Video & Transcript Research : 'residential program licensing'
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MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Financial Services Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am
Joint Committee on Financial Services
Transcript Highlights:
- The residential rehabilitation programs or outpatient settings typically provide speech, occupational
- At the residential rehabilitation programs that I have been involved with, I saw patients weekly and
- The residential rehabilitation programs or outpatient settings typically provide speech, occupational
- At the residential rehabilitation programs that I have been involved with, I saw patients weekly and
- The residential rehabilitation programs or outpatient settings typically provide speech, occupational
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a lengthy public hearing with testimony on a wide range of health insurance and access-to-care bills. Early testimony focused on prescription drug pricing and pharmacy reimbursement, with supporters of H. 1326 arguing that pharmacy benefit managers and MassHealth managed care arrangements reimburse independent pharmacies too little, contributing to pharmacy closures and “pharmacy deserts.” The committee also heard repeated support for H. 1151/S. 742 on cognitive rehabilitation for acquired brain injury, H. 1288/S. 716 on telehealth parity for nutrition counseling, H. 1309/S. 761 on full-spectrum pregnancy care without cost-sharing, H. 1312 on insurance coverage for doula services, H. 309 on prompt access to health care by removing deductibles for certain services, H. 809/H. 1227 on biomarker testing, H. 1162/S. 810 on reducing inequities in access to medical procedures by limiting insurer cuts tied to Modifier 25, and S. 726 on insurance coverage for mobile integrated health.
Testifiers included legislators, physicians, pharmacists, dietitians, emergency and rehabilitation clinicians, and patients and family members. Supporters of the brain injury bill said cognitive rehabilitation is medically necessary, improves long-term outcomes, and can reduce institutional care and public costs; they noted the bill has been heard repeatedly and has support from the Brain Injury Commission and prior favorable committee action. Supporters of the pregnancy care and doula bills described out-of-pocket costs as a barrier to maternal health and shared personal stories of high bills and unmet support needs. Biomarker testing advocates and cancer patients said coverage gaps deny patients access to precision treatment, can lead to avoidable suffering, and should be standardized across insurers; several speakers said insurers often deny claims despite clinical benefit. Dermatology witnesses said insurers’ use of Modifier 25 cuts reimbursement for same-day evaluation and procedure visits, forcing separate appointments and increasing patient burden. Mobile integrated health supporters described home-based care as a way to reduce emergency department use and hospital readmissions, especially for patients with transportation or mobility barriers. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the hearing itself.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Consider you called out residential programs, so again, a residential addiction program that is helping
- Consider you called out residential programs, so again, a residential addiction program that is helping
- Consider you called out residential programs, so again, a residential addiction program that is helping
- Consider you called out residential programs, so again, a residential addiction program that is helping
- Consider you called out residential programs, so again, a residential addiction program that is helping
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Human Services May 21st, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- The next item is oversight of manual restraints and seclusions in short-term residential treatment programs
- program analysts across the state, as well as do-it-yourself online applications for licensing and dashboard
- . grant program.
- For self-determination programs, obviously it's quite a popular program.
- Additionally, somebody living in a licensed residential facility may say that there are things happening
Summary:
The hearing began with opening remarks on the Governor’s May Revision for child care and human services, with committee members and advocates stressing that the budget should not be balanced on the backs of low-income families, children, and providers. Legislative members and public witnesses strongly opposed the proposed suspension of the child care COLA, reductions to the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program, and the lack of codified rate reform tied to the alternative methodology. Several speakers also urged more support for providers affected by the Eaton fire and other disasters, and called for child care to be funded at the true cost of care and for additional slots to be restored.
Administration, LAO, and Department of Education staff described the child care proposal as maintaining existing funding levels while adding administrative resources to prepare for federally required prospective payment changes and single-rate reform. The administration said the May Revision would suspend the 2025–26 COLA and reduce Bridge Program funding to align with utilization, while the LAO raised questions about the size and purpose of the proposed rate-reform and prospective-payment funding and recommended rejecting a Department of Technology exemption. CDE supported continued early education investments but said it would need additional resources if prospective pay were extended to state preschool, and it objected to a proposed reallocation of preschool funds for inclusive education grants.
The committee then moved to the IHSS portion of the May Revision. DSS outlined five major proposals: capping provider work hours at 50 per week, eliminating IHSS for undocumented adults age 19 and older, shifting certain Community First Choice reassessment penalties to counties, reinstating the Medi-Cal asset test as a conforming IHSS reduction, and automating the termination of IHSS when Medi-Cal eligibility ends. DSS also discussed funding to implement a federal HCBS access rule and a separate reassessment of IHSS administrative methodology that found counties would need additional administrative funding. Finance said the proposals were intended to slow program growth and improve sustainability, while the LAO said it was still analyzing the package and raised concerns about implementation, county workload, and the potential loss of services.
Committee members and public commenters criticized the IHSS cuts, especially the overtime cap and the elimination of services for undocumented adults and people affected by the asset test. Advocates argued that IHSS workers and recipients depend on these services, that county administration is already underfunded, and that the proposals could destabilize vulnerable consumers. The chair closed by saying the committee would continue to fight for child care and would not pause on child care, and the meeting recessed before moving on to the remaining May Revision items.
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
Appropriations S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII Feb 26th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- We now issue or renew, as I mentioned, almost a million licenses over 28 programs, and we take pride
- We oversee 205 license types over 38 programs.
- We have auctioneers program that we license, we license cat breeders.
- Um, we maintain registration programs for securities and, uh, licensed financial, uh, service providers
- , um, because even those programs didn't know about this license.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee 3/5/25
Human Services Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- As we discussed earlier, the licensing and program integrity functions from the Department of Human Services
- <00:21:16.640>
and <00:21:16.840>program <00:21:17.159>Integrity licensing and program - Integrity licensing and program Integrity functions<00:21:18.080>
from <00:21:18.400>the - licensing reform?
- c> hinders license licensing supports not hinders license licensing supports not hinders highquality
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 3/10/26
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- program teaches certification program teaches applicators<00:03:07.680>
how <00:03:07.840> - c> supports practices, the program supports practices, the program supports long-term<00:03:24.720
- and licensing, certification and licensing, occupational<00:20:36.720>
licensing, <00:20:37.280 - and I'm licensed engineer in Minnesota. and I'm licensed engineer in Minnesota.
- We got four years in the program. know. We got four years in the program.
Keywords:
groundwater, water use permit, data centers, public health, environmental regulations, municipalities, state park license plate, specialty license plate, Minnesota DNR, Department of Natural Resources, license plate design contest, North Shore, Lake Superior Agate, AI-generated art, artificial intelligence, Minnesota resident, state parks, specialty plates, vehicle registration, contest requirements
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- , getting things up to code if they're having to rent to HUD-related voucher programs, other programs
- , getting things up to code if they're having to rent to HUD-related voucher programs, other programs
- , getting things up to code if they're having to rent to HUD-related voucher programs, other programs
- Those licenses expire, and we have to renew those licenses.
- licensing fees. licensing fees.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division III (01/30/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- know that some programs are better than other programs according to the evidence.
- program, in the community.
- program, in the community.
- program, in the community.
- our home visiting programs.
Summary:
House Finance Division III held an informational hearing with the Department of Health and Human Services focused on child and family services, children’s behavioral health, DCF, juvenile justice, and adult mental health. Before the presentation, members discussed scheduling a future site visit to Waypoint, including possible dates, mileage reimbursement logistics, and whether to reschedule the department’s developmental disabilities and healthy aging presentation because the associate commissioner was out sick. The department then outlined that it would concentrate on children’s behavioral health, DCF residential care and the Sununu Youth Services Center/YDC new build, and adult mental health, while noting the broader DHHS structure and the value of keeping related services under one leadership.
The department emphasized an integrated “system of care” approach and said it was trying to shift resources toward earlier, lower-intensity interventions rather than relying mainly on high-cost residential and acute services. It cited youth risk data showing roughly four in ten New Hampshire high school students feeling sad or hopeless and about one in five considering suicide in the past year, and said these trends worsened during the pandemic, peaking in 2021 and easing somewhat by 2023. Members asked how New Hampshire compared with neighboring states and about pre-COVID trends; the department said it would follow up with more exact data. The presentation also described a long-term policy effort beginning with federal funding in 2012, the state’s 10-year mental health plan, and later legislation aimed at strengthening children’s behavioral health and transforming juvenile justice so that youth with behavioral health needs are not routed into punitive systems first.
Members raised questions about out-of-state residential placement oversight and the statutory basis for inspections and follow-up. The department said the General Court had funded more “boots on the ground” oversight, in coordination with the Office of the Child Advocate, and agreed to provide a longer follow-up presentation on that topic after the governor’s budget is released. The department also described evidence-based prevention efforts, including home visiting programs such as Healthy Families America and a DCF-connected home visiting cohort for families already touching the child welfare system, as examples of trying to keep children out of deeper system involvement.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Special Committee on Property Tax Reform Jan 13th, 2026 at 12:00 pm
Special Committee on Property Tax Reform
Transcript Highlights:
- These rules already applied to residential property.
- But if we did it by subclass, it would protect that residential increase.
- We had heard from residential up to that point.
- And, you know, the residential thing was very compelling.
- So he did 9% across the board on residential property.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate - Tax, Business and Transportation Jan 27th, 2026 at 01:42 pm
Senate Tax, Business & Transportation
Transcript Highlights:
- CYFD already has good visibility into who those licensed foster parents are.
- process, they can be licensed up to six beds or six children.
- We have a very active program.
- And I know I've worked on multifamily residential, which is really.
- It was a licensing fee, okay? Grocery store was $10 to $50 per year.
Keywords:
quantum technology, tax credit, infrastructure, economic development, New Mexico, corporate tax, research and development, innovation, foster care, income tax, guardianship, youth services, financial relief, affordable housing, gross receipts tax, tax deduction, construction materials, multifamily housing, low income, tax credits
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
Appropriations - Subcommittees Mar 20th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- We increased appropriations for a driver's license office in Hays.
- Um, an increased appropriations of $5 million for a driver's license office in Montgomery County and
- So, Representative Wu, we talked about the regional residential vocational program cutting that.
- If no further discussion, the chair moves to adopt Articles 14 and for a driver's license, driver's license
- So, um, Representative Wu, we talked about the regional residential vocational program cutting that.
Summary:
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Articles 14 and 5 met first and adopted its report on budget recommendations by a 4-0 vote, with three members absent. The chair said the report finalized prior decisions and could not be changed at that stage. Notable additions discussed included increased appropriations for the Office of the Attorney General, DPS driver’s license offices in Hays and Montgomery County, TJJD facilities and programs, Texas Facilities Commission funding for SCIF projects in Lubbock and San Antonio, THC funding for the Juneteenth Museum, an alcohol tourism study, and a TDCJ statewide reentry services pilot program. Members thanked staff and the meeting adjourned after the vote.
The Article 3 subcommittee then presented its report for the committee substitute for Senate Bill 1, describing it as a procedural step that incorporated prior discussions, member writers, and changes made with Chairman Bonin. The chair noted that most items had been moved to Article 11 and that rejected riders were duplicates or conflicted with general law. The report was adopted unanimously, 6-0, and the subcommittee adjourned.
The Articles 6, 7, and 8 subcommittee followed with its report for Senate Bill 1. During consideration, a member raised a point of order arguing the subcommittee had violated House rules requiring audio and video recording of formal meetings and public availability online. The chair rejected the point of order and proceeded to a roll call vote. After extended debate over the recording issue and the chair’s handling of the point of order, the report was adopted, with the transcript reflecting 6 ayes, 1 nay, and 1 absent. The subcommittee then adjourned.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- fraud in Minnesota's EIDBI program. fraud in Minnesota's EIDBI program.
- provisional licenses this year. provisional licenses this year.
- While we largely support the bill, we do have one concern: the licensing moratorium on community residential
- uh authorizing services or licensing uh authorizing services or licensing HCBS<00:33:07.280>
- uh this disproportionate share program uh this disproportionate share program is<00:57:54.560>
WV
West Virginia 2026 Regular Session
Senate in Session Mar 13th, 2026 at 01:31 pm
West Virginia Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Of West Virginia driver's licenses in those countries.
- This is in addition to license revocation for life.
- This bill defines a wellness reimbursement program.
- It also requires a wellness reimbursement program administrator to be licensed by the insurance commissioner
- Current law ends the program on December 31 of this year.
Summary:
The Senate considered and passed a series of House bills on third reading, with several title amendments and a few effective-date motions adopted. Early in the session, members passed HB 4452 removing acreage limits on land owned by church or religious trustees, HB 4577 creating reciprocal driver’s license recognition agreements with Ireland and Japan, HB 4588 authorizing West Virginia participation in a federal tax credit scholarship program, and HB 4592 requiring higher education institutions to create coordinated campus safety maps. HB 4602 was amended to align with a prior Senate child welfare pilot program, and members discussed its projected cost and implementation timeline before passing it. HB 4603 created a pre-adjudicatory alternative disposition process in abuse and neglect cases, and HB 4606 narrowed bail rules by requiring consideration of residency and community ties while prohibiting personal recognizance bonds for violent felony offenses after an adopted amendment.
The Senate also passed HB 4710 changing the party-registration deadline for candidates from 60 to 180 days before an election, with debate over its impact on independents, and made it effective January 1, 2027. HB 4712, known as Bailey’s Law, increased penalties for DUI causing death and related conduct, with emotional testimony from members about the victim and similar tragedies. HB 4765 established a pay raise for teachers, school personnel, and state police and added a market-pay enhancement system based on county cost-of-living differences; an amendment to the amendment capped county differentials and guaranteed at least a 1% increase in every county. HB 4865 created an optional program for high school and homeschool students to serve as election official trainees, and HB 4869 established narrow guaranteed-issue rights for Medicare supplement policies.
Later bills included HB 4995, which strengthened video/audio recording rules in special education classrooms and was passed, then reconsidered and passed again; HB 4996 creating a new crime for making threats of violence against schools or children; HB 5048 guaranteeing virtual instruction for foster children in temporary placement; HB 5065 adding recordkeeping and geolocation requirements for hotel marketplace facilitators to ensure proper hotel tax remittance; and HB 5074 reallocating medical cannabis fund revenues to child protection, homeless services, research, law enforcement, and other purposes. The Senate also passed HB 5101, the Joanna Phillips Domestic Violence Prevention Act, which increased penalties for domestic violence offenses and adjusted bail provisions, after amending it to conform with the earlier bail bill. Additional measures passed included HB 5166 requiring notice before political committees are fined for filing violations and allowing limited extensions, HB 5168 directing $12 million in lottery funds to EMS first responders and county EMS support, HB 5182 authorizing certain state treasurer security personnel to carry concealed firearms, HB 5212 streamlining higher-education financial aid rules, HB 5214 allowing court-ordered drug testing of parents before reunification in abuse and neglect cases, HB 5353 regulating virtual currency kiosks with licensing, disclosures, and transaction limits, and HB 5366 exempting J-LAP records from FOIA to protect confidentiality for lawyers and judges seeking assistance. Most bills passed with strong bipartisan support, though HB 5074 and HB 5353 drew some dissenting votes.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- This is a pilot program.
- It's a pilot program.
- It's a pilot program.
- With this program, and I'm not familiar...
- some even deny the programs.
Keywords:
hunting education, firearm safety, outdoor recreation, curriculum, youth education, conservation, collegiate athletics, funding, name image likeness, revenue sharing, NCAA compliance, student-athlete support, financial sustainability, work-based learning, task force, internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing, cooperative education, co-op
Summary:
The House Education Committee met on May 12, 2026, and first approved SB 518, which gives LSU a two-year pilot authority to buy and sell certain real estate within one mile of campus to support redevelopment and student needs. Senator Foyle and LSU representatives said the bill is intended to help the university act more quickly on deteriorating nearby properties and some Greek housing transactions, with safeguards such as appraisal and fair-market-value requirements. Members asked about whether the authority would affect mostly commercial property and whether the pilot could later be expanded to other universities; the bill was reported favorably without objection.
The committee then reported SCR 33, creating a one-year Work-Based Learning Coordination Task Force to study and better coordinate internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing, and related programs across state agencies and employers. Support testimony emphasized that Louisiana’s education and workforce systems are too siloed and that the task force would map existing efforts, identify gaps, and recommend a statewide structure. HR 168 also passed, directing the Board of Regents to study collegiate athletic program funding after concerns raised by athletic directors about deficits and accounting practices.
Members next approved SB 488, a school safety drone response pilot program, after testimony described drones as a supplemental security tool that could respond faster than police and work with law enforcement; an amendment required coordination with the Department of Education, State Police, and the Sheriffs’ Association. HCR 97 was reported favorably to ask BESE and Wildlife and Fisheries to study age- and grade-appropriate hunting, conservation, and shooting sports education for grades 5-12. The committee also approved SB 112, allowing local school boards to adopt parental-consent release-time policies for religious instruction, with amendments on instructor qualifications, grade reporting, and constitutional safeguards; SB 504, expanding individual graduation plans to include vocational options and charter schools; SB 346 and SB 347, addressing harmful deepfakes involving K-12 and college students; and SB 353, authorizing postsecondary systems to digitize student IDs for LA Wallet, though members raised concerns about naming a specific vendor. The meeting adjourned after SB 353 was reported favorably.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- The second one is adult day program.
- And residential is 23 percent.
- We had licensed psychological examiners independent, and that's actually my license.
- You hope to get into an ABA program.
- Has the licensing board been moving forward with issuing these licenses yet?
Summary:
The Arkansas Legislative Autism Task Force approved the April 1, 2026 meeting minutes and then reviewed several vacant membership slots on the task force, including appointments from the Arkansas Psychology Board, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield, UAMS, and parent or guardian positions. Members discussed trying to fill those vacancies before the next meeting, and noted that if they remain open they may be addressed in the task force’s legislative report and through possible statutory changes in the next General Assembly.
Representatives from the Developmental Disabilities Provider Association (DDPA) and Civitan Services presented on DDPA’s role serving children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Arkansas. They said DDPA now represents 80 providers serving more than 13,000 individuals in 75 counties, with services including early intervention, adult day programs, supported employment, intermediate care facilities, work activities, and community/residential waiver services. They also shared survey data on older clients and said these services remain available to seniors with IDD, including people with autism.
The task force then heard a proposal to amend Act 656 of 2021 to include licensed psychological practitioners as qualified providers for autism waiver-related evaluations. The presenter argued this would reduce wait times, avoid duplicate assessments, and help families access services sooner, while still maintaining quality standards. Members asked about training, licensure, and whether other professionals such as speech-language pathologists or audiologists should be included; Dr. Scott noted that current practice already relies on a two-provider model and that speech-language pathologists play a role because autism diagnosis considers communication, cognitive ability, and language. The discussion also touched on the need for proper testing standards and board oversight. No vote was taken on the amendment, and the meeting ended with plans to return to fraud-related discussion and to begin prioritizing recommendations for the 2027 session before adjourning.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
March 19, 2025 - 01:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- All right, next up, we have House Bill 799, special alcoholic beverages license issued through residential
- You're talking three licensed contractors right there.
- You're talking three licensed contractors right there.
- My company is a licensed pool and spa contractor.
- We're talking about licensed HVAC contractors, licensed contractors governed by DBPR, Class A mechanical
Summary:
The subcommittee met with a quorum and took up a series of bills, beginning with PCS for HB 743 on social media use by minors. The sponsor said the bill would extend last session’s restrictions by requiring parental access to messages for minors ages 15 and 16 and allowing law enforcement access with a warrant or parental request. Members raised concerns about abuse situations and private communications, but the sponsor said the bill was aimed at protecting children from grooming and trafficking. The PCS was supported in public testimony and passed 15-0.
Members then approved HB 1161, which would let victims of altered sexual depictions or deepfakes demand removal of the content and pursue civil remedies if it is not taken down; an amendment clarified a definition tied to federal law, and the bill passed 14-0. The committee also passed local bills for Duval County (HB 4053) and Oviedo/Seminole County (HB 4031) creating special alcohol licensing exception areas, and HB 717, which increases penalties for unlawful demolition of historic buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places, with supporters from historic preservation and local government groups.
The committee next approved HB 1035 on building permits for single-family dwellings, as amended, to extend permit validity around building code updates, speed approvals after emergencies, and create faster review timelines for smaller projects; members questioned possible loopholes and storm-related applications, while the home builders association supported the measure. It also passed PCS for HB 1219 on employment agreements, creating a framework for covered non-compete and garden leave agreements for higher-wage employees or those with access to confidential information; several members objected to its impact on workers and the marketplace, and the vote was 11-5. Additional favorable votes were taken on HB 799 regarding condominium alcohol licenses, HB 869 expanding underground utility contractors’ scope to include certain fire line work after a contested amendment and testimony from both utility and fire sprinkler groups, HB 1071 on alternative plan reviews and inspections, PCS for HB 981 on athlete representation and NIL compensation, and PCS for HB 801 on HVAC/mechanical contractors repairing and replacing certain pool heaters, both of which drew mixed testimony and debate over scope and safety. The final item introduced was HB 311 on repair of motorized wheelchairs, which the sponsor said would improve access to parts, tools, and independent repair options for users.
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
January 14, 2026 - 01:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- THE DBPR LICENSES, THERE ARE ROUGHLY ALMOST 1/2 A MILLION REAL ESTATE LICENSES. 490,000.
- IT WILL ALSO DEVALUE OUR LICENSE IN THE EYES OF OTHER STATES. IS A MUTUAL RECOGNITION PROGRAM.
- RIGHT NOW IF YOU ARE A FELON YOU CAN'T GET A LICENSE BUT YOU MAY HAVE DRIVEN ON A SUSPENDED LICENSE AND
- I HAVE MULTIPLE LICENSES IN DPP ARE AND AN FDAX.
- HAVE BEEN 15, 17 YEARS NOW I HAVE HAD LICENSES.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- property whether it's residential property whether it's residential whether<00:13:27.160>
it's - we could and der's mostly residential we could and der's mostly residential 85%<00:23:56.039>
- <01:08:06.039>
to will essentially allow the program to will essentially allow the program - part of the housing Champions program part of the housing Champions program there's<01:08:25.279
- challenge the incentive of this program challenge the incentive of this program is<01:18:12.960>
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- This bill addresses concerns with the Texas Alcohol Awareness Program.
- from the These programs were unique because they were the only online alcohol awareness programs that
- . the TDLR program.
- The state-approved alcohol awareness program and our program were all under TDLR's regulation, from when
- are in general residential operations.
Keywords:
juvenile justice, correctional facilities, reform, rehabilitation, Texas Juvenile Justice Department, alcohol awareness, court-ordered programs, substance misuse education, deferred disposition, youth, parole reform, inmates under 18, mental health, educational achievement, reintegration, foster youth, behavior intervention, community services, diversion policies, HB 5653
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- And then second one is adult day program.
- And residential is 23%.
- We had licensed psychological examiners independent, and that's actually my license.
- You hope to get into an ABA program.
- Has the licensing board been moving forward with issuing these licenses yet?
Summary:
The Arkansas Legislative Autism Task Force approved the April 1, 2026 meeting minutes and discussed several vacant membership slots, including positions tied to the Arkansas Psychology Board, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield, UAMS, and parent or guardian appointments. Members said they would try to fill the vacancies and, if not, include the issue in the legislative report and consider statutory changes in the next General Assembly.
The task force then heard from the Developmental Disabilities Provider Association and Civitan Services about DDPA’s role in supporting 80 provider organizations serving more than 13,000 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across 75 counties. They described services such as early intervention day programs, adult day programs, supported employment, intermediate care facilities, work activities, and community/residential waiver services, and said autism falls within the populations they serve. They also shared survey information on services used by older adults with IDD and offered contact information for providers.
Members also heard a proposal to amend Act 656 of 2021 to add licensed psychological practitioners as qualified providers for autism waiver-related evaluations. The presenter argued this would reduce wait times, avoid duplicate assessments, and help families access services sooner, while noting that Arkansas Medicaid already pays for some of these evaluations. Task force members and Dr. Scott discussed the roles of psychologists, speech-language pathologists, and the possibility of using training or board oversight to ensure evaluators are properly qualified, with some noting that speech pathologists’ inclusion has historical and clinical roots. The task force also said it still needs a future discussion on fraud, plans to invite the Attorney General’s office, and wants to identify priorities for the 2027 session before adjourning.