RIASPA Policy Update

January 2008

 

RIASPA 2008 Legislative Platform

RIASPA has been working with our Public Policy Committee to develop our legislative platform for 2008.Among several items for consideration are:

  • Submitting a bill to create the “Rhode Island Afterschool Fund.”This bill will allocate $1 million from the state for afterschool programming.RIASPA introduced this bill last year as well, and it received a hearing but was not passed.Given the state’s financial situation, passage of this bill is slim but RIASPA will continue to promote and support the bill as part of our longer-term strategy to increase resources for afterschool programs in Rhode Island.You can review the bill here.

  • RIASPA will continue to work with our Supporting Student Success (S3) State Leadership Team and Advisors to develop appropriate legislation, policies, and/or regulations that support afterschool programs and help to better integrate “expanded learning opportunities”—such as afterschool and summer learning programs into the state education system.

  • As the next step in our Afterschool Transportation Project, RIASPA will work with a legislative commission on afterschool transportation created last year through legislation submitted by RIASPA and passed by the General Assembly to study the issue of transportation and afterschool programs.The legislative commission will study research conducted by RIASPA on transportation and make recommendations for appropriate policies and/or legislation that would help address the afterschool transportation issue.

  • As part of our multi-pronged approach to policy development, RIASPA will also work with afterschool programs such as the Providence After School Alliance to develop recommendations for revision of the state’s current child care licensing regulations to help make them more appropriate for programs serving older children and youth.

RIASPA is also monitoring bills submitted to the General Assembly.To date, only one bill has been submitted that affects afterschool programs:

  • House Bill 7079 would require every student violating a school policy regarding the possession of alcohol or drugs, whether or not the violation occurred on a school premises or not, to suspendthat student from all sports programs, teams, or other extracurricular activities, including clubs, dances, proms or other programs for a period of one year.RIASPA is very concerned that this bill may prohibit students from attending school-sponsored afterschool programs, which would be a detriment to the student.A hearing was held on the bill on January 23, 2008 and RIASPA testified against the bill.Representative Jan Malik (District 67, Warren, Bristol-D), who introduced the bill, is agreeable to amending the bill.RIASPA will work with Representative Malik to amend the bill so that it will not be detrimental to students attending afterschool program.

Rhode Island State Budget

Governor Carcieri released the state supplemental budget for the 2008 fiscal year recently.The supplemental budget is designed to fill a $151 million deficit projected for this fiscal year.The supplemental budget contained many cost-cutting measures, only one of which affects afterschool programs.Included in the state supplemental budget is a proposal to eliminate health care benefits for licensed child care programs, which include afterschool programs.Care for Kids, a coalition of afterschool and child care programs, is working to have the health care benefit restored.

This is a great opportunity to get involved in advocating for afterschool programs.If you haven’t joined Care for Kids already please email info@careforkidsri.org to be placed on the Care for Kids mailing list.You’ll receive updates on the budget, calls to action and other information concerning afterschool programs.

Governor Carcieri will release the state budget for fiscal year 2009 at the end of January.RIASPA will keep you up to date on any budget item that may affect afterschool programs.

Lights On Afterschool!

On October 18, 2007 RIASPA held our annual Lights On Afterschool! celebrationat Exchange City on the Johnson and Wales University Harborside Campus.Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts, Sue Stenhouse from the Governor’s office and Shevaun Keogh-Walker from CHILDSPAN addressed the celebration and awards were given to Representative Patrick Kennedy and Bank of America.Attorney General Patrick Lynch and Representative Ray Church (District 48, Burrillville, North Smithfield - D) attended the celebration.  In addition to the speaking program, a showcase to highlight health and wellness activities run by afterschool programs took place during the first half of the event.Activities included dance, sports, peer mediation and healthy cooking.