Policy

Current Policy Efforts:

Read: ECPAC’s Policy Agenda

Lea: Agenda de políticas

ECPAC is actively involved in Colorado’s Early Childhood Policy collaborative, keeping an eye on local and national efforts to best support young children and families.

ECPAC completed two deep dives into policies to improve equitable access to high quality services and supports for families and young children in January 2019. ECPAC continues to work on the recommendations from these reports and is making progress.

• Letter from the ECPAC Board Policy 2019
• ECPAC Affordability and Accessibility of Quality ECE Programs in Adams County – Final Report – 2019
• ECPAC EC and Family Policy Report.2019

2024 Legislative Session

Colorado’s 2024 Legislative Session runs from January 10 – May 8, 2024.  ECPAC greatly appreciates all legislators’ dedication and public service!  While ECPAC does not automatically support the same legislative priorities as the Colorado Children’s Campaign, we do follow their work closely to best stay informed.  Their website offers a wealth of information on how to best advocate, what policies are impacting young children and families, data and research that is prudent, and upcoming events to support policy efforts: http://www.coloradokids.org/; Colorado Children’s Campaign 2024 Legislative Priorities.

For the 2024 Legislative Session – HERE are some of the priorities related to early childhood and families.  ECPAC will be following and taking action on as needed. Furthermore, ECPAC is monitoring other pieces of legislation not listed and will add those which are supported or opposed when the Board take official action.

• HERE is the Governor’s proposed budget

ECPAC officially supports the following:

Policies related to Early Care and Education:

• SB24-002: Local Government Property Tax Credits Rebates
  • Passed
• HB24-1009: Bilingual Child Care Licensing Resources
  • Passed
• HB24-1223: Improved Access to the Child Care Assistance Program  ~ Fact Sheet   Español
  • Passed with amendments to remove eligibility for EC professionals; Application simplification, increased eligibility expansion for folks in substance use treatment, CACFP study, pilot program on provider initiated CCCAP qualified exempt registration, and other pieces of the bill were still included
• HB24-1237: Programs for the Development of Child Care Facilities – Fact Sheet
  • Passed with amendments to reduce fiscal note -starting with $250K, annual recurring allocation. Did create all 3 programs in 1237 in statute. Implementation rules for the capital program will be delayed until that program is funded. Also added an amendment that allows the capital program to receive gifts, grants, donations.
• HB24-1312: State Income Tax Credit for Care workers ~ Fact Sheet  Español
  • Passed with the following changes: Final bill includes a $1200 credit for eligible workers and sunsets in 4 years (instead of 5). It also includes a verification process for eligible home health workers through HCPF that reduces the need for FTE at the Dept of Revenue to audit the credit. Eligible taxpayers can receive the credit in 2026-2029 for work completed in tax years 2025-2028.

Policies related to Family Supports and Basic Needs:

• HB24-1027: Exemption for Children’s Products
  • Did not pass
• HB24-1055: Child Passenger Safety & Education
  • Passed with amendments putting new guidelines in place and removing the education distribution program
• HB24-1134: Adjustments to Tax Expenditures to Reduce Burden
  • Passed
• HB24-1297: Baby Bonds Study – Fact Sheet
  • Did not make it through the process.
• HB21-1311: Family Affordability Tax Credit –  Fact Sheet    Summary
  • Passed

Policies related to Health/Mental Health:

• SB24-001: Continue Youth Mental Health Services Program
  • Passed
• SB24-175: Improving Perinatal Health Outcomes
  • Passed

ECPAC officially opposes the following:

• No opposition thus far

Other policy efforts:

ECPAC is engaged in efforts to support the implementation planning for the following:

• Cover All Coloradans (HB22-1289 Health Benefits for Children and Pregnant Persons)
• Coverage for Doulas (SB23-288)
• Continuation of the Child Care Tax Credit (HB23-1091)

Federal Policy Efforts:

This year ECPAC has continued to advocate for federal funding to support child care and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) expansion.

Some of Adams County Elected Officials:

Senators (Congressional)

Sen. Michael Bennet [D] and Sen. John Hickenlooper [D]

Representative (Congressional)

Senators (State)

Representatives (State)

In Adams County there are five members of the Board of County Commissioners. For more information about contacting a Commissioner please visit: http://www.co.adams.co.us/bocc

Board members are:

• Eva J. Henry
• Steve O’Dorisio
• Charles “Chaz” Tedesco
• Lynn Baca
• Emma Pinter

For more information about other elected officials in Adams County see HERE.