May 2022 Monthly Update
Dear Friends and Partners,
May has been an exciting month for the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children, with many big wins to celebrate!
We celebrated GiveNOLA Day early this month and with your help and the help of a matching donor we were able to raise $40,789!
Our biggest news is about the state budget. On May 19th, the Senate passed the budget bills, including a total of $84 million dollars for early care and education. We are so pleased with the success our partners, coalition members, and organizations have been able to achieve. We couldn’t have done any of this without you and your passion! To go from no new funding in 2020, to no new funding and a portion of sports betting allocation in 2021, to $84 million in 2022 is a tremendous achievement. We are so proud of what this money will be able to do for young children and their families! Please take the time to click here and send a thank you note to our legislators for their support of early care and education in the state budget.
We are also pleased to report that SB 47 (Sen. Fields), which seeks to expand access to high-quality early care and education for more children in a pre-kindergarten setting, passed the Legislature and is on its way to the Governor’s desk for signature! We were concerned with the initial draft of this legislation but were able to work with the sponsor and other stakeholders to craft a compromise that achieved Sen. Fields’ goals while minimizing unintended consequences to the child care industry. We are so pleased it has passed and grateful for all the partnership involved in helping to craft the necessary amendments!
Finally, Rep. Ken Brass’ bill HB 460’s is still awaiting a Senate floor vote. This bill would allow local governments to invest more in juvenile justice prevention efforts, including through early care and education investments. Please contact your Senator today and urge them to support HB 460 by Rep. Ken Brass.
Thank you for advocating on behalf of young children and working families in Louisiana!