Arkansas teams type coalition to push broad socio-economic legislative bundle

The Arkansas Advocates for Youngsters and Households, the City League of the State of Arkansas, and the Arkansas Training Affiliation are amongst 15 teams forming the Arkansas Coalition for Robust Households to push a legislative platform within the 2023 Arkansas Normal Meeting.

Based on a press release from Arkansas Advocates for Youngsters and Households, the brand new coalition “envisions an Arkansas the place everybody, regardless of their age, background, race, gender, incapacity, or standing, has the chance to reside significant, fulfilling lives in robust, thriving communities. It’s comprised of organizations throughout the state engaged on psychological well being care, training, incapacity rights, racial fairness, household financial well-being, and extra.”

Different members of the coalition are AAUW Arkansas, Arkansas Affiliation for Toddler Psychological Well being, Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese, Arkansas Group Organizations, Arkansas Public Coverage Panel, Arkansas Help Community, Arkansas Waiver Affiliation, Residents First Congress, Incapacity Rights Arkansas, Hispanic Ladies’s Group of Arkansas, Marshallese Training Affiliation, and Rural Group Alliance.

“For the previous 10 years, our state funds has been shrinking, and outcomes for teenagers have gotten worse,” mentioned Syard Evans, co-chair of the Arkansas Coalition for Robust Households. “This isn’t a coincidence. We must be investing in housing, baby care, diet and well being care.”

Following are the priorities the group plans to push within the upcoming legislative session.
• Set up 12-Month eligibility for youngsters with ARKids A
• Lengthen Medicaid postpartum protection to 12 months
• Enhance entry to interval merchandise in faculties by amending Act 933 of 2021
• Remove the gross sales tax on interval merchandise
• Elevate or get rid of the state SNAP asset restrict
• Create a state Earned Revenue Tax Credit score (EITC)
• Create eviction diversion applications
• Set up Supported Choice Making and Alternate options to Guardianship
• Enable on-line voter registration
• Remove youth charges and fines
• Spend money on Direct Help Skilled Workforce Stabilization and Growth
• Enhance funding for the state’s Arkansas Higher Likelihood pre-school program to permit extra kids to enroll

“The previous two years have made clear the significance of group investments and public companies,” mentioned Candace Williams, co-chair of the Arkansas Coalition for Robust Households. “Now could be the time for the state to do its half and construct an economic system that works for on a regular basis Arkansans.”