Video & Transcript : 'October 7' :
Page 10 of 500
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
FL House Floor Session - 2026-02-25 (5:00PM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The task force will end by October 1, 2026.
- The department shall then submit by October 31, 2026, a summary report to the governor, the president
- Comparably, children between the ages of 1 and 7 drowned at a rate of approximately 5 per 100,000 and
- Comparably, children between the ages of 1 and 7 drowned at a rate of approximately 5 per 100,000 and
- program in line with studied recommendations by adjusting the ages from four and under to ages 1 through 7
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and observed a moment of silence for former Senator Charlie Dean. The chamber also received several introductions, including guests from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and visiting Polk County students. After routine business, the Senate took up a special order calendar, temporarily postponing several bills including measures on Citizens Property Insurance, artificial intelligence, public records, and data centers.
The Senate then passed a series of bills, most by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. Approved measures included SB 198/HB 505 on virtual currency kiosks, which creates registration, disclosure, transaction-limit, warning, receipt, and fraud-refund requirements; SB 382 on electric bicycles, which adds pedestrian-yield rules, speed limits near pedestrians, and creates a micro-mobility safety task force; SB 844 on sickle cell disease continuing education for certain health professionals; and SB 1014 on municipal utility service, which bars cities from denying water or wastewater service outside city limits solely because the owner refuses annexation. Each of these bills was explained by the sponsoring senator, amended as needed, and passed on recorded votes.
The Senate also passed SB 428, expanding the state swimming lesson voucher program from ages 0-4 to ages 1-7 and adding drowning-prevention education for new parents through a merged amendment with related language; senators from both parties spoke in support, emphasizing child safety and autism-related drowning risks. Additional bills passed included SB 540 on Office of Financial Regulation cybersecurity and oversight changes, SB 1440 on related public-records and cybersecurity exemptions, and SB 1594 to protect veterans’ benefits received on behalf of foster children by directing those funds toward post-secondary education or aftercare rather than agency reimbursement. Final votes were largely 36-0 or 37-0, with SB 1440 passing 35-1.
At the end of the session, the Rules Chair moved to waive rules so all bills passed that day would be immediately certified to the House and all temporarily postponed bills would remain on the special order calendar. The Senate then adjourned until the next morning for committee meetings and other business.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Jun 9th, 2025
Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force
Transcript Highlights:
- Thank you, uh, Representative, uh, Tania Mirabal Moya, District 7, Blen and eastern part of Valencia
- A major district realignment will follow the full occupancy expected in October of 2025.
- On page 7 You'll see a breakdown of what those changes were to the criteria.
- We have two dates, one in October 1 in November. So whichever has that, that would be great.
- And so certainly by October or November.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- That identifies high-priority transmission corridors by October 30, 2027.
- I believe the earlier conversation was 7 p.m. Saturday.
- The deadline for requests for amendments on today's hearing agenda will be 7 p.m. tomorrow. Mr.
- I believe the earlier conversation was 7 p.m. Saturday.
- What I gave you earlier was incorrect: 7 p.m. Saturday for requests, 3 p.m.
Bills:
HB2747
Committee:
House Appropriations
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Status of Persons with Disabilities Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Transcript Highlights:
- We have sent you all the report on October 21st by email.
- We have sent you all the report on October 21st by email.
- to make sure that it's available for the appointing authorities right upon our deadline, which is October
- to make sure that it's available for the appointing authorities right upon our deadline, which is October
- And the event would start at 5 p.m. through 7 p.m. And it's on the second. What's early?
Summary:
The Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities met virtually to review and gather feedback on its annual report covering July 2024 through June 2025. The chair summarized the report’s main themes: five public meetings on employment data, benefit cliffs, developmental services priorities, health care, civil rights, and workforce stability; active work by the Disability Employment, Workforce Support, and new Long-Term Services and Supports/Health Equity subcommittees; and the second annual National Disability Employment Awareness Month celebration with more than 300 participants. Commissioners praised the report and suggested improvements, including shortening it with an appendix, adding charts/graphs, including dates and raw data alongside percentages, and producing a more visual slide deck or presentation version after submission.
Commissioners also discussed the need for clearer outcome-focused goals and strategic planning, especially given limited staff capacity. The chair responded that the annual report is a statutory requirement and that a separate strategic planning effort is underway through the executive board. She said the team would continue refining the report, incorporate feedback, and prepare both a text version and a more visual hard-copy version with photos and alternative text. The report was described as due to appointing authorities by October 30, and the commission planned to continue collaborating on presentation materials.
Before adjourning, members briefly discussed the 2025 Paul Spooner Generational Leadership Summit, which was described as successful but still in need of funding for future years. The chair also previewed the commission’s first community event on November 4, a hybrid community listening session and resource fair, with about 170 registered participants and roughly 35 in-person organizations. The meeting ended with a motion and second to adjourn.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- The recommendations they made, in addition to two public comment periods occurring in June and October
- for this committee, there were three public comment periods for our special education manual: April 7
- through June 7, June 4 through June 25, and October 1 through October 22.
Committee:
Senate Education
VA
Transcript Highlights:
- the Joint Rules Committee to develop plans for a special commemorative session in Williamsburg on October
- 7, 2026, in recognition of the 250th anniversary of Virginia's General Assembly's first meeting following
- the Joint Rules Committee to develop plans for a special commemorative session in Williamsburg on October
- 7, 2026, in recognition of the 250th anniversary of Virginia's General Assembly's first meeting following
Committee:
House Rules
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- We'll take up tab 7, SB 686, the uncontroversial topic...
- We'll take up tab 7, SB 686, the uncontroversial topic of agricultural enclaves.
- Existing interlocal agreements cannot be extended if in place prior to October 1st, past their already
- identified termination date or October 1st, 2031, whichever is later.
- Most significantly, it had a penalty provision in it, which took effect in October of last year.
Committee:
Senate Community Affairs
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum present and took up a series of local claims, public records, growth management, permitting, and nuisance bills. It first heard and approved SB 16, SB 14, and SB 24, all uncontested claims bills providing relief related to injuries or settlements involving the City of St. Petersburg and Miami-Dade County. The committee also approved SB 288 on rural electric cooperatives, which narrows statutory language to protect co-op decisions on generation and power purchases while preserving consumer protections, and SB 830, which creates a public records exemption for certain personal information of county and city managers and their families due to reported threats against local officials.
Members then considered SB 1138 on qualified contractors and development review, which would create a registry of licensed professionals to help local governments process pre-application reviews and plats more quickly. Local government groups raised concerns about preemption and preserving quasi-judicial authority, while private-provider supporters backed the bill; Senator Sharief voted no, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 168, expanding public nuisance law to include gambling houses and increasing penalties, and SB 686 on agricultural enclaves, which revises the enclave process, adds a public hearing path, limits it to certain residential projects in urban service areas, and was amended to change a date to June 30, 2026 before being reported favorably.
The committee next approved CS for SB 548 on growth management and impact fees, which clarifies plan-based methodology, extraordinary circumstances, interlocal agreements, and refund procedures for improper fee collections. Testimony reflected support for clearer standards but also concerns about fee increases and refund administration. Finally, SB 1234 on building permits and inspections was reported favorably; it would extend permit validity, exempt some low-value work from permitting, create a statewide residential permit form, speed review timelines, and expand private-provider use, drawing opposition from a Miami-Dade building official who argued for continued local oversight and support from private-provider advocates. Senator Jones requested to be recorded as voting affirmatively on several tabs and negatively on tab 9, and the committee adjourned after all bills were disposed of.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Appr/Sub-Health and Human Services Feb 4th, 2026 at 09:45 am
Transcript Highlights:
- to remind all of you, the members in the room, that these numbers have been on the dashboard since October
- And we have made one modification to the budget request that was filed in October.
- Beginning in October of this year, we'll move to a 75-25 split.
- We've seen your numbers since October, it's a flat budget.
- Healthcare, so that's 223 by October 1 of this calendar year.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (6-18-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- He also said the board mentioned that approval for new licenses only takes 7 to 10 days if the person
- He said they have had one opening since October 24 and are working to fill it.
- He said they have had one opening since October 24 and are working to fill it.
- </c><00:37:42.880><c> So,</c><00:37:43.040><c> if</c> licenses only takes 7 to 10 days.
- So, if licenses only takes 7 to 10 days.
Summary:
The committee first heard a presentation from Northern Kentucky building industry representatives Brian Miller and Matt Mains on housing affordability and construction workforce issues. They argued that regulatory and code requirements add significant cost to new homes, citing an estimate of nearly $94,000 per home nationally and $15,000 to $20,000 per home in Boone County over the past decade. They recommended reforms to building code adoption, architectural design mandates, permit fees and delays, and setback/land dedication rules, saying these changes could reduce costs by $25,000 to $35,000 per home without affecting public safety. They also discussed workforce training efforts through the Enzwe Building Institute, dual-credit programs, apprenticeship incentives, and workforce grants, saying these efforts have helped hold wage growth below regional trends and improve housing affordability.
Committee members asked about the breakdown of regulatory costs, the effect of energy codes, and ways to speed up permitting. The presenters said the costs were roughly split among federal, state, and local requirements, with local regulations adding about $25,000 to $35,000 and some energy-code changes adding about $19,000 per home. They said faster plan review, coordination with the Kentucky Division of Water, and addressing municipal staffing shortages could cut 30 to 45 days from approvals. Members also discussed the difficulty of building starter homes under about $350,000 and the need for more missing-middle housing, with the presenters saying such homes are hard to produce without sacrificing quality.
The committee then took up Representative Kim Moer and Dr. Dale Bertram’s discussion of marriage and family therapist licensing and healthcare workforce data reporting. They explained that the bill would allow Kentucky to recognize out-of-state marriage and family therapists who meet licensure requirements, have no disciplinary history, and have passed the national exam, in order to reduce barriers and address provider shortages, especially in rural areas. They also described a separate workforce data reporting section that would require licensure boards to collect consistent information on where licensees practice and whether they are actively seeing patients, including through telehealth, so the state can better understand its healthcare workforce. Members supported the portability idea, noted that some qualified applicants are currently working in Indiana instead of Kentucky, and asked whether the data collection could be handled administratively; the sponsors said the bill would create consistency across boards. The committee also briefly discussed occupational board updates and the need for stronger communication between legislators and licensing boards, including architecture licensure issues and efforts to recruit more professionals.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
02/18/2026 - Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency
Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency
Transcript Highlights:
- When are they going to start staying open 24-7?
- At nine years old, we found out that she had a rare terminal disease, and she passed October 7, 2018.
- When are they going to start staying open 24-7?
- At nine years old, we found out that she had a rare terminal disease, and she passed October 7, 2018.
- The bill also requires the study committee, by October 1, 2026, and each October 1 thereafter, to submit
Bills:
SB1176 , SB1186 , SB1235 , SB1286 , SB1446 , SB1458 , SB1515 , SB1616 , SB1641 , SB1668 , SB1670 , SB1678 , SB1747 , SB1787
Keywords:
stormwater, water storage, replenishment credits, groundwater, aquifer, Arizona Revised Statutes, disclosure, state contracts, procurement records, donations, transparency, EMS, reciprocity, interstate compact, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, licensure, public safety, military personnel, veterinary telemedicine
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Day 14 (1-27-26)
Kentucky Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- And whereas in the aftermath of the October 7th, 2023 atrocities, the bloodiest day in Jewish history
- 7th, 2023 atrocities, the October 7th, 2023 atrocities, the bloodiest<00:40:26.880><c> day</c><00:40
- </c> remembered after the attack of October remembered after the attack of October 7th.<00:42:40.720>
- Our Kentucky coal-fired electric plants and coal mines run 24/7 producing reliable low-cost electricity
- /c><00:46:42.079><c> producing</c> and coal mines run 24/7 producing and coal mines run 24/7 producing
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Joint Appropriations Jan 21st, 2026 at 10:30 am
Appropriations
Transcript Highlights:
- The committee meetings convened on October 14th and 15th, October 21st, November 4th, and January 13th
- Finally, Section 7 is an effective date for this bill.
- So we need to obligate these funds by October of this year.
- Because remember, we start year two on October 31st.
- So year two of federal funding is October 31st. Donna's shaking her head.
Bills:
HB1623
Committee:
Joint Appropriations
Summary:
The committee heard House Bill 1623, the appropriations bill tied to North Dakota’s Rural Health Transformation Program, which is funded through a new federal rural health care grant. Senator Bekkedahl explained the bill’s background, the interim committee process that developed it, and the federal conditions attached to the award, including spending deadlines, administrative cost limits, and restrictions on uses such as new construction, supplanting existing funding, and certain other costs. Legislative staff then walked through the seven sections of the bill, including appropriation authority, transfer authority, contingent appropriations for pass-through grants, procurement and public improvement exemptions, recipient reporting, legislative reporting, and immediate effective date.
Commissioner Traynor and HHS staff described how the department plans to implement the program, emphasizing that the funding is intended to improve rural access, workforce recruitment and retention, technology and data connectivity, and community health initiatives. They said the department will rely on local applications, technical assistance, templates, listening sessions, and partnerships with providers, schools, public health units, tribal entities, and other community groups. Members asked about reimbursement timing, upfront costs, administrative expenses, sustainability after the five-year grant period, and whether CTE centers, public health units, gyms, grocery stores, and other community partners could participate; the department said yes, within program rules and with a focus on measurable outcomes and sustainability.
Several supporters testified in favor. Mental Health America of North Dakota and the Mental Health Advocacy Network supported the bill and urged investment in community-based mental health, crisis response, children’s services, peer support, and mobile crisis teams. HIA Health described the grant as a chance to expand home-based and hospice care, noting that rural providers already have workable models but need funding to scale them. A cybersecurity representative also supported the bill, warning that the large amount of health data and AI-related tools will require strong data protection and professional support. The hearing was closed with no opposition testimony, and the committee announced it would return later in the day for further work on the bill and other measures.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Tax Reform and Relief Advisory Committee Mar 17th, 2026 at 09:30 am
Transcript Highlights:
- Data collected for 2024 is included in this report on page 7.
- Oklahoma has a 7% production tax rate.
- Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, they don't have a $7... ...a barrel discount.
- They're not putting $7 million to $10 million in new wells up there.
- And it used to be September 10th and October 10th.
Summary:
The committee met to continue its tax reform and relief study agenda, approved the December 3, 2025 minutes, and announced a new subcommittee to examine property tax statement issues with counties, auditors, and the tax office. Representative Headland was named chair, Senator Rummel vice chair, and Representatives Dressler and Dr. Dr. and Senator Patton were also assigned. The chair noted the group may need an additional meeting and thanked staff and attendees.
A major portion of the meeting focused on economic development incentives. The Department of Commerce presented on the Renaissance Zone program and TIF districts, describing Renaissance Zones as locally tailored tools that combine local property tax relief with state income tax incentives. Commerce said the program has supported thousands of projects since 1999 and cited examples from Beach and Mandan showing increases in property and taxable value, business retention, housing, and downtown revitalization. Committee members raised concerns that smaller rural communities often lack the staff and expertise to apply, and Commerce said it provides outreach through conferences, office hours, and one-on-one assistance. League of Cities and local officials from Bismarck and Ellendale echoed the capacity issue, discussed how the programs have worked in their communities, and suggested possible reforms or more targeted support for small towns. Ellendale’s mayor also described two TIF districts, one for industrial infrastructure in Oaks and one for housing infrastructure tied to a data center project in Ellendale.
The committee then turned to stripper oil taxation. The Tax Department gave a comparison of oil and gas tax structures in selected states, noting that most have some form of stripper or marginal well provision, while Alaska does not appear to have a specific stripper-well exemption. Members asked for more detail on definitions and North Dakota’s annual adjusted rate. The Department of Mineral Resources followed with a detailed presentation on North Dakota stripper wells, explaining the statutory thresholds, the 12-consecutive-month production test, and the fact that once a well qualifies it remains on stripper status even if production later rises. DMR said about 11,332 stripper wells are active, representing roughly 54% of wells and about 16% of state production, and emphasized that stripper status can extend well life, preserve tax revenue, and reduce orphaned wells. Committee members and industry witnesses discussed refracs, the economics of keeping marginal wells active, and the competitive disadvantage created by North Dakota’s oil price discount. No votes were taken on these informational items.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Service (11-5-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:03:33.920><c> 15</c> approve the minutes from the October 15 approve the minutes from the October
- Uh in October so far we have that year.
- But when we asked to fill that $7 million hole, whatever appropriation was given, we have to fill $7
- </c><00:53:51.599><c> 1st</c> state match purposes after October 1st state match purposes after October
- /c> for Kentucky which averages about $7 for Kentucky which averages about $7 million<00:53:57.200><c
Summary:
The Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services met in person, approved the October 15 minutes, and began with a moment of silence following a Louisville UPS plane explosion that was described as a local tragedy affecting many families and first responders. The main presentation was an overview of Kentucky’s Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation (NMT) program from the Department for Medicaid Services and the Transportation Cabinet. Witnesses explained that NMT is a federally required Medicaid benefit, administered by the Transportation Cabinet under a risk-based capitated model, with eligibility limited to Medicaid members traveling to medically necessary, Medicaid-covered services and who lack access to other transportation. They also described exclusions, including certain KCHIP, QMB, and PACE members, and outlined the brokered regional structure, call center operations, scheduling rules, vehicle and driver oversight, complaint handling, and rider surveys.
The presenters reported that NMT handled more than 3.1 million trips in state fiscal year 2024, with over 1.38 million trips already recorded in October, and said customer satisfaction surveys were high. They said the FY 2025-26 contract total is about $360.6 million, with monthly per-member capitation rates set by region through an actuarial process and approved by CMS. They emphasized that payments are tied to monthly Medicaid enrollment and that the state draws down federal funds for the exact amount paid, with no leftover balance. They also said most NMT use comes from adult day centers and rehabilitative care such as dialysis.
Members questioned the witnesses about how quality metrics and contract standards are set, whether the state had explored alternatives such as Uber Health or other integrated models, and how utilization was calculated. The witnesses said contract requirements are developed collaboratively by Medicaid Services, the Transportation Cabinet, and other agencies, and that studies of other models generally found higher costs and lower approval ratings, with additional research on a hybrid model expected by the end of the year. They clarified that one figure reflected the share of Medicaid members with registered vehicles, while another reflected actual NMT users, and they defended the capitated structure as shifting financial risk to brokers rather than the state. Representative Fleming also raised concerns about oversight, reporting, and the apparent gap between budgeted and contracted amounts, asking whether any unused funds would return to general funds; the discussion ended before a final answer was given.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Page 7 of the presentation outlines our third exceptional item.
- Moving to page 7. Items not included in recommendations.
- The last 6, 7, 8, 10 years it's been pretty study.
- Item 7 is items with debt service components.
- Back in October, the Biden.
Committee:
Senate Finance
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education Nov 19th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education
Transcript Highlights:
- the 2024-25 school year, which would be March through June 2025, were based on survey results from October
- more difficult to read on the slide itself, but hopefully in the report itself or in the packet, Table 7
- So, for example, as illustrated in Table 7, if I go back to Table 7, although the department formally
- Additionally, on October 27, 2025, the department released nearly $16.9 million to the SFOs to address
- It is living in a world where the October survey occurs.
Summary:
The Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met for its first meeting of the 2025 session to hear the Auditor General’s operational audit on 2024-25 school funding accountability challenges, focused largely on the Family Empowerment Scholarship and its interaction with the FEFP. Deputy Auditor General Matthew Tracy described rapid growth in scholarship enrollment, timing mismatches between scholarship payments and public-school funding calculations, delayed membership survey processing, weak cross-check and recoupment procedures, inconsistent handling of parent survey responses, and limited documentation for withholding and returning funds. The audit said these issues contributed to funding inequities, duplicate-payment risks, and an unexpected draw on state education funds, and it recommended separating scholarship funding from the FEFP, aligning application windows with budget timing, strengthening controls and staffing, and creating clearer, documented recoupment and balance-limit processes.
Committee members questioned whether current law gives the department and scholarship funding organizations enough authority and whether the system is effectively a pay-and-chase model. Several senators expressed concern about the lack of timely reconciliation, the size of the funds involved, and the absence of clear records showing how money was recovered or withheld. Adam Emerson, executive director of the Office of School Choice, said the department is working more closely with school districts and scholarship funding organizations, including pausing payments when districts identify students still enrolled in public schools, and said the office wants to improve the process.
President Gates then previewed legislation he said would address the audit’s findings by funding Family Empowerment Scholarships as a separate FEFP categorical, expanding the Education Stabilization Fund, setting clearer application and acceptance deadlines, moving to monthly payments with eligibility verification before each payment, assigning student IDs for scholarship assistance, lowering SFO management fees, requiring annual audits, and requiring prompt return of audit-related funds. Public comment included a private-school attorney describing losses from unpaid scholarship amounts. Members generally supported the need for reform, with several senators saying the program should be preserved but better structured and more accountable. The committee adjourned after the discussion, with no vote taken on the legislation.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Radioactive and Hazardous Materials May 29th, 2025
Radioactive & Hazardous Materials Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, so slide 7, I think you've seen it before.
- They held their annual meeting in October of 2024.
- And then page 7, this is from our past exercise with the city of Santa Fe.
- It's October 25th, and it's at the Colfax County Event Center rodeo grounds.
- And then in October, we'll have our task force annual meeting.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
MA cover weight-loss drugs 3/25/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- By January of '24, monthly Medicaid spending on Wegovy alone exceeded $51 million, and by October '24
- By January of '24, monthly Medicaid spending on Wegovy alone exceeded $51 million, and by October '24
- By January of '24, monthly Medicaid spending on Wegovy alone exceeded $51 million, and by October '24
- By January of '24, monthly Medicaid spending on Wegovy alone exceeded $51 million, and by October '24
- '24 it had grown to $192 and by October '24 it had grown to $192 million. million. million.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee May 28th, 2025
Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee
Transcript Highlights:
- Slide 7. Well, the biggest is Social Security at 1.5 trillion.
- So let's say over a 10 year period that they assume that Medicaid's going to grow at a 7% rate.
- Well, we're doing Las Cruces then in October.
- October will be a little cooler in Las Cruces, just saying. All right, cooler.
- Then October is the 20th through the 22nd. That'll be down in Las Cruces.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Legislative Performance Audit Oversight Committee (09/05/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- /c> said we're going to keep them for 7 said we're going to keep them for 7 years<00:33:06.240><c> or
- I know I'm gone the first full week in October, which I think is the 6th to the 10th or 11th.
- ,</c><00:54:04.319><c> which</c> the uh first full week in October, which the uh first full week in October
- So, we last few months that's what we've done, which would be the third of October.
- He's the first<00:55:31.520><c> name</c><00:55:32.160><c> house</c> So I'll get 100 for October, and
Summary:
The committee reviewed follow-up status on several prior audit observations. For the Department of Liquor Commission item tied to a DAS audit, staff explained that the commission had been listed as observation 8 because it participated in a recycling program, but the required response had been missed because DAS did not notify the commission. After the committee raised it, the commission contacted DAS and submitted the response, and members agreed the observation could be marked complete, making the audit 9 for 9 resolved.
The committee then heard from the Department of Employment Security about the remaining open item from a 2016 audit of the former Department of Resources and Economic Development concerning the Work Ready New Hampshire program. The deputy commissioner said the issue had been addressed by 2019 statutory changes that moved the job training program to Employment Security, increased funding, and specifically recognized Work Ready New Hampshire in statute. Members indicated the item should be treated as resolved and moved to green.
The Adult Parole Board also reported on its 2019 audit follow-up. Chair Roger Phillips said 18 of 26 recommendations had been completed, with eight still open, including structured decisionmaking, a tracking/performance measure system, records retention, and access to inmate mental health and substance abuse information. Committee members said the board needed to submit an updated report to DAS with timelines and explanations for the remaining items, and the board said it would provide a timeline within 30 days. The committee then agreed to expect a follow-up report after the first of the year, likely by the end of March, to review the status of the eight open items.
At the end of the meeting, members discussed future audit topics. They noted that the wetlands council’s responses had been included with the department’s answers, so no separate appearance was needed. They also raised possible future audits involving special education oversight, the Board of Naturopaths, OPLC-related boards, dental examiners, and police standards training, with a request that some of those entities provide status reports at a later meeting.