Video & Transcript Research : 'maritime workforce'
Page 115 of 382
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Joint Legislative Auditing Committee Feb 3rd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Workforce development.
- Workforce development typically involves unallowable expenditures.
- Workforce development, and on the cash controls, we primarily, Workforce development, oh, and on the
- Workforce development, typically these are just unallow expenditures.
- Districts are only allowed to spend workforce development on non-K-12 activities.
Summary:
The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee received a presentation from Auditor General staff on recurring findings from audits of district school boards, colleges, and universities. For school districts, the main issues discussed included missing or outdated safe-school officer training documentation, weak purchasing-card controls, vendor banking-change fraud risks, incomplete background screenings and disqualification-list procedures, missing website budget disclosures, excessive or untimely IT access, late deactivation of former employees’ access, missed emergency drill deadlines, inaccurate capital outlay and resiliency education records, weak tangible property inventories, adult education reporting errors, untimely bank reconciliations, and improper use of workforce development funds. The auditors said many of these issues are repeated from prior years and are summarized in their annual report on significant findings and financial trends.
For universities and colleges, the auditors highlighted similar control weaknesses, including vendor information change controls, IT access issues, cash and investment reconciliation problems, purchasing and procurement deficiencies, personnel and compensation issues, and student fee compliance concerns. Specific examples included a UF consulting contract totaling about $6 million, FAU underreporting carry-forward balances by about $77 million, UCF’s payment loss of about $107,000 from an email scam tied to vendor changes, and a North Florida College unauthorized transfer involving a few hundred thousand dollars. The committee asked questions about the UF consulting work, the FAU carry-forward issue, and whether the listed findings meant every named entity had every issue; auditors clarified that the lists reflected entities with findings in those categories, not necessarily each specific problem.
The committee then turned to enforcement for entities with long-standing uncorrected audit findings. Staff reported 144 entities with 197 findings repeated in three or more successive audit reports and recommended sending letters requesting updated corrective-action status, including for late-filed 2022-2023 reports where appropriate. The committee approved the staff recommendation and directed letters to be sent. The meeting ended with members emphasizing the importance of audit oversight and taxpayer accountability.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Public safety was previously heard, and then today the workforce committee bill will be heard.
- And then um the workforce committee bill also spends $401,000 out of the workforce development fund,
- workforce committee bill will be heard. workforce committee bill will be heard.
- <00:04:21.959>
fund, out of the workforce development fund, out of the workforce development - <00:08:49.440>
Development also discussed in Workforce Development also discussed in Workforce
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Higher Education Institutions Committee Apr 9th, 2026 at 08:30 am
Higher Education Institutions Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- So hopefully they stay here and they feel that workforce need that we know is out here.
- So we've hired a workforce development officer who has been fantastic.
- Here and go to work in this workforce. I want these kids here. I want them.
- They also help keep them in North Dakota and impact our workforce locally here in the state.
- Workforce expectations, and then that total cost of ownership.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- Are autonomous vehicles a disruptor when it comes to our workforce?
- , They're balancing between technology, workforce, and safety at the same time.
- to how prepared our workforce can be in the future.
- Another point of view is that it creates workforce. It creates jobs.
- I do understand there being a concern over workforce.
Summary:
The Assembly Transportation Committee heard testimony on the DMV’s finalized autonomous vehicle regulations, with a focus on how the rules update California’s oversight of testing, deployment, reporting, and enforcement. DMV and CHP officials said the new framework expands data collection beyond crashes to include immobilizations, hard-braking events, system failures, and notices of noncompliance, while also creating clearer requirements for first responder interaction, remote operations, and heavy-duty AV testing and deployment. Members raised concerns about safety, emergency response delays, freeway and work-zone operations, and whether the state has enough data to compare AVs with human drivers.
Witnesses from consumer and labor-related groups emphasized transparency and accountability, arguing that the prior rules were outdated and that public access to the collected data is important for regulators, researchers, and injured parties. Industry representatives said California now has the nation’s most comprehensive AV permitting and reporting system, with phased permits, mileage thresholds, and broad DMV authority to restrict or suspend operations. They supported the regulations as a path to safer, more transparent deployment, while noting that the rules stay within state operational authority and do not replace federal standards for vehicle design and performance.
A second panel focused on first responder interactions and remote operations. The San Francisco Fire Department described AVs blocking emergency scenes and generating “sleeper calls” when passengers fall asleep, consuming significant fire and EMS resources. Waymo said it maintains 24/7 emergency contacts, first responder plans, geofencing protocols, and remote support that can help move vehicles or allow first responders to override them. Members asked about license requirements for remote personnel, redundancy during communication outages, and how companies handle sleeping passengers before calling 911. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session - part 2 May 5th, 2025
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Workforce standards board.
- In Greater Minnesota, our biggest challenge is getting workforce.
- We want them to continue to work in the nursing homes in the face of workforce shortages.
- Gutting our federal workforce. Tariffs: they're on, they're off, they're on, they're off.
- Economy and workforces of greater Minnesota, particularly in rural areas.
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Appropriations Apr 2nd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- And we're putting a big emphasis this year on workforce.
- Again, building the whole education workforce.
- Again, building the whole education workforce.
- And $28.5 million in performance incentives for school district workforce education programs.
- In addition, we're taking a strategic approach to workforce by eliminating 880 and a half vacant FTEs
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee met for Budget Day and heard presentations on the Senate’s proposed 2025-2026 budget, SPB 25-200, totaling $117.4 billion. Chair Hooper said the plan reduces overall spending from the prior year, keeps strong reserves, includes a 4% pay raise for state employees, maintains employee health care contributions, and makes major investments in water quality, transportation, and education infrastructure. Committee chairs then summarized their budget silos, including K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and agriculture/environment/general government. Members asked questions mainly about school funding, AP and dual enrollment support, voucher and scholarship impacts, and the My Safe Florida Home program.
The committee adopted a large consent package of amendments and then approved three late-file amendments: funding virtual college tours for high school students, funding the FSU Sunshine Genetics program, and providing money for the Port of Fernandina customs facility. The committee then voted to report SPB 2500, the General Appropriations Bill, as a committee bill. It also favorably reported SPB 2502 (implementing bill), SPB 2504 (state employees placeholder), SB 7022 (Florida Retirement System contribution rates and DROP changes), CS/SB 1320 (recreating the Resilient Florida Trust Fund), SPB 2506 (gaming compact revenue distributions, including water projects and rural lands), SPB 2508 (29 new judgeships), SB 7014 (ending the court mediation and arbitration trust fund), SPB 2510 (K-12 conforming bill), SPB 2512 (higher education conforming bill), and SPB 2514 (health and human services conforming bill).
The committee also took up several policy bills. It approved SB 7028 on cancer research, creating grant parameters, reporting requirements, a five-year pediatric cancer research incubator, and the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute VisionGen Initiative. It approved CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing home quality, adding resident satisfaction surveys, medical director standards, safety culture reviews, electronic health record requirements, financial reporting penalties, and a study of best practices. It approved CS/CS/SB 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, which expands mental health diversion options, adds Hillsborough County to a forensic hospital diversion pilot, expands grant uses, and creates a behavioral health data repository. It also approved SB 114 creating the Florida Center for Excellence in Insurance and Risk Management at FSU and moving the public hurricane loss model there. The committee then began considering SB 180 on emergency preparedness and response, including a late-file amendment, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs (01/16/2025)
Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Workforce and not just looking at the workforce in having it, people go to school, get certain degrees
- Workforce and not just looking at the workforce in having it, people go to school, get certain degrees
- Workforce and not just looking at the workforce in having it, people go to school, get certain degrees
- Workforce and not just looking at the workforce in having it, people go to school, get certain degrees
- Workforce and not just looking at the workforce in having it, people go to school, get certain degrees
KY
Transcript Highlights:
- 137 and that international medical graduates already make up approximately 20% of the physician workforce
- 137 and that international medical graduates already make up approximately 20% of the physician workforce
- 137 and that international medical graduates already make up approximately 20% of the physician workforce
- Uh we talked about this during the interim in 2024 at the workforce task force, and this was one of the
- <00:08:58.120>
task interim uh in 2024 at the workforce task interim uh in 2024 at the workforce
Keywords:
00:00 - Call to Order/Roll Call
01:17 - Discussion of 26RS SB 137
07:15 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS SB 137
09:42 - Discussion of 26RS SB 147
10:48 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS SB 147
11:56 - Discussion of 26RS SB 56
13:48 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS SB 56
14:43 - Discussion of 26RS SB 116
20:17 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS SB 116
21:23 - Adjournment, 958, all
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations.(3-4-26)
Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations
Transcript Highlights:
- It's also a continuous effort of reducing workforce barriers.
- for bringing this to our attention and also giving a pathway for our young people to go into the workforce
- We have a shortage in the workforce, and I think each step we can do this having security from your board
- I think this is more into the workforce.
- try we have a shortage in the workforce try we have a shortage in the workforce and<00:20:53.039
Summary:
The Licensing and Occupations Committee met with a quorum and heard several licensing and regulatory bills. House Bill 565, presented by Rep. Myron Dossett with support from the Kentucky League of Cities and the Paducah Fire Department, would clarify and broaden the authority of “fire protection officials” so local fire officials, along with the state fire marshal, can enforce final orders and seek court enforcement locally. The sponsor described it as cleanup language to streamline fire code enforcement and improve efficiency. The bill passed unanimously.
The committee then considered House Bill 776, a modernization of Kentucky’s Dental Practice Act, presented by Rep. Derek Lewis and Jeff Allen of the Kentucky Board of Dentistry, with Rep. Chad Hall also speaking in support. The bill updates definitions and board authority, revises licensure and renewal provisions, clarifies supervision and training rules for hygienists and assistants, updates telehealth standards, and preserves dentists’ authority over diagnosis and treatment planning. Members also discussed a provision allowing the board to use excess licensing funds for a scholarship to attract dentists to Kentucky. After questions about Medicaid access and a promised amendment removing certain ownership-related provisions, the bill passed unanimously.
House Bill 657, presented by Rep. Stephanie Deetsz and Michelle Sanborn of the Children’s Alliance, would give five licensing boards the statutory authority needed to obtain FBI fingerprinting/ORI numbers for interstate compact compliance. The boards named were counseling, speech-language pathology and audiology, occupational therapy, social work, and psychology. Supporters said the bill simply updates Kentucky law to match current FBI fingerprint language. It passed unanimously.
Finally, the committee took up House Bill 273, presented by Rep. Mike Klein and the Kentucky Board of Barbering. A committee substitute was adopted first. The bill reduces barber training hours from 1,500 to 1,200, allows 10-hour school days, shortens out-of-state licensure experience requirements from three years to one year, and makes other cleanup changes, including moving board compensation to regulation. Supporters said it would reduce barriers to entry and help address workforce shortages. The amended bill passed unanimously, and the committee adjourned.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Human services panel hears HF729 2/26/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- With the demographic trend of fewer people in the workforce, we must do all we can to offer strong wages
- With the demographic trend of fewer people in the workforce, we must do all we can to offer strong wages
- With the demographic trend of fewer people in the workforce, we must do all we can to offer strong wages
- I believe that this grant would help to improve our workforce within home health care, and it would help
- I believe that this grant would help to improve our workforce within home health care, and it would help
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor and Transportation May 20th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- The fourth item in the agenda is related to our Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act program.
- For 2026-27, EDD is requesting an increase of approximately $74.3 million in the Consolidated Workforce
- Yeah, there's nothing specific in the budget, but the Labor and Workforce Development Agency has been
- This is about workforce development. Okay. Thank you.
- First, with workforce optimization, this analysis focused on headquarters programs for CDCR.
Summary:
The committee held an informational hearing on the Governor’s May Revision proposals for labor, public safety/judiciary, and transportation, and no votes were taken. In Part A on labor, the Employment Development Department reviewed proposals for EDD Next document management system funding, updated UI loan interest costs, disability insurance and paid family leave benefit and administration adjustments, WIOA funding changes, UI administrative and benefit changes, school employee benefit adjustments, an EMT training reappropriation, and a technical correction tied to EDD Next. PERB discussed funding tied to AB 28 and AB 1, including litigation-related workload and new jurisdiction over legislative employees. DIR presented proposals for legal unit reclassifications, two major IT modernization projects, a new Cal/OSHA emerging technologies unit, a COIA reappropriation, and trailer bill language on electronic assessment payments and the DWC director salary cap. CalHR proposed additional funding for a consolidated employee assistance program contract, and CalPERS and CalSTRS presented budget adjustments tied to investment costs and state contribution changes.
Members focused heavily on UI debt and interest payments, asking the administration for a plan to reduce the outstanding loan and relieve employers. Finance said no specific repayment plan was included in the May Revision, while LAO said the state’s UI tax structure is structurally insufficient and that any debt payoff should be paired with tax-system reform. Senators also questioned EDD Next costs and timelines, PERB’s caseload and staffing needs, and DIR’s emerging technologies unit, with LAO noting that the unit would appear focused on physical workplace safety rather than broader AI labor issues. CalHR said the new EAP contract would consolidate services, improve access to clinicians, and lower costs relative to the current model. CalPERS defended higher external management fees as part of a strategy to pursue higher net returns, while some members pressed for more transparency about private investments; CalSTRS said it was not prepared to address investment-strategy questions at this hearing.
Public comment in Part A was dominated by advocates urging support for an immigration enforcement emergency relief fund, along with comments supporting the Jails to Jobs proposal, the Apprenticeship Innovation Fund, and additional PERB funding. The chair noted that many of the immigration-related requests might fall under other committees and said staff would follow up. In Part B, Finance and LAO outlined judicial branch and DOJ May Revision items, including funding for court interpreter services, appellate court security, lactation room implementation delays, courthouse construction reappropriations, and DOJ budget increases. LAO recommended approving the language-access proposal with a report on reducing interpreter cost growth and reducing the General Fund backfill for state court facilities by $10 million on an ongoing basis.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Our turnover rate increases over time, which causes a bigger problem in our workforce.
- As Gail noted, we have a catastrophic workforce crisis.
- Since COVID, we have lost 31% of our workforce.
- So the bottom is going to fall out of the state workforce.
- We are still missing over... ...25% of our workforce from the pandemic.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Seventy - Thursday, May 14 - Morning Session
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This bill removes the sunset for the workforce diploma program.
- It has the fast-track workforce incentive grant.
- department. ...and workforce development.
- We just needed to clarify the term eligible workforce training programs.
- The Workforce Diploma piece takes just the sunsets off of the workforce diploma and doesn't touch anything
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Budget Section Human Resources Division Mar 18th, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- Is there any thought of using existing workforce that's maybe out in the of using existing workforce
- grants because we don't want to see a moving around the deck of health care workforce.
- grants because we don't want to see a moving around the deck of health care workforce.
- And this is workforce retention. Because again, we aren't in a shortage. We are in a crisis.
- Workforce retention. Because again, we aren't in a shortage. We are in a crisis.
Summary:
The committee first approved the December 10 minutes and then received a DEQ base budget summary and agency overview. DEQ staff explained that the agency is largely federally and special funded, with major ongoing costs in salaries, operating expenses, grants, and continuing appropriations. Director Dave Glatt and accounting director Beth Jacobson highlighted core programs, the move to a new chemistry laboratory, the new state fuel inspection program, wastewater-related funding from HB 1577, and implementation of SB 2267 for on-site wastewater rules. They also noted the agency’s spending patterns, possible federal EPA cuts, and the likelihood of some fee adjustments or program changes if federal support declines.
Members asked about DEQ’s travel, field offices, future staffing, and how the agency would respond to reduced federal regulation. DEQ said most staff are based in Bismarck, with field offices in Fargo, Sawyer, and Gwinner, and that travel is driven by inspections and spill response. Glatt said the agency would continue to rely on science and law, and that any future federal retrenchment could mean more state responsibility but likely not a wholesale increase in FTEs. The committee also discussed a feedlot enforcement case in the Minot area, with DEQ explaining its role in ensuring compliance, permitting, and animal-waste management standards.
The Department of Health and Human Services then presented on FTE block grant reporting, TANF balances, child care transfers, and the Rural Health Transformation Program. Donna Ockland explained that no line-item transfers had occurred yet for the new rural health work, but about 33 positions were planned and some current staff time could be reimbursed through approved cost allocation. HHS also reviewed TANF’s frozen eligibility and block grant structure, the transfer of up to 30% of TANF funds to child care, and recent program changes that increased benefits and raised the income limit. Staff said the department is using TANF more strategically to support child care and other allowable uses, while still carrying over unused funds as many states do.
Finally, Pat and HHS staff gave an update on the Rural Health Transformation Program, saying the first funding opportunity was being posted and that the state is on track to obligate the federal funds within the required timeline. They described priorities such as workforce retention, preceptor development, technical assistance for critical access hospitals, community wellness projects, and ambulance upgrades. Members asked about rural versus urban eligibility, immigrant recruitment, evaluation of year-two funding, and how the program would address varied local workforce needs. The meeting then shifted to an Office of Management and Budget update on the new State Hospital project, where Lindsay Ashley reported continued construction progress, updated cost information, and selected alternates, with photos and details showing work underway in multiple building sections.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- My name is Lauren Schol-Thorst, and I'm the director of workplace management and workforce development
- of workplace management and workforce of workplace management and workforce development<00:15:09.120
- Well, if I go to college and I pay for my tuition and I get into the workforce for about a year and I
- Well, if I go to college and I pay for my tuition and I get into the workforce for about a year and I
- for about a and I get into the workforce for about a year<00:30:31.760>
and <00:30:31.880>
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Appropriations and Finance Jan 17th, 2026 at 09:11 am
House Appropriations & Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- requests, but let's just look at Workforce Solutions.
- Okay, on line 141, this 750,000 it says for Personnel Workforce Solutions—implementing changes due to
- And I'm just wondering if it's not at Workforce Solutions. Where is it?
- I have a question about line 295: the Workforce Solutions Department to implement... ...and evaluate
- That funds workforce housing and infrastructure for affordable housing, which were gaps in our funding
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Artificial Intelligence Task Force 2025 (8-14-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- I need x amount<00:12:41.200>
of <00:12:41.360>workforce. - I want to be so amount of workforce.
- They'll try to finalize their workforce plans and so forth.
- They might have uh a workforce, right?
- >
where <00:31:10.720>they particular workforce need where they particular workforce need
Summary:
The Artificial Intelligence Task Force held its third meeting and adopted the prior minutes after a motion and second. The main presentation came from John Bevington of LG&E and KU, who described the utility’s Kentucky service territory, its vertically integrated operations, and its role in economic development. He said the company supported 76 projects in 2024, representing about $3 billion in announced investment and roughly 3,000 jobs, and noted that about 45% of statewide investment announcements were in its service area. He also outlined a large project pipeline of about 8.5 gigawatts, with data centers making up roughly two-thirds of that interest.
Bevington explained that data center siting differs from traditional manufacturing site selection because it is driven primarily by transmission access and grid capacity rather than a process of eliminating locations. He said large data centers must locate near transmission lines, that utilities must conduct formal studies to ensure existing customers are not harmed, and that the buildout timeline for utility infrastructure is much longer than for data centers. He cited a Deloitte study and other industry data to argue that power constraints and timeline mismatches are the biggest challenges, while also emphasizing that data centers can generate significant construction activity, indirect jobs, and tax revenue. He said Kentucky’s sales tax exemption for data centers was a key enabler that increased interest in the state.
Members asked about the number and size of potential data center projects, how Kentucky compares with other states, and whether regulatory reform is needed. Bevington said the 20 projects in Kentucky reflect current interest, that other states such as Ohio have had similar incentives for years, and that Kentucky is still early in the market. He also said data centers can vary in size, from 200 to 600 megawatts or more, and that they can be located anywhere with sufficient transmission capacity and, in some cases, access to workforce and roads. In response to concerns about energy supply, he said LG&E and KU are pursuing an “all of the above” strategy, including solar, batteries, and new natural gas combined-cycle units, and noted ongoing and proposed projects totaling additional capacity if approved by the Public Service Commission.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
House Chamber - Wed Mar 12, 2025, 12:00PM HST - Day 30
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- . $3.9 million in FY 26 and $3.6 million in FY 27 for workforce readiness programs. $4 million annually
- <00:52:47.079>
Readiness FY 27 for Workforce Readiness FY 27 for Workforce Readiness programs - This budget prioritizes investments in a labor force and workforce to modernize operations and expand
- This budget prioritizes investments in a labor force and workforce to modernize operations and expand
- so with all to our federal Workforce so with all that<01:14:54.480>
being <01:14:54.679>said
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Public Works and Highways (01/14/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- and that's largely driven by Workforce and that's largely driven by Workforce the<00:43:07.000><
- It also incentivizes our current workforce to stay with us through the winter.
- It also incentivizes our current workforce to stay with us through the winter.
- It also incentivizes our current workforce to stay with us through the winter.
- It also incentivizes our current workforce to stay with us through the winter.
Summary:
The Public Works and Highways Committee held an orientation meeting focused on introducing members, outlining committee norms, and hearing an overview from the Department of Transportation. Chair David Mills emphasized the committee’s long-standing bipartisan working style, asked members to share contact information for short-notice scheduling, and noted that the committee would need to complete as much work as possible before the building is vacated later in the year. Members introduced themselves and described backgrounds in engineering, construction, planning, local government, military service, education, and business. Several members highlighted prior service on planning boards, school boards, zoning boards, or in transportation-related fields as relevant to the committee’s work.
Members repeatedly described the committee as collegial and nonpartisan, with most bills going to the consent calendar. The chair also noted that the committee’s work centers on state infrastructure, including roads, bridges, highways, and buildings. Representative Cluder, the ranking member, and others echoed that the committee is effective because it talks issues through and resolves disagreements collaboratively. One member mentioned a recent trip that reinforced the importance of infrastructure resilience after storms and rebuilding efforts in other states.
Department of Transportation officials, led by Assistant Commissioner and Chief Engineer David Rodrig, gave a detailed organizational and operational overview. They described DOT’s structure, mission of “transportation excellence,” and major responsibilities across highways, bridges, rail, transit, aeronautics, maintenance, and administration. Rodrig reported 1,651 permanent positions and 404 vacancies, 2,160 state bridges with 115 on the Red List, 4,600 centerline miles of roadway, 25 public airports, 11 transit systems, and 194 active state-owned rail lines. He also outlined FY 2024 spending, project development activity, highway maintenance operations, fleet and fuel systems, and the distinction between the highway fund and DOT’s budget, including the role of federal funds and the turnpike enterprise fund. No votes were taken and no bills were acted on during this orientation meeting.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Rural Health Transformation Committee Jan 14th, 2026 at 08:30 am
Transcript Highlights:
- participate in 10 of the compacts because they are a very important tool in being able to enable workforce
- military who end up being relocated to North Dakota have a much easier time becoming a part of the workforce
- perhaps in some cases a section on what North Dakota state law might. tool in being able to enable workforce
- military who end up being relocated to North Dakota have a much easier time becoming a part of the workforce
- advancement in North Dakota. ...for us to make it easier for workforce advancement in North Dakota,
Summary:
The Health Care Task Force reconvened to hear reports from its divisions. The Appropriations Division reviewed a draft bill appropriating $198 million in federal grant funds for the current year and another $198 million for the next grant year, authorizing DHS to transfer funds within its budget, allowing OMB to adjust federal fund authority for related grants, speeding procurement and bulk purchasing, requiring grant recipients to acknowledge the temporary nature of the funding, and mandating periodic reporting. After questions were answered to the division’s satisfaction, the committee voted to forward the appropriations bill draft to Legislative Management.
The Policy Division then reviewed four bills. One would require the presidential physical fitness test to be included in high school physical education; another would require physicians to complete one hour of continuing education on nutrition and metabolic health each renewal cycle; a third would add physician assistants to the interstate licensure compact framework; and a fourth would authorize limited pharmacist prescriptive authority and therapeutic substitution. Members generally supported the first three measures and noted that the pharmacist bill had been amended in discussion but was left in its current form so stakeholders could comment before the special session. The division also discussed that all four policy bills were tied to the federal grant funding and that failure to pass them, or changing them in a way that reduced CMS scoring, could reduce or eliminate funding.
Department officials confirmed that if any of the bills failed or were altered in a way that lowered the score, the state could lose money and could not make up the points elsewhere. Members raised concerns about the physical fitness bill, including possible exemptions for students with severe illnesses or physical limitations, and noted the need for DPI input. Leadership indicated the special session hearings would likely begin Wednesday morning. The committee then approved a motion for Legislative Council to prepare a committee report for Legislative Management and adjourned, noting the task force may need to remain available during the special session.