In its December 21 budget bill (SB 2101), the legislature decided to reject most of the Governor’s recent proposals for Fiscal Year 2010 that negatively affected Connecticut’s early care and education community. (However, as of this brief was written, it was not clear whether or not the Governor would veto SB 2101. It is also unclear whether the legislature plans to make further cuts.)
In the General Assembly’s bill, cuts to State-funded Centers were limited to a $530,870 gubernatorial rescission made on November 24. Funding was restored to Community Plans for Early Childhood and Improving Early Literacy. No cuts were made to funding for the Office of Early Childhood Planning, Outreach, and Coordination, and cuts to the Children’s Trust Fund were limited to a $571,173 gubernatorial rescission made on November 24. The Connecticut Commission on Children, which the Governor proposed eliminating, was maintained. The “forced lapse” of $10.7 million from Care4Kids will probably remain in effect. The legislature approved a reduction of $3,500,000 to CHEFA Day Care Security.
