2021 State of the State Address

On Tuesday evening, Governor Holcomb delivered his 2021 State of the State Address. Here are a few takeaways:

• After last year's launch of the "My-Healthy-Baby" program, Indiana's infant mortality rate now stands at the lowest it's ever been in recorded state history.
• The total number of Department of Child Services cases has decreased by over 30%.
• The Governor's budget includes a proposed $377 million to increase school budgets.
• $61 million has been distributed to K-12 schools and higher education institutions to improve remote learning during the pandemic and Governor Holcomb hopes to expand broadband access through his Next Level Broadband program.
• Gov. Holcomb has asked the legislature again to make Indiana the 31st state to pass a pregnancy accommodations bill.

TANF Eligibility

Senate Bill 233, TANF Eligibility, is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Family and Children Services Committee on Monday. 

Currently, the eligibility levels for TANF, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, have not  increased since 1988. Because this level has not accounted for inflation over the past three decades, a family would have to make almost 90 percent less than current federal poverty guidelines to be eligible for the benefit. Even then, they’d receive just $288 in assistance each month. MCCOY supports S233 because if passed, it would adjust the eligibility requirements based on current cost of living adjustments and would increase certain payments through the program.

Do you support this bill too? Let Committee Chairman, Senator Ron Grooms know!  

Racial Justice and Accessibility Fellowship 

Looking to get more involved? Count US Indiana and Humanity in Action's Racial Equity Team are launching a new Racial Justice and Accessibility fellowship program. Fellows will work on civic engagement and voter participation around legislative advocacy, community service, mutual aid, and voting issues across Indiana. 

Qualifying candidates must identify as one/some/all of the following:

• Indiana local
• Identify as Black
• Live with a disability/is part of the disabled or deaf community
• Impacted by incarceration

The fellowship starts in February and requires a commitment of 10 hours a week. Fellows will receive $16 an hour. Applications are due on January 31, 2021.