On Monday, the Arizona legislature completed its work to pass the budget for the fiscal year and adjourned until April 13.

With a few exceptions, the “skinny” budget strips out one-time funding and increases spending in areas that require annual adjustments such as K-12 education and AHCCCS. The budget also continues to phase in the 20 percent teacher pay increases and the restoration of district and charter additional assistance in K-12 education.

Building renewal for district schools has increased by $119 million of which $28 million is supplemental funding for the current fiscal year.

Using Federal Child Care Block Grant Funds, the budget funds childcare subsidies for 3,000 additional children and increases rates for childcare providers with quality ratings of 3 to 5 stars.

The bare bones budget leaves out several of CAA’s priorities for children and families:

• Restoring supports to grandparents and other kinship caregivers who step in when parents are unable to care for their children
• Raising the childcare subsidy reimbursement rates for all childcare providers to help working parents with high out-of-pocket costs
• Providing comprehensive dental care for pregnant moms participating in Medicaid/AHCCCS

In response to the evolving issues surrounding COVID-19, the legislature authorized $50 million for deposit into the new Contingency and Safety Net Fund. These funds may be spent only after the governor declares a state of emergency. These funds are restricted to housing assistance, including eviction and foreclosure prevention; services for persons experiencing homelessness, including shelter, clothing, food and transportation; food bank operations; and assistance to businesses with fewer than 50 employees, health care providers and nonprofit organizations.

Arizona will soon feel the one-two punch of the costs of a large-scale public health emergency and a deep economic shutdown. We will need substantial financial relief to address our health needs and avoid deep budget cuts affecting children and families.

Things are moving rapidly in Washington as Congress continues to negotiate a COVID-19 economic stimulus package.

Now is the time to let key members of Congress know we need a comprehensive stimulus package to help regular Arizonans struggling to make ends meet.

Call Senator McSally now and let her know Congress must act to:

• Boost the federal match to Medicaid/AHCCCS to help us through the health crisis AND stimulate our state economy.
• Expand access to the Unemployment Insurance system so that more workers who lose their jobs qualify.
• Provide fiscal relief to the states to help fend off a state budget shortfall, which could lead to big cuts to public education funding and other critical needs like the more than $1 billion shortfall that happened during the Great Recession.
• Support Arizona families by helping to keep food on their tables with additional food assistance through SNAP (formerly food stamps).

The measures recommended here are proven to be most effective in reducing poverty and stimulating the economy during a recession.

These are extraordinary times that call on everyone to work collectively to ensure we all get through this together. Please, make a plan to call Senator McSally TODAY.

Children’s Action Alliance applauds Governor Ducey and legislative leaders for listening to constituents and stakeholders by pulling the harmful “sanctuary city” bills last week.

Today, nearly one in seven Arizonans were born outside the United States, and one in four children are growing up with at least one immigrant parent1. Immigrants make up a vital, educated, and skilled share of Arizona’s economy with more than 16 percent as business owners2.

As workers, business owners, taxpayers, homeowners, and neighbors, immigrants are integral to Arizona’s diverse communities and make contributions that benefit us all. We believe that families and communities across our state are strongest when everyone has an opportunity to participate in the economy.

Therefore, the legislature should be committed to policy solutions that remove barriers to opportunities for all Arizonans including:

• Joining the twenty-one states and D.C. that have adopted inclusive “tuition equity” laws and policies enabling all students to have access to higher education by allowing all Arizona high school students; regardless of immigration status, to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and universities.
• Expanding access to health coverage to all children regardless of immigration status, can lead to better long-term health outcomes, greater high school and college completion, and long-term economic benefits for the child and local communities.
• Allowing immigrants who are undocumented to obtain driver’s licenses. This will help immigrants have better access to jobs and improve public safety.

Sources: (1)U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2018 1-year estimates. (2)Fiscal Policy Institute analysis of U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2015 4-year estimates, IPUMS and 1-year estimates. 

We are just a few days away from the start of the legislative session and CAA has a full list of priorities we are working on. Here are just few:

• Raise the academic performance of English Learners by repealing failed English-only laws and giving districts the flexibility to adopt evidence-based dual language instruction.
• Provide safe, quality child care options for working parents of young children by increasing child care subsidy reimbursement rates.
• Advocate for more financial assistance and program support for grandparents raising grandchildren and other kinship caregivers so they can provide for the children in their care.

You can find out more about our legislative agenda by clicking here. We will update you as the legislative session goes on!

If you didn't see Tuesday’s episode of Arizona Horizon, I had an opportunity to provide a sneak peek of our legislative wish list.