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| Linda Olivenbaum |
Greetings to all CAEYC members as we enter a new program year for 2015-16!
New Chairperson
I am pleased and honored to step into the role as Public Policy Chair for CAEYC, effective July 1, 2015. Joyce Stone, our previous Chair, leaves very big shoes to fill as she led our Committee so skillfully and effectively for the past four years. She and I share a deep conviction about the importance of Public Policy involvement for CAEYC and I’m grateful that she will remain on the Committee this year in the role of Immediate Past Chair.
Legislative Session Coming to an End
Your Public Policy Committee has been very active in reviewing and recommending positions to the CAEYC Board on the many bills introduced in the current legislative session that had implications for those working in our field. We are nearing the end of this session and all of the following bills are now on the Governor’s desk. He had until October 11 to sign, veto or allow enactment without his signature:
- AB 47 (McCarty): Expands state preschool for all eligible low-income children. CAEYC Position: Support with conditions.
- AB 74 (Calderon): Implements annual licensing inspections as of 1/1/18. CAEYC Position: Support.
- AB 762 (Mullin): Expands toddler component on facility licenses to include 18-36
months. CAEYC Position: Co-sponsor.- SB 548 (De Leon): Requires the State Department of Education to provide orientation training for Family Child Care providers. CAEYC Position: Watch
- SB 792 (Mendoza): Requires immunizations for influenza, measles and pertussis for any employee of centers or homes. CAEYC Position: Watch
National Dialogue
Your Public Policy Committee, along with many of you, has had deep discussions about the implications of the National Dialogue for our work. In June, we sent a letter to the CAEYC Board voicing our concerns that, whatever the outcome, we want to ensure that CAEYC maintains a single, collaborative voice on public policy issues. Now, more than ever, our field needs to unify our message so that legislators, policy leaders and others hear us speak clearly about what we support for children, families and our workforce.
Contact Us!
If you have any questions or comments about the work of the CAEYC Public Policy Committee, please email Linda Olivenbaum or Joyce Stone (Co-chair).
We will work hard this year to let you know how you can participate in this important work. Our voices are crucial to making sure that the children and families in our communities receive the highest quality child development programs and other services they need. All of this begins with informed public policy decisions.
Linda Olivenbaum
CAEYC Public Policy Chair