Video & Transcript Research : 'qualifying facility'
Page 106 of 500
UT
Utah 2025 Regular Session
Transportation Interim Committee - November 20, 2025
Transportation Interim Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Are you asking that only certain shops are qualified to do it?
- Anybody that's a certified mechanic can qualify to be able to do those safety inspections.
- And then we also added in that if it's less than $40, you wouldn't qualify to apply for it.
- You wouldn't qualify to apply for it.
- Stauffer's Road Solutions or any qualified operator on that list responds with the necessary...
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Military and Veterans Affairs Aug 13th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- The New Mexico State Veterans Home is a long-term skilled nursing facility.
- Our facility overview: our annex building holds five units, 59 beds.
- We just are having a wound doctor come to the facility once a week.
- the location of the facility and workforce, right?
- It’s a DoDEA school, but they were getting MilCon money or a type of facility money.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Economic Development & Workforce Investment (2-26-26)
Economic Development & Workforce Investment
Transcript Highlights:
- Like, if we're going to bring on a 500 megawatt facility, we want to be able to point to where we can
- Like, if we're going to bring on a 500 megawatt facility, we want to be able to point to where we can
- all local requirements have been met, so there's your local control component, then nothing shall qualify
- control component, then<00:19:19.760>
nothing <00:19:20.080>shall <00:19:20.400>qualify - Um and then then nothing shall qualify.
Keywords:
Meeting Start: 00:00
Roll Call: 00:38
HB 576 discussion: 01:56
HB 576 voting: 06:54
HB 593 discussion: 08:25
HB 593 voting: 21:58, 958, all
Summary:
The House Standing Committee on Economic Development and Workforce Investment met with a quorum and first considered House Bill 576, which would create the Kentucky Talent Recruitment Grant Program. Representative Robert Duvall said the bill is intended to address Kentucky’s workforce shortage by funding local recruitment efforts for out-of-state talent, with grants of up to $500,000 to cities, counties, and nonprofits, a required 20% local match, and performance-based payments. He said the program is modeled on existing efforts already operating in Kentucky and cited projected economic and tax benefits. The committee substitute removed an appropriation and emergency clause so funding would go through the regular budget process, and members approved the committee substitute, the bill, and a title amendment with favorable expression.
The committee then took up House Bill 593, sponsored by Representative Josh Bray, which addresses data centers and utility costs. Bray said the bill is designed to protect ratepayers from subsidizing data center infrastructure and to ensure projects either bring their own generation, use power purchase agreements, or pay upfront for any needed transmission or generation upgrades. He explained that the committee substitute made mostly technical changes, including giving municipal utilities more time to set tariffs, clarifying terms, adding exemptions for certain TVA- and DOE-related projects, and preserving existing contracts and net metering arrangements. Members asked about local control, the $75,000 prepayment, and TVA authority; Bray said the prepayment covers utility due diligence and screens speculative projects, local requirements must be certified before incentives apply, and TVA is federally regulated. The bill received supportive comments from several members, who emphasized protecting utility bills and ratepayers, and it passed the committee with favorable expression.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Environment and Natural Resources Feb 4th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- That's a qualifying for the VITA program or vessels that are at risk of it becoming derelict, but not
- We do have mechanisms, though, that if it is something that is hazard that qualifies for rapid removal
- absolutely in. >> Monroe County is one of those ones that where they do enough for me was that they would qualify
- house where their house where the the who pays for the the maintenance and keeping that in a storage facility
- got a new power lines sometimes and there's limited places on the water to store or waterfront facilities
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Families and Children (11-12-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- We have the qualified workforce here in Kentucky.
- So, you did state that we do have qualified workforce to meet the needs of this.
- we do have qualified we do have<01:09:31.359>
a <01:09:31.440>qualified <01:09:31.839>< - uh the facility the organization that I uh the facility the organization that I ran<01:18:37.760>
- So to qualify for free and program.
Summary:
The committee approved the October 22, 2025 minutes and then heard a presentation from the Child Fatality and Near Fatality External Review Panel on accidental ingestion of illegal drug products by children. Panel members said pediatric ingestions have become the most common case type they review, with the highest-risk children ages one to four, and that fatal cases have increased in recent years. They reported that the substances most often involved are fentanyl, cannabinoids including THC products, methamphetamine, and increasingly xylazine; they also noted a decline in buprenorphine-related ingestions, which they viewed as a positive trend.
The panel used several case examples to highlight recurring problems in investigations and medical response, including delayed DCBS involvement, failure to administer Narcan, inadequate drug testing, lack of child abuse team involvement, and limited or absent law enforcement investigation. They said law enforcement issues are especially common in pediatric ingestion cases and are concentrated in Jefferson County and the Bluegrass/KIPA regions. One example involved a one-year-old who died from fentanyl and Benadryl intoxication; another involved a two-year-old who died after ingesting multiple substances; and a third involved a four-year-old with near-fatal THC gummy ingestion where delayed treatment worsened the child’s condition. They also described a 10-month-old THC ingestion case that resulted in a criminal abuse conviction, which they presented as an example without missed investigative opportunities.
Committee members discussed possible policy responses, including creating a more specific criminal child abuse offense or clarifying existing abuse and neglect definitions to cover unsafe access to illegal drugs, while preserving room for true accidents and prescribed medications. Members also raised the need for statewide standardization in reporting, investigation, and medical response, and suggested the panel should be able to call in agencies such as law enforcement, DCBS, judges, and hospitals for closed-session review of selected cases. The panel chair said they were already pursuing meetings with LMPD and would provide Jefferson County-specific breakdowns, and members expressed interest in additional data and agency follow-up before considering legislation.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs (03/24/2026)
Election Law and Municipal Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- And this new general lease section covers installed equipment as well as facility improvements.
- as well as facility improvements. as well as facility improvements.
- And for these in their facilities.
- Section 8 establishes a process for approving lease agreements that do not qualify under section 7.
- So, how would a qualify under section 7.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- rental and facility engagement? rental and facility engagement?
- We are different type of facilities.
- Those are the only two facilities in the Army Guard that we have short-term, like, barracks facilities
- . qualified. qualified.
- back into the facilities. That's it. back into the facilities. That's it.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- But in order for it to pencil out and be a net-zero facility, the town of Lexington, the town of Lexington
- , ...pencil out and be a net-zero facility, the town of Lexington, and by the way, Mark Sandine is the
- .is here, is that you've got, well, let me tell you just how, I've got a spreadsheet here of APS-qualified
- is here, is that you've got, well, let me tell you just how, I've got a spreadsheet here of APS-qualified
- This project also has created 1,500 highly qualified union jobs.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy held a hearing on grid transmission and distribution, green financing, environmental justice, renewable portfolio standards, and clean energy workforce policy. Testimony on H. 352/S. 2268 focused on eliminating or scaling back the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard, with Green Energy Consumers Alliance arguing it costs ratepayers about $30 million annually and largely subsidizes fossil-fuel combined heat and power, biodiesel blending, and woody biomass. Committee members raised concerns that a full repeal could affect heat pumps and solar thermal projects that currently receive APS credits, and the witness acknowledged those technologies are the strongest part of the program but said Mass Save would be a better home for them.
Renew Northeast supported H. 3497 on renewable portfolio standard review and clean energy procurements, but urged an indexed renewable energy credit model like New York’s rather than an attribute-only arrangement, arguing it would reduce financing risk and consumer costs. Vote Solar and Senator Liz Miranda testified in support of H. 3540/S. 2303 on clean energy equity, saying environmental justice communities and renters receive too few benefits from clean energy spending and need stronger tracking, tenant protections, and measurable benefit allocation. Miranda described long-standing environmental harms in Roxbury and called for data and accountability to ensure benefits reach environmental justice communities.
A major portion of the hearing was devoted to H. 3475/S. 2276 on just transition and clean energy workforce standards. Labor representatives from the pile drivers, building trades, electrical contractors, SEIU, United Steelworkers, the AFL-CIO, and Climate Jobs Massachusetts Action backed the bill, emphasizing prevailing wage, project labor agreements, apprenticeship requirements, workforce transition plans, and protections for gas workers and other fossil-fuel employees as the state shifts to clean energy. They argued the bill would create family-sustaining jobs, support training, and prevent workers from being left behind during the transition. The hearing concluded after all sign-ups were heard, and the committee voted to close the hearing.
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama House Ways and Means Education Committee Apr 22nd, 2025
Ways and Means Education
Transcript Highlights:
- We added $90,000 to do facility wiring at a high school. We added $150,000 for the... school.
- We added $100,000 to the facility grant program under the... grant program under the arts.
- $80 million from the reserve fund to the Choose Fund. to the Choose Fund so they can fill out the qualified
- know how much money they had to spend on May 1st, they were going to have to tell people we can't qualify
- There are 1,500 schools in the state right now, and 1,200 of those will qualify for that hard-to-staff
Keywords:
education funding, appropriations, local education boards, school safety, workforce development, Alabama, technology, higher education, career technology centers, public institutions, grants, local education agencies, RAISE Act, student outcomes, public schools, accountability, weighted allocations, special education, English language learners, gifted students
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate - Health and Public Affairs Jan 26th, 2026 at 01:45 pm
Senate Health & Public Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Our third point is no new facilities. Facilities are costly; they're problematic.
- We don't want the opening of old facilities.
- We don't want y'all to reopen juvenile correctional facilities.
- So 65 years ago was the last time we built a medical facility.
- —who will also work in this new facility to do their research.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Labor and Employment Committee Jun 10th, 2026
Labor and Employment
Transcript Highlights:
- Pharmaceutical facilities are among the most technically complex construction environments in the modern
- Opponents also argue that these facilities are highly regulated by the FDA. We agree.
- If qualified workers are unavailable after requests through the hiring halls after 48 hours, If qualified
- There have been no refinery-style disasters, no chemical safety... facility construction.
- for the life of the facility.
Summary:
The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee heard several bills focused on worker protections, enforcement, and technology in the workplace. SB 909 would strengthen enforcement of public works prevailing wage laws by raising contractor registration fees and penalties and directing part of penalty revenue back to enforcement; labor groups supported it as a way to deter wage theft, while contractor groups opposed the fee and penalty increases as burdensome and potentially costly for public projects. The committee members generally expressed support for stronger enforcement but also concern about the state’s backlog and capacity to enforce the law. SB 909 passed on a due pass vote and was re-referred to Appropriations.
The committee also considered multiple bills addressing AI and workplace rights. SB 951 would require 60-day notice when technology displaces 25 or more workers and would require reporting on AI-related job impacts; labor and education groups supported it, while business, public sector, and industry groups argued it was premature and overbroad. SB 947 would require human review of automated discipline, termination, or deactivation decisions and prohibit predictive behavior analysis; supporters said it would prevent algorithmic abuse, while opponents raised concerns about independent contractors, private rights of action, and forum shopping. Both bills advanced on party-line style votes to the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection.
The committee also approved SB 1149, which would expand bereavement leave to cover a “designated person” equivalent to family, with emotional testimony from a witness describing the loss of a long-term partner. Supporters said the bill reflects modern family structures, especially for LGBTQ and older Californians; there was no opposition. SB 1185, applying skilled-and-trained workforce standards to pharmaceutical facility construction, also passed despite opposition from contractors and business groups who said there was no demonstrated safety problem and warned of higher costs and fewer bidders. In addition, the committee approved consent-calendar bills SB 1316, SB 1046, and SB 1059, and left rolls open for absent members before adjourning.
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Regulated Industries Jan 20th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- It's a privately funded industrial computing facility that's fully behind the meter.
- It's a privately funded industrial computing facility that's fully behind the meter.
- Grid-dependent, hyperscale facilities and energy-independent behind-the-meter projects like ours.
- that we think of, like the 50- to 100-megawatt facilities.
- But none of those are the hyperscale facilities that we think of, like the 50- to 100-megawatt facilities
Summary:
The Committee on Regulated Industries heard and voted on several bills. SB 986 would prohibit smoking or vaping marijuana in public places and also restrict smoking in rooms and bars; the sponsor said it is intended to protect public health and outdoor spaces, while the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association supported the goal but raised concerns about impacts on designated smoking areas, and cannabis advocates warned about unintended effects on patients and property rights. The committee reported SB 986 favorably.
The committee also passed SB 678, which restores statutory authority for DBPR’s long-standing rule allowing alcohol distributors to deduct unsellable alcohol from monthly excise taxes; a strike-all amendment was adopted, including retroactive application to January 1, 2025, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 800, which increases penalties for repeat unlicensed engineering practice and creates an engineering student loan assistance program for engineers working for state agencies and water management districts, was amended and reported favorably as well.
Members then considered SB 408 on vaccine advertising and liability. The sponsor argued the bill would address declining public trust in vaccines by allowing claims against manufacturers that advertise in Florida, while opponents said the measure is preempted by federal law, raises First Amendment concerns, and would create unnecessary litigation. After extensive testimony and debate, the committee reported SB 408 favorably. The committee also heard SB 484 on data centers, which would set PSC tariff requirements so large load customers pay their own costs, preserve local planning authority, and limit water permits for large data centers; testimony was mixed, with supporters emphasizing ratepayer protections and economic benefits and critics warning about overregulation and confidentiality limits. The bill was reported favorably.
Finally, the committee approved SB 1118, which creates a time-limited public records exemption for certain data center development information held by local governments, after the sponsor said it was meant to prevent extended NDAs while still allowing local notice and input. SB 1050, requiring veterinarians to provide written prescriptions so pet owners can choose their pharmacy, was also reported favorably. The meeting ended after several members recorded votes on bills they had missed.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- or recreation facilities.
- Because you have a 24-hour facility and a level four, right? That's great. Correct.
- That city that hosts the facility, it loses tax revenue.
- And the streets around that facility are maintained by the whole city.
- He gave examples of facility distances: the stack for the facility in Lake County lies 760 feet from
Summary:
The committee heard and acted on a long agenda of local, housing, education, construction, and claims bills. It first took up SB 1730 on affordable housing/Live Local changes, adopting an amendment that narrowed and clarified several provisions, including density, height, parking, attorney fees, and exclusions for certain protected areas, then reported the bill favorably. It also approved SB 1674, which clarifies that local investment restrictions cannot block Israel bonds, after a clarifying amendment. SB 140 on charter schools was reported favorably after significant debate over school conversion, teacher contracts, local control, and the use of surplus school property for housing or other public purposes; several speakers opposed it as harmful to public schools, while the sponsor said it preserved district authority and added options for municipalities and job creation. The committee also passed SB 96 and SB 4, two local claims bills, and SB 1714, which allows SHIP funds to help mobile home owners with lot rent and requires local housing plans to address mobile home park closures.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Economic and Rural Development Jul 7th, 2025
Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- I appreciate being here in this wonderful facility, in this great place.
- I love the beautiful facilities here. My name is Gail. I'm Gail Armstrong.
- The Elderly Center is a day-use kind of facility. You can go have lunch.
- Rehabilitation Facility.
- qualify for this.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- that they could transfer over qualified that they could transfer over pretty<00:14:06.800>
easily - all the other long-term care facilities all the other long-term care facilities have<00:14:51.399
- The rate would be at the Medicaid rate, which is what most folks in our institution would qualify for
- for if they were out in the qualify for if they were out in the community<00:18:10.200>
I <00: - If not, Vice Chair, for the vote. hospital as a care facility for state hospital as a care facility for
Summary:
The Committee on Health heard testimony on several bills. On SB 1441, which would repeal the transfer of the Oahu Regional Health Care System from HHSC to the Department of Health, the Department of Health said it strongly supports the measure and requested clarifying amendments. HHSC/Oahu Region also supported the bill and said it had no objection to the department’s amendments. In response to questions, witnesses said the agencies have been working on an MOU to support transfers of long-term care patients to Leahi, with the current goal being about 10 to 15 patients, but transfers would occur only as space and staffing allow; one patient was reportedly being admitted at the time, and the process was described as slow and case-by-case.
The committee then heard SB 1443 on payment rates for state hospital patients and related Department of Health services. The hospital administrator said the bill would allow rates above Medicaid for community or foster-home placements if patients cannot be placed at Leahi or elsewhere, and would set Medicaid-level reimbursement for outside medical services used by state hospital patients. He said at least one provider was interested in offering services at that rate and that the population involved is largely non-ambulatory long-term care patients. Members asked about availability and training, and the witness said special training could be provided.
SB 1322, a broad mental health bill, drew mixed testimony. The Department of Law Enforcement supported giving crisis-intervention-trained officers more discretion to transport people to medical care instead of arresting them. The Attorney General supported the bill but recommended revisions to emergency-transport language and restoring liability protections. HHSC and Queens Hospital supported the overall goal but sought amendments to preserve the mental health emergency worker role in decision-making and to avoid negative impacts on emergency departments. The Disability Rights Center and ACLU opposed parts of the bill, arguing that it weakens due process, reduces protections in involuntary treatment and transport, and should retain a three-person treatment panel rather than reduce it to one. A Queens representative said the current program works well and reported that more than 90% of MH1 cases once went to hospitals, but that figure has dropped to about 60-70%, with about 20% now diverted to community settings or the behavioral health crisis center. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion provided.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development - 02/19/25
Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development
Transcript Highlights:
- Number one, you want to make sure that we can responsibly get it removed from the facilities on time
- <00:29:45.240>
to it relates to the testing facilities to it relates to the testing facilities - on time so that there's no no facilities on time so that there's no no issues<00:31:01.919>
on - soybeans are more than just a facilities soybeans are more than just a crop<00:35:56.000>
they <01:18:19.880>and accountant uh won't isn't qualified and accountant uh won't isn't qualified - soybeans are more than just a facilities soybeans are more than just a crop<00:35:56.000>
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- We're not a medical facility.
- So we're not a medical facility. There's an addition to the hospice. Correct. All right.
- I do know that in some of these facilities, there are some provisions that they can apply for.
- So a lot of those facilities don't apply for that care or for that funding.
- Their behavior... ...facilities are shipped out to all parts of Louisiana.
Summary:
The committee heard a personal privilege update on HB 1227, which Representative DeWitt said would return next week as a proposed HCR for a two-year study of the three-doctor panel after discussions with Dr. Nia Colotta. Better Louisiana also presented its new Leadership Louisiana Health Fellows Program, describing it as a data-driven leadership initiative focused on health care workforce, rural access, chronic disease, and other system issues; members discussed whether the program could also help generate policy research, including on managed care organizations.
The committee then considered SB 427 on anatomical gifts. After adopting technical amendments, Senator Presley and Dr. Jeff White explained that the bill would strengthen organ donation law by creating a decision registry that records both yes and no choices, clarifying the legal effect of refusal, and codifying ethical principles such as the dead donor rule. Questions focused on organ viability, registry procedures, minors, and a Monroe case involving a disputed donor designation. Supporters included LOPA and the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the bill was reported favorably.
HB 946, dealing with hospital price transparency and compliance with federal pricing rules, drew extensive testimony. Representative Landry and a witness from Patient Rights Advocate described it as a consumer transparency measure, but the Louisiana Hospital Association opposed the bill’s state-level enforcement and debt-collection provisions. Landry offered an amendment removing the debt-collection and affirmative-defense language, but after debate the substitute failed on a 5-6 vote and the bill was voluntarily deferred. The committee also reported favorably on SB 109, which revises membership qualifications for the Louisiana Emergency Medical Services Commission; SCR 20, urging federal flexibility on Medicaid redetermination for elderly and disabled beneficiaries; SB 216, allowing coroners to rely on licensed practical nurses for medical pronouncements of death; and SB 45, exempting certain gratuitous hospice houses from licensure, with testimony from hospice house operators and supporters.
Finally, HCR 71 by Representative Chasson sought an LDH study of how Louisiana’s law and guidance on pregnancy-related emergency medications is working in hospitals, urgent care, and retail settings. Supporters said providers are hesitant to use medications such as misoprostol because of stigma and uncertainty, while opponents from Louisiana Right to Life argued the resolution was unnecessary and could create controversy. The discussion centered on whether the study should be narrowed or made more objective, but no final action on the resolution was reached in the portion provided.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:13:22.959>
architects manager to employ qualified architects manager to employ qualified - Um, we don't have experts in road building or bridge building or, you know, other types of facilities
- Um, we don't have experts in road building or bridge building or, you know, other types of facilities
- community engagement hours to qualify for the grant.
- entities to qualify for participation. entities to qualify for participation.
Keywords:
workforce development, craftspersons, skilled trades, artisan, craftsmanship, trade recognition, award program, DLIR, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Meilleur Ouvrier de France, vocational education, career pathways, cultural preservation, workforce excellence, apprenticeship, Hawaii trades, economic diversification, public nominations, governor awards, historically significant venue
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- You have to qualify. Then you have to execute.
- You have to qualify. Then you have to execute.
- You have to qualify. Then you have to execute.
- As long as the increase does not exceed the facility capacity, including new or expanded facilities,
- Only two facilities in Florida actively play Hiale, and these facilities are the Magic City and Dania
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several member introductions recognizing interns, guests, and advocates. The Rules Chair added CS for CS for SB 622 to the special order calendar, and SB 80 on state land management was temporarily postponed. The chamber then moved through a series of bills, often substituting House companions for Senate bills when the measures were identical or nearly identical.
The Senate passed SB 200/HB 295 on a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling plan, requiring DEP to develop a recycling and waste diversion roadmap by 2026; SB 492 on land development and mitigation banking, after adopting amendments related to mitigation credit use and former phosphate mine lands; and SB 494/HB 255 on aggravated animal cruelty, which increases sentencing consequences and creates a searchable FDLE database of convicted animal abusers, with an amendment clarifying the database language. The Senate also passed SB 500/HB 711 establishing the Spectrum Alert for missing children with autism, SB 524/HB 1089 adding Duchenne muscular dystrophy to newborn screening, SB 592/HB 393 revising the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program, SB 742/HB 1145 on workforce education, SB 936/HB 827 on a statewide study of automation and workforce impact, SB 964/HB 181 on parole guidelines, SB 976/HB 901 on court-appointed psychologists, SB 1084/HB 1451 on sexual cyber harassment, and SB 1156 on a home health aid program for medically fragile children. Most of these bills were adopted after brief sponsor explanations, questions, and in some cases amendments or House-substitute motions.
Debate centered on several policy issues. Senators raised concerns about the constitutional and environmental implications of mitigation banking credits in SB 492, the scope and privacy implications of the animal abuse database in SB 494, the funding and eligibility details of the condo resilience program in SB 592, and the public-school/charter-school balance in SB 822, which drew extensive questioning about enrollment, governance, discipline, accountability, and data sharing before being placed on the third-reading calendar after amendments. The Spectrum Alert bill drew support from members who compared it to the Purple Alert and emphasized the risks faced by children with ASD. The medically fragile children home health aid bill also drew strong support, with senators describing it as a long-needed fix to help families provide in-home care without losing Medicaid coverage. Votes on the measures reported in the transcript were overwhelmingly favorable, with bills passing by margins such as 38-0, 35-3, 37-0, 36-0, and 35-0.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Environment and Agriculture (01/21/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- <01:45:32.360>
um associated with a proposed facility um associated with a proposed facility - <01:56:12.400>
and results from citing a facility and results from citing a facility and presumably - So then it’s up to the town—it’ll be handed over to the facility.
- I don’t know any in the—it's up to the facility owner. Thank you, Representative.”
- How long ago was that, that you were working in that facility?
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on HB 153, which would require two or more law enforcement officers in each county to receive animal cruelty training through the police standards system. Representative Barbara Coma, the sponsor, said the bill was prompted by problems in animal cruelty cases, especially in rural areas without animal control officers, and she described it as a limited training measure. She said an amendment was forthcoming that would add an eight-hour approved course and a two-hour refresher every three years, and she emphasized that the trained officers would serve as resources rather than being required to take action themselves.
Members asked about cost, due process, overlap with animal control officers, how trained officers would be identified and notified, and whether veterinarians could fill the role. Coma responded that the bill would not be a heavy financial lift, would not interfere with animal control officers, would apply to livestock as well as companion animals, and would still require law enforcement involvement because veterinarians cannot lawfully remove animals from property. She also said the training could improve due process by helping officers better understand when animal removal is appropriate and how cases should proceed.
Sheriff William Wright, speaking for the New Hampshire Sheriffs Association, testified in opposition. He said training itself was acceptable, but the bill went beyond training by creating an obligation for sheriffs and state police to respond to and potentially investigate animal cruelty cases, which he argued would be ambiguous, unfunded, and burdensome for staffing and resources. He said some sheriff’s offices do not have investigative deputies and that the bill could create liability and uncertainty about who would lead investigations. In response to questions, he said the association would likely have no objection if the bill were limited to training, but it opposed the assistance/investigation mandate as written.