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JFAC funds $14M child-care initiative, finalizes reorganization moves and removes EES from Early Learning budget
Summary
The committee approved a $14 million governor initiative for the Idaho Child Care Program, completed a reorganization that moved extended employment services out of Early Learning into Medicaid, and finalized related maintenance adjustments.
On March 14 the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved a governors initiative to provide $14,000,000 (one-time) for the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP), completed program reorganization actions and removed extended employment services (EES) funding from the Early Learning and Development budget as part of the department-wide realignment.
Alex Williamson, an analyst with Legislative Services, outlined the reorganization: the renamed Early Learning and Development division absorbed funds moved from other divisions, including the Idaho Child Care Program; extended employment services (EES) will move from Developmental Disabilities Services to the Division of Medicaid and is captured as a net-zero department-wide adjustment across the maintenance bills.
The committee motion began with program maintenance and added the governors ICCP initiative, population forecast adjustments, and related technical items. The motion removed 3 FTE and approximately $3.5 million from Early Learning while adding $14,000,001 one-time for the ICCP initiative and additional federal funds, yielding a department-level net zero when EES is added in the Medicaid budget later. The motion passed on a combined committee vote of 18 ayes and 2 nays.
Committee members discussed the governors $15 million proposal and reduced it in committee to $14 million after asking for clearer project requirements and procurement readiness. Senator Cook described the committees preference for documented requirements and competitive responses before awarding technology or software dollars.
The committee also adopted intent language and conditions tied to the $14,000,000 ICCP appropriation and confirmed the EES transfer will be completed as a two-part budget move (this action removes the appropriation from Early Learning and the corresponding insertion will occur when the Division of Medicaid is considered). Analysts said the department-wide net fiscal impact of the EES move is neutral.
