Call To Action!
INCREASED CHILD CARE LICENSING FEES WOULD HAVE A DRAMATIC AFFECT ON UCP’S EARLY LEARNING CENTER AND THERAPY DEPARTMENT
The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) has released a draft proposed increase in licensing fees for child care facilities. This proposed increase, once implemented, would have an extremely negative affect on UCP’s Early Learning Center and Therapy Program, as well as numerous other child care facilities throughout the state. Specifically, our Early Learning Center licensing fees would increase from $150 to $4,578 per a three year period. Our Therapy Program licensing fees would increase from $50 to $365 per year.
The new fees were passed by the legislature in a special session with little opportunity for public input and were signed into law on September 4th by Governor Brewer. UCP, as well as other child care providers oppose the new proposed fees, the process by which they were established, and the quick implementation of the new fees, which are proposed to be implemented on January 1st. The new fees will negatively affect the financial ability for some child care providers to continue providing services to families throughout the State. For many providers the fees will be passed on to parents and consumers.
I am asking for your support in requesting that the Governor and legislature immediately reconsider these fees and begin a discussion with providers throughout the State to find a solution that is feasible to child care facilities, as well as the families that we serve.
Please contact Governor Brewer and your legislators at the following links, and urge them to reconsider the implementation of these child care licensing fee increases and begin discussions with child care providers and the families that these fees will directly affect.
Links:
Will Humble, Interim Director: piowebmaster@azdhs.gov
Governor Jan Brewer: http://www.azgovernor.gov/Contact.asp
Find Your Legislator: http://www.azleg.gov/alisStaticPages/HowToContactMember.asp
Sincerely,
Dan Rossi
Executive Director
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