Alliance for Children's Care, Education, and Supporting Services -- A.C.C.E.S.S.

Home

How You Can Get Involved!

Maine State Public Policy

State of Maine Policies

Federal Public Policy

Upcoming Events

Press Coverage

Research and Data

Job Postings

"Our Stories"

A.C.C.E.S.S. Blog Page

Links

Building Partnerships to Strengthen Maine Families

A.C.C.E.S.S. and "Public Policy"
One of the basic ideals that form the basis of  A.C.C.E.S.S. is that it is of the utmost importance that the child care provider voice be heard by those who are making decisions that effect our work and the well being of those we care for. 

PLEASE CHECK IN FREQUENTLY, AND WE'LL BE BRINGING YOU UPDATES ON WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE POLICY FRONT ON BOTH THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS.

In response to feedback from our Community, to make this web site more effective, we now have two separate pages on public policy, this one which reflects what's going on in the State of Maine, and a Federal Public Policy page which reflects the work we are monitoring on the Federal Level.
 
To read the testimony provided by Ned McCann of the Maine Children's Alliance in support of replacing the State of Maine Funding for programs serving children and families in Maine, please click on the icon to the right.

Document
Maine Children's Alliance Testimony on State Funding, March 2013
 

We are tracking a number of Bills that are being considered by the Maine State Legislature which will impact on Children, Families and Child Care Providers in Maine.  We have posted copies of some of this proposed legislation for you to review below. 

If you continue to scroll down the page, you will find the schedule for the "Public Hearings" for each of these pieces of legislation.
 
To Download a copy of LD 1383, Representative Seth Berry's proposed legislation to improve the delivery of child care, Head Start and Family Visiting in Maine, please click on the icon to the right.

Document
LD 1383, An Act to Improve the Delivery of Early Child Care and Education Services
To Download a copy of LD 517, Senator Tuttle's proposed legislation to restore funding for Head Start in Maine, please click on the icon to the right.

Document
LD 517, An Act to Restore Funding for Head Start
To Download a copy of LD 752, Representative Kumiega's proposed legislation to restore the RDC System in Maine, please click on the icon to the right.

Document
LD 752, An Act to Restore the Resource Development Centers to Full Operations
To Download a copy of LD 803, Representative Moonen's proposed legislation to allow for cloth diapers in child care programs in Maine, please click on the icon to the right.

Document
LD 803, An Act Regarding Certain Aspects of Infant Care in Child Care Facilities
To Download a copy of LD 1383, Representative Gattine's proposed legislation to protect families using a state child care subsidy, please click on the icon to the right.

Document
LD 828, An Act to Improve the Administration of the Child Care Subsidy Program and to Prevent Erroneous Termination of Child Care Services
 

PUBLIC HEARING:   Tuesday, April 23, 2013, 1:00 PM, Cross Building, Room 209

 (L.D. 517)            Bill "An Act To Restore Funding for Head Start" (SP0207) (Presented by Senator TUTTLE of York) (Cosponsored by Representative FREDETTE of Newport, Senator CAIN of Penobscot, Senator VALENTINO of York, Senator BOYLE of Cumberland, Senator CRAVEN of Androscoggin, Senator DUTREMBLE of York, Senator MILLETT of Cumberland, Representative GRANT of Gardiner, Representative MASTRACCIO of Sanford)

 (L.D. 1383)          Bill "An Act To Improve the Delivery of Early Child Care and Education Services" (HP0982) (Presented by Representative BERRY of Bowdoinham) (Cosponsored by Senator CRAVEN of Androscoggin, Senator LANGLEY of Hancock, Representative POULIOT of Augusta, Representative MCELWEE of Caribou, Representative ROTUNDO of Lewiston, Representative STUCKEY of Portland, Representative SANBORN of Gorham, Representative FARNSWORTH of Portland, Representative CASSIDY of Lubec)

 

PUBLIC HEARING:  Friday, April 26, 2013, 9:00 AM, Cross Building, Room 209

 (L.D. 752)            Bill "An Act To Restore the Resource Development Centers to Full Operation" (HP0503) (Presented by Representative KUMIEGA of Deer Isle) (Cosponsored by Senator CRAVEN of Androscoggin, Representative STUCKEY of Portland, Representative HARLOW of Portland, Representative CASSIDY of Lubec, Representative BOLAND of Sanford)

 (L.D. 803)            Bill "An Act Regarding Certain Aspects of Infant Care in Child Care Facilities" (HP0554) (Presented by Representative MOONEN of Portland) (Cosponsored by President ALFOND of Cumberland, Representative FARNSWORTH of Portland, Representative DORNEY of Norridgewock, Representative NOON of Sanford, Representative MCGOWAN of York)

 (L.D. 828)            Bill "An Act To Improve the Administration of the Child Care Subsidy Program and To Prevent Erroneous Termination of Child Care Services" (HP0579) (Presented by Representative GATTINE of Westbrook) (Cosponsored by Representative GRAHAM of North Yarmouth, Representative FARNSWORTH of Portland, Representative CASSIDY of Lubec)

 
 
If you would like to contact members of the Maine Legislature's Education, Health and Human Services, and/or Appropriations Committees (and/or the Legislative Leadership) you can download a list of these individuals along with links to their contact information by clicking on the icon to the left.)

Document
Key Committees of the Maine Legisature and Contact Info.
 
Maine State Legislature -- Contact Information

One way we try to empower childcare providers and parents is to give them the tools to communicate with key Public Policy Makers.   It is our philosophy that the state and federal governments should work for us.  Towards that end, we want you to be able to stay in contact with your elected representatives in Augusta.  If you don’t know who your State Senator or State Representatives are (and everyone in Maine has one of both) you can find out who are your folks and how to contract them by going to this web page: http://www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/lookup_voter_info
 

If you want more help in identifying or communicating with your state representatives, please feel free to contact us at info@mainechildcare.org, anytime.
 

In response to a couple of requests to clarify  the whole budget and legislative process in Maine, we’ve put together this simple handout on the Legislative Process in Maine.  To download a copy, please click on the icon to the right.

 


Document
Legislative Process in Maine
 
Please feel free to contact us at any time by e-mailing to info@mainechildcare.org.