123rd MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 2311		LR 3623(01)
	An Act To Invest in Maine's Young Children
	Fiscal Note for Original Bill
	Committee: Health and Human Services
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Legislative Cost/Study
			2007-08	2008-09	Projections 2009-10	Projections 2010-11
Net Cost (Savings)
	Fund for a Healthy Maine		$0	$449,500	$414,500	$414,500
Appropriations/Allocations
	Fund for a Healthy Maine		$0	$449,500	$414,500	$414,500
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$0	$3,020	$3,020	$3,020
Legislative Cost/Study
	This legislation includes an annual Other Special Revenue Funds allocation to the Legislature of $2,520 beginning in fiscal year 2008-09 for the per diem and expenses of legislators in the event grant funding or other funds are received to support the Maine Children's Growth Concil.
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill includes total ongoing Fund for a Healthy Maine allocations of $210,000 per year beginning in fiscal year 2008-09 to the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME).  Of that amount, $200,000 is allocated to the Quality Child Care Education and Scholarship Program within FAME to increase the amount of funding available for scholarships.  An additional $10,000 per year is allocated to a Public Education Campaign Program within FAME to increase the awareness of loans available for improvements to the physical site of child care facilities granted under the Regional Economic Development Revolving Loan Program.
	The bill also includes Fund for a Healthy Maine allocations in 2008-09 for the newly created Office of the Child Advocate including: $115,000 to provide ongoing, coordinated and systemic advocacy on behalf of young children from birth though 5 years of age; $70,000 for the one-time costs of a comprehensive statewide needs assessment of the early childhood system; and $30,000 to purchase economic analysis services for research projects.  Also provides a base allocation of $500 in the event that funds are received to fund the work of the newly created Maine Children's Growth Council.
	Additional costs to the Financial Authority of Maine associated with reducing the interest rate in the Regional Economic Development Revolving Loan Program and with simplifying the loan application can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
	Additional costs associated with serving on the Maine Children's Growth Council can be absorbed by the Attorney General, the Department of Education and the Maine Economic Growth Council utilizing existing budgeted resources.