Federal Standards' LD 1573: 'An Act to Require Legislative Approval for Certain Emergency Powers of the Governor' LD 1010: 'An Act to Amend the State's Vehicle Inspection Law by Requiring Inspections Biennially' LD 726: 'An Act to Protect Municipalities' Investment in Law Enforcement Officers' LD 607: 'An Act to Require the Approval of Superintendent Agreements Regarding Transfers of Students Between School Administrative Units' LD 919: 'An Act to Require Parental Permission for Certain Surveys and Questionnaires Administered to Minors in Schools' LD 1357: 'An Act to Create Alternative Pathways for Certification or Endorsement of Industrial Arts Teachers' LD 1881: 'An Act to Ensure the Rights of Parents of Minor Children in Education' LD 439: 'An Act to Preserve Maine's Sporting Heritage and Enhance Sporting Opportunities for Maine's Youth by Allowing Maine's Youth to Hunt on Sunday' LD 490: 'An Act to Provide for a 5-year Automatic Repeal of Agency Rules' LD 965: 'An Act to Require the Automatic Repealing of Agency Rules' LD 1884: 'Resolve, to Increase the Number of Kennebec County Commissioners' The number of bills on legislative 'tables' now abound. Bills that land on the appropriations table, which is managed by the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee that sets the budget, have already passed the full Legislature with initial votes. However, if they aren't already funded, they are placed on the table to vie for remaining unappropriated money. Essentially, that's everything being voted through with a fiscal note because lawmakers are still drafting what will be in the next two year budget plan. For example, the House passed LD 681, 'An Act Regarding Public Higher Education Funding in the State,' Monday morning, following an earlier vote in the Senate and bucking the recommendation of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee against its passage. On the House floor on Monday, Rep. Shelley Rudnicki (R-Fairfield) asked, 'Are we just discarding the work that's done by committee?' When the bill was sent back to the Senate for enactment, lawmakers then opted to place it on the table. The same happened to LD 697, 'An Act to Direct the Maine Prescription Drug Affordability Board to Assess Strategies to Reduce Prescription Drug Costs and to Take Steps to Implement Reference-based Pricing,' which the House passed 125-9 before the Senate placed it on the table. After securing favorable votes in either the Senate or House on Monday, the following bills were also placed on the table: LD 505: 'An Act to Update Processes and Fees in the Probate Court System' LD 870: 'An Act Regarding the Membership of the Maine Land Use Planning Commission' LD 1097: 'An Act to Provide De-escalation and Behavior Intervention Training for School Personnel' LD 1773: 'An Act to Criminalize Certain Offenses Related to Gift Card Thefts' Other bills placed on the table include: LD 60, LD 61, LD 178, LD 192, LD 361, LD 540, LD 616, LD 800, LD 900, LD 1017, LD 1043, LD 1079, LD 1425, LD 1855, LD 105, LD 384, LD 493, LD 500, LD 554, LD 679, LD 858, LD 1100. There is also a study table, where lawmakers place bills after they pass both chambers if they involve legislative studies. LD 634 and LD 1420 were placed on that table on Monday. And there's a highway table, which LD 1359 was placed on. Maine has separate general fund and highway fund budgets, with the Transportation Committee overseeing the latter. After the House voted against a bill (LD 1255) last month that would amend the eligibility requirements for the free community college program, the Senate tried to follow suit, initially. But its vote against the bill failed 15-19, so the chamber passed it under the hammer. It now heads back to the House to see if the lower chamber will reconsider its position. Legislation (LD 218) that would make student transfer agreements renew automatically, except in certain circumstances related to attendance or behavior, is poised to die in nonconcurrence. After the House opposed the measure, following the majority recommendation of the Education Committee, the Senate voted for it. The House insisted on its position on Monday. The House voted against a bill (LD 115) that would assess impact fees on megayachts over 150 feet long. It now heads back to the Senate in nonconcurrence. The Senate had initially voted to pass the bill, bucking the committee recommendation, but then failed to enact the measure. Representatives supportive of the measure described it as a matter of fairness. 'Right now, when a family stays in a main hotel, they pay a lodging tax. When a business ships goods through our ports, they pay fees,' Rep. Lookner said. 'But when a billionaire docks a 450 foot yacht, a vessel that's three times as long as the Vinylhaven ferry in one of our harbors, they pay nothing toward the upkeep for our piers, dredging or sea walls that make their stay possible.' However, Rep. Lydia Crafts (D-Newcastle), speaking against the bill, said individual municipalities already have the ability to assess slip fees. The Senate stripped the emergency clause from LD 197, which would direct the governor's Energy Office to conduct a study on the future of electric transmission infrastructure in the state, after it could not reach the threshold needed to enact it as an emergency, which is a two-thirds vote. The bill will now be sent back to the House. While that bill now has a chance at passage, LD 213 is essentially dead. The chambers could not agree on LD 213, which would increase the sales commission of retailers who sell lottery tickets. The Senate insisted on its vote against the bill on Monday, after the House insisted on its vote in support of the bill. With a 29-5 vote, the Senate passed LD 331, a resolve directing the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure timely reimbursements under MaineCare for hospital cost reports. In doing so it accepted the minority report of the committee, sending it back to the House in nonconcurrence. After the House passed LD 77, a measure to fund the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Fisheries and Hatcheries Division by increasing inland fishing license fees, the Senate initially tried to pass it as well, but failed to do so with a 11-23 vote. The chamber then accepted the minority ought not to pass report. The chambers also can't agree on LD 723, a resolve to direct the Maine Criminal Justice Academy to study the feasibility of establishing a nonresidential law enforcement training program. It failed final passage in the House but was approved for final passage in the Senate. Emergency legislation needs a two-thirds vote to be enacted. LD 1551, 'An Act to Support Maine Eating and Drinking Establishments by Allowing Vendors to Operate on the Premises of an Establishment with a Liquor License,' easily cleared this bar with a 120-0 enactment vote. However, LD 1420, which would establish a commission to 'ensure a just and equitable energy transition for Maine's workforce,' failed to reach that threshold with a 68-61 vote. While not an emergency bill, LD 723 failed enactment after House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor) called for a roll call vote. This bill would direct the Maine Criminal Justice Academy to study the feasibility of establishing a nonresidential law enforcement training program. The House failed to enact it with a 68-71 vote, after supporting its passage initially with a 74-72 vote last month. The Senate also enacted a public land resolve (LD 1724) authorizing the Baxter State Park Authority to convey certain land in Cumberland County. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Proposed constitutional amendment to protect paid leave fund one step closer to ballot
Supporters of paid family and medical leave policy rallied on the steps of the Maine State House in June 2023. One month later the policy became law. (Courtesy of Maine Women's Lobby) The entire Maine Legislature is so far taking the recommendations of the Labor Committee to reject significant changes to the state's paid family and medical leave program. On Monday, the Senate voted 20-14 to back a proposal (LD 894) to tweak the program, but rejected other bills by the same margin, including one to exempt agricultural employees from the program and another to suspend remittance for companies that plan to use private plans. That bill now advances to the House of Representatives. Both chambers also followed the lead of the committee by backing a proposal for a constitutional amendment prohibiting the Legislature from using the program funds for any other purpose. Though LD 1221 was passed under the hammer by the House and Senate, it will require a two-thirds vote from each chamber for the next round of enactment votes. If secured, it would then be sent to the voters to ultimately decide on the November 2025 ballot. LD 894, which was also endorsed by the committee, proposes a series of amendments to the current law to create certain enforcement mechanisms and penalties, as well as clarify intermittent leave. Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland) introduced the bill on behalf of the Labor Department to make specific refinements to the policy that were noticed during the rulemaking process. 'This is a bill that does the quiet, but essential work of ensuring that Maine's paid family and medical leave program is implemented successfully,' said Sen. Mike Tipping (D-Penobscot) on the Senate floor. Though it isn't expected to be available until May 2026, the paid family and medical leave program will allow eligible public and private sector workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for reasons such as illness, to care for a loved one or the birth of a new child. Tipping said LD 894 is the only bill that 'strengthens the program without destabilizing it.' Sen. Dick Bradstreet (R-Kennebec) urged his colleagues to support a different version of the bill that he argued would help small businesses. While Sen. Cameron Reny (D-Lincoln) said while some of those suggestions are reasonable, they seem too substantial to make for a program that hasn't been fully implemented yet. 'Making major structural changes at this stage before a single benefit has been paid and without knowing what's working or not working, it's like you're trying to redesign a plane while we're on the runway,' Reny said. Across the State House, lawmakers rejected bills to repeal the program (LD 406), make it voluntary (LD 1273) and make a series of other structural changes (LD 1333 and LD 1712). SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill before Maine lawmakers seeks to preserve stipends for child care workers
May 15—A bill before Maine lawmakers seeks to preserve stipends for child care workers while also providing additional one-time funding for a program that helps families pay for child care, both of which advocates say are critical despite concerns about the costs. The Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee held a public hearing Thursday on a bill from Senate President Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick, that seeks to build upon existing Maine programs that provide the stipends, help families pay for child care and give access to free child care for employees in the industry. "Here in Maine, and nationally, the cost of child care is one of the biggest hurdles for working families," Daughtry said. She said her bill expands programs that are already working to make them stronger and more effective. Supporters testified that it would help the industry, which has struggled with workforce recruitment and retention; retain employees, and would give families more economic stability. The bill, LD 1955, has three Republican and several Democratic co-sponsors, indicating it is likely to receive broad support from lawmakers, but is opposed by the Mills administration due in large part to its cost of $6.8 million over two years. "While OCFS appreciates the intent of this bill to enhance the affordability of early care and education and further educational opportunities for those interested in pursuing a career in this field, OCFS would encourage the committee to focus on existing initiatives and programs before considering additional funding allocations, expansion or modification of programs," said Bobbi Johnson, director of the Office of Child and Family Services in the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, in written testimony opposing the bill. SALARY SUPPLEMENTS ARE 'ESSENTIAL INVESTMENT' The $6.8 million includes one-time funding of $3.8 million to clear the waitlist of the Child Care Affordability Program, which helps eligible families pay for child care so parents can work, go to school or participate in a job training program, as well as an additional $2 million over two years for the program. The waitlist currently includes more than 600 families, Daughtry said Thursday. Her bill also includes a $1 million increase in funding for child care worker stipends that have been in place since 2021, which currently range from $240 to $540 per worker monthly. That should be enough to prevent a decrease in payment amounts, Daughtry said. "These payments are not bonuses, but essential investment intended to help make early educators' wages more sustainable and reflective of their vital work," she said. The bill would also provide scholarships and apprenticeships for child care workers to continue their education in the field, and continue a pilot program making child care workers eligible for free tuition for their own children. The bill comes after Gov. Janet Mills proposed a reduction in the stipends in her proposed budget unveiled in January, seeking to set them at the 2022 level of $200 monthly in an effort to save the state $30 million over two years. Democratic lawmakers have balked at the proposed cuts and the HHS Committee, with some support from Republicans on the panel, restored the full stipend in its budget recommendations to the full Legislature. A spokesperson for Mills said Thursday that she is reviewing Daughtry's bill. The stipend program has grown to cost the state over $30 million in last year's general fund budget, according to the administration. "Unfortunately, in a tough budget cycle, tough decisions have to be made and we believe it is important to return the program to a sustainable level of spending, as we initially had, so that we can continue it far into the future," DHHS spokesperson Lindsay Hammes said in an email Thursday. In addition to the cost, Johnson said some of the changes the bill would make to existing programs are not needed. It requires annual reporting and an assessment of the stipends every five years, but the office already provides data and information on the payments in its annual report, Johnson said. She also said the office has found that most child care providers who apply for the pilot program offering them free tuition also are eligible for and have been able to get benefits through the broader child care affordability program. Mills eliminated the pilot program in her proposed budget to save the state $2.5 million annually. The office expressed concerns about the one-time nature of the $3.8 million in funding for the affordability program. "One time funding leaves families with a lack of stability going forward as families are likely to lose their spot in the program at their next annual redetermination and be returned to the waitlist," Johnson wrote. TESTIMONY IN OVERWHELMING SUPPORT Sen. Marianne Moore, R-Calais, the Senate Republican lead on the HHS Committee, said Thursday that she signed on to co-sponsor Daughtry's bill because of the high need for child care in rural areas. "I believe this bill is a commonsense next step for our commitment to Maine's kids," Moore said. Child care workers and advocates also spoke overwhelmingly in support of Daughtry's bill. Ingrid Stanchfield, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kennebec Valley, told the committee that her organization currently provides child care for about 300 children through various programs. The service is critical to keeping parents, especially women, in the workforce and giving their families more economic stability, Stanchfield said. She said the pay supplements have been critical to helping child care workers cover expenses like health insurance and groceries for their families and have helped the Boys & Girls Clubs attract workers. "The workforce for child care right now is desperate ... finding workers is very difficult," Stanchfield said. She said the Boys & Girls Clubs currently receive about $60,000 annually from the state for the stipends. "It's very important for (the employees) and for us to be able to continue to provide child care," she said. Daughtry's bill was among several bills related to child care that the committee took up Thursday. LD 1428, from House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford, would make it easier for people who want to open child care facilities to do so by requiring municipalities to allow the centers to open in residential-zoned areas, and specifying that child care facilities can use public outdoor space nearby to meet licensing requirements for outdoor play, rather than having to provide their own on-site outdoor space. The Office of Child and Family Services testified in support of Fecteau's bill, but the Maine Municipal Association testified against it, saying it would take away municipalities' ability to make their own decisions about local zoning. Later in the day, the committee was expected to hear proposals for an advisory board to oversee the affordability program and providing one-time funding to clear the waitlist, directing DHHS to enter into contracts with providers to increase the number of slots for certain populations of children, including those under 3 and children with disabilities, and the establishment of "resource hubs" to help families locate early childhood programs. Copy the Story Link
