Financing Child Care in the United States - Ewing Marion Kauffman ...

• The Florida Children’s Forum and the Child Care Action
Campaign held a child care symposium for employers
and policy–makers. The Child Care Partnership
matching–grants proposal was presented to the group
and received favorably.
• A federally funded child care research partnership
examined the employment patterns for families that
receive child care subsidies and was able to identify, in
several regions of the state, the specific industries in
which workers receiving child care subsidies were likely
to be employed. This put a human face on the data and
helped legislators to understand who, specifically,
would be affected by the legislation.
• There was bipartisan support for the act, which was
included as part of the welfare reform legislation
developed by a Republican member of the legislature.
Additionally, a number of business leaders offered
strong support for the legislation. The Executive
Partnership also has promoted “An Hour a Week for
Kids.” Through this effort members of Florida’s lobbying
corps donate one hour per week to advocate for
several critical child care issues that will improve
Florida’s education and economy.
OTHER SITES WITH SIMILAR STRATEGIES
No other examples of this strategy are known.
CONTACT
Phyllis Kalifeh, President
Florida Children’s Forum
2807 Remington Green Circle
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone (850) 681 7002
Fax (850) 681 9816
Web
www.fcforum.org
TEMPORARY DISABILITY
INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR
MATERNITY LEAVE (NEW JERSEY)
DESCRIPTION
New Jersey’s Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI)
program has three components: the state plan, private
plans and disability during unemployment. The state plan
levies a tax on employers and employees of 0.5 percent
of the first $21,200 of wages. Benefits are equal to
two–thirds of a worker’s weekly wages, up to a maximum
of $401 per week, for up to 26 weeks. Employers are
permitted, however, to provide disability insurance
coverage to employees through private plans approved by
the state. These plans must provide coverage that meets
or exceeds state plan benefits with respect to
compensation, eligibility requirements and payment
duration. The state plan and private plans extend
coverage to disabilities that begin within 14 days after
the last day of employment. After the 14th day, disabled
workers are covered under the disability insurance during
the unemployment program. This separate program is
administered as part of the unemployment compensation
system.
WHEN ESTABLISHED
The New Jersey TDI program began in 1949, when $50
million was transferred from the Unemployment Insurance
Trust Fund. Initially, coverage was given for all disabling
conditions except pregnancy, which was added as a
condition in 1961. The law was further amended in 1979
to comply with the federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act.
ANNUAL AMOUNT
Employees with an annual income of at least $21,200
pay $106 per year for TDI. The potential benefit, per
employee per year, is $10,426 for 26 weeks—but
pregnancy–related claims do not typically reach this
maximum. Data for 1998 indicate that the average
duration of pregnancy–related claims was approximately
81 days. (The average duration for all other benefits is
approximately 82 days.) Pregnancy currently accounts for
approximately one–sixth of all benefits.
SERVICES FUNDED
TDI benefits are limited to a non–occupational illness or
disability, including pregnancy, and are based on weekly
salary.
HOW FUNDS DISTRIBUTED
The state plan, and the disability during unemployment
program, are directly administered by the Division of
Unemployment and Disability Insurance. This agency is
responsible for determining claimant eligibility and paying
benefits. Private plans are administered by private
insurance companies or through self–insurance.
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