Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:25.080> payments<00:03:26.080> Financial monitoring payments Financial monitoring
• <00:10:38.680> and requirements high level monitoring and requirements high level monitoring
• unannounced monitoring would be very efficient because there would be no time to plan.
• now has um information about monitoring now has um information about monitoring visits<01:14:56.560
• right now policy talks about monitoring right now policy talks about monitoring and<01:15:30.360

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• general supervision monitoring or PAGS. general supervision monitoring or PAGS.
• Monitoring. Okay. Thank you. And Okay. Monitoring. Okay. Thank you.
• So that one is posted on the website under our monitoring page, and every report for monitoring for every
• page and every report for our monitoring page and every report for monitoring<00:46:01.760> for
• So, we do the monitoring. We have the Office of Training and Monitoring, and they do all of that.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee met for its third discussion on special education aid under retained bill 742, with the chair noting that no action would be taken at the meeting. The chair reviewed prior hearings on Medicaid and local special education funding shortfalls, saying the committee was trying to understand why districts are facing proration of special education aid and how to reduce unfunded costs. He raised a series of questions for the Department of Education about the Nessus system, eligibility and ineligibility, invoices and vouchers, audit procedures, reimbursement rates, out-of-state placements, and who enters data at the district level. Rebecca Fdet, director of special education services at the Department of Education, explained that Nessus is the statewide special education information system and that every child in special education must be entered into it. She said most districts use it to develop IEPs and track services, while six districts use it only as a data reporting tool. She described which fields are required, how the system connects IEP development to the financial section, and how districts submit invoices when seeking special education aid, court-ordered placement payments, or episode-of-treatment placements. She said the department reviews invoices against the IEP, pays only for allowable services, and uses a cap that notifies districts when they reach the annual limit. Members asked about who submits the information, how districts decide when to seek aid, and how costs are calculated for individual or group services. Fdet said the district, usually an administrative assistant in the SAU office, submits the documentation electronically, and districts decide when to track students for aid based on their own circumstances. She said reimbursement is based on actual costs tied to the IEP, with group services split among students, and that the department does not generally set rates for local services. The only rate-setting she described was for approved private special education providers, which submit annual cost spreadsheets for tuition rates. She also said out-of-state providers must be approved by their own state, and the department checks licensure and certification through monitoring and investigations if concerns arise. The department also described its monitoring process, called Program Approval and General Supervision Monitoring, or PAGS. Fdet said districts are reviewed on a six-year cycle, with more intensive review for districts needing assistance or intervention and fewer file requests for districts meeting requirements. She said the department can review up to 65 data points on an IEP and that districts must submit special education aid paperwork by July 31, with superintendent verification due by August 15. The meeting ended with continued questions about procurement, audit procedures, and how the department handles out-of-district and out-of-state placements.

Transcript Highlights:

• We actively monitor these trends.
• And we'll continue to monitor these numbers.
• So we monitor continuing claims and how long people might need support.
• VEC routinely monitors the balance of the trust fund.
• So those are some of the things that we're monitoring.

Summary: The Commission on Unemployment Compensation met, established a quorum, and elected Delegate Destiny LeVere Bolling as chair and Senator Mike Jones as vice chair. The commission also adopted its electronic meeting policy and heard introductions from new members, staff, and officials from the Secretary of Labor’s office and the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC). Secretary Jessica Lumen outlined the administration’s workforce and labor priorities, including supporting workers, employers, and program transparency, while members raised concerns about business climate, job losses, labor participation, and the implementation of paid family and medical leave. Staff provided legislative updates on recent unemployment-related bills. These included increases to the weekly unemployment benefit amount enacted in 2025 and 2026, a bill on labor dispute disqualification that changed how lockouts are treated for benefit eligibility, and a budget item providing $75,000 for actuarial support to the commission. The commission also discussed the 2025 work group on annual adjustments to weekly benefit amounts; staff reported that the work group did not complete its charge, and members agreed to revisit whether to reconstitute it at a future meeting. Delegate Martinez expressed support for continuing the work, and the chair said the issue would be taken up at the next meeting. Deputy Commissioner Joanna Darkus gave a detailed presentation on Virginia’s unemployment insurance system, including current claims data, eligibility rules, employer tax structure, benefit levels, trust fund solvency, fraud prevention, and customer service operations. She reported that Virginia’s unemployment rate remains low, weekly claims are modest, the current weekly benefit range is $160 to $478, and the trust fund balance factor is projected at 50.9 percent, near the threshold for additional employer charges. Members asked about the taxable wage base, trust fund solvency, the effect of benefit increases, fraud controls, and the planned paid family and medical leave program. VEC said it is implementing that program through regulations, staffing, IT procurement, public listening sessions, and consultation with other states. A public commenter from the Virginia Poverty Law Center urged the commission to strengthen state investment in unemployment insurance and warned that federal support is uncertain. The commission then adjourned without taking further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Commissioner Snell stated the corrections staff are unable to monitor all communications.
• is not a jail or prison system in the country that actively monitors every phone call in real time.
• You know, there's going to be something going on with these gang members monitoring these folks.
• That's why it's increased; it's not just an overall bill thing; it's monitored by the calls to do all
• You know, who's monitoring...

Transcript Highlights:

• Our staff monitors the performance of those vendors very strictly.
• And we monitor that at 100% every single month.
• But anytime they go outside the facility, they are required to wear a GPS monitor.
• They are all required to submit to 24/7 GPS monitoring.
• We have full-time contract monitors on each of those facilities that we operate for TDCJ.

Transcript Highlights:

• This adds a seventh in real-time water monitoring.
• Representative, just a couple of quick questions about what we're monitoring.
• So, are we monitoring flow rates, dissolved oxygen, minerals? Chemical pollutants?
• What are we monitoring in this added language in the bill?
• Real-time water monitoring is about what's in the water.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we work very closely with EPA on deciding what we monitor for and where we monitor for it.
• Uh, we work very closely with EPA on deciding what we monitor for and where we monitor for it.
• We have to work with EPA to determine where we monitor and what we monitor for.
• is more air monitoring air monitoring is more air monitoring air monitoring is extremely<01:10:50.159
• for some of Monitor and what we monitor for some of these<01:11:17.000> monitors<01:11:17.679

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We try to make sure that we're monitoring that so that the fund doesn't run a deficit.
• So, we tend to monitor that and then make adjustments every 3 to 4 years.
• 00:26:24.920> then<00:26:25.120> make to monitor that and then make to monitor that and
• generally why is we we sort of monitor generally why is we we sort of monitor the<00:26:35.800><
• <00:31:49.320> those<00:31:49.920> um monitor those um monitor those um negative<00:31:

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Labor and Technology heard testimony on several measures relating to public employment, the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF), retirement benefits, and cafeteria plans. HB 2472 and HB 2276, both concerning EUTF staff and investment office staff salaries, drew support from the trust fund and labor groups, and no opposition was heard in person. HB 2272 and HB 2273, emergency appropriations for public employment cost items, were supported by the administration and labor representatives; members briefly clarified which bargaining units were covered. A longer discussion centered on HB 1664, which would address a dispute mechanism for EUTF-related negotiations. HGEA said the current process lacks a dispute resolution path and that the bill would allow interest arbitration when the state and union disagree. The Department of Human Resources Development and the Budget and Finance director raised concerns about consistency across bargaining units and the role of an arbitrator unfamiliar with the complexities of the system. Senator Moriwaki questioned whether another dispute forum might be more appropriate, but no alternative resolution was settled. The committee also heard HB 1655, which would make retirement benefits negotiable, and HB 1658, concerning collective bargaining repricing. ERS opposed HB 1655, saying it could create administrative and tax problems if retirement benefits were negotiated separately across many bargaining units, while UPW, HGEA, HSTA, and UPA supported it as a bargaining issue. On HB 1658, DHRD explained that repricing is an internal classification tool meant to preserve equal pay for equal work, not to address market pay, and said a single arbitrator or the Merit Appeals Board could handle disputes; HGEA preferred a neutral arbitrator and opposed the Merit Appeals Board as too employer-controlled. The final measure, HB 1661 on cafeteria plans, was supported by UPW and HGEA. DHRD said it planned to raise the maximum contribution through rulemaking but needed to manage plan solvency and timing because IRS limits change on a calendar-year basis while the state plan runs on a fiscal year. The committee then moved into decision-making and adopted recommendations to pass HB 2472 and HB 2276 as amended/unamended after a brief correction to the vote language.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm looking at the maintaining of an evaluation program of the system that monitors implementation...
• Madam Chair, Representative Block, part of the State Education Agency's responsibility is to monitor
• And so this monitoring program, the evaluation program, is what that is referencing.
• We do on-site monitoring, and we do desktop monitoring of IEPs.
• The intention of this monitoring is not to catch someone.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's an effort that we're encouraging and monitoring, and hoping that that will add to the pool
• So that's an effort that we're encouraging and monitoring, and hoping that that will add to the pool
• So that's an effort that we're encouraging and monitoring, and hoping that that will add to the pool
• So that's an effort that we're encouraging and monitoring, and hoping that that will add to the pool
• It's standard protocol to see what is of best practice, latest research, different ways even to provide

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm well aware of the risks associated with substance use disorder and make sure that recovery is monitored
• sure that that disorder and make sure that that recovery<04:23:26.319> is<04:23:26.720> monitored
• <04:23:27.359> I<04:23:27.600> think<04:23:27.680> that recovery is monitored
• I think that recovery is monitored.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of the resident's room using electronic monitoring devices placed, fixed, or otherwise installed in
• devices, and the authority to access recorded images or sounds obtained through electronic monitoring
• by DHS in a facility, and the facility is required to pay for that on-site monitoring.
• Goodman, any idea percentage-wise how many facilities already have cameras or some sort of monitoring
• Constantly monitoring caregivers... Fifteen seconds. Don't want to make you nervous.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2307, as amended, which would require the Department of Health Services to contract with out-of-state secure mental health facilities when Arizona beds are unavailable for certain involuntary commitment cases involving defendants found dangerous and incompetent. The sponsor and supporters framed it as an emergency stopgap to prevent individuals who are deemed non-restorable from being released because Arizona lacks secure behavioral health beds, while opponents argued it would raise due process, disability rights, family access, and cost concerns, and questioned whether the state could even implement such interstate placements. After debate, the committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and advanced HB 2307 on a 6-5 due pass vote. The committee then heard House Bill 2083, which updates diabetes-related coverage language in health plans to include newer devices and supplies such as continuous glucose monitors, insulin pumps, and smart insulin pens. Supporters said the bill modernizes outdated statutes and improves access and outcomes for people with diabetes, while an insurer representative offered soft opposition, warning that writing these items into statute could create a state mandate and potential cost exposure, especially if the language is read to include GLP-1 medications. The committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and moved HB 2083 forward on an 11-1 due pass vote. Next, House Bill 2673 was heard, addressing mental health screening and treatment for incarcerated people. The sponsor said the bill was being reworked into a study committee concept after stakeholder feedback, but the underlying proposal would require prompt evaluation of prisoners showing mental disorder symptoms and faster referral for treatment. A family member testified about her son’s severe deterioration in jail and death, while an attorney opposed the bill as overbroad and legally problematic. Despite the sponsor’s indication that the bill would become a study committee, the committee voted 12-0 to give HB 2673 a due pass recommendation. The committee also advanced House Bill 2923, which revises timelines, procedures, and notice requirements for judicial review of court-ordered mental health treatment; supporters said it clarifies outdated language and improves communication with families, while opponents argued it shifts burdens onto patients and could prolong confinement. HB 2923 also received a 12-0 due pass vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, but sheriffs have been using court security for the last several years in order to help monitor and
• and manage the 202A help monitor and manage the 202A individuals<00:27:03.120> who<00:27:03.360
• This merely just gives court security the ability, the sheriff, to use court security in order to monitor
• This merely just gives court security the ability, the sheriff, to use court security in order to monitor
• This merely just gives court security the ability, the sheriff, to use court security in order to monitor

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee heard and advanced several bills. Senate Bill 198, relating to operations of the Office of the Attorney General, was described as a cleanup measure with seven changes, including allowing the AG’s office to handle child support employee background checks and fingerprinting, updating child support guideline commission references, clarifying control of constitutional officers’ records in multistate litigation, setting a 10-year statute of limitations for certain consumer protection matters, streamlining administrative hearing appeals, and changing representation of the professional geologist board. After questions about the administrative hearing appeal language, the committee passed the bill 9-0. The committee then passed Senate Bill 323, which would require subpoenas for medical records to be served at least 14 days before production. President Stivers said the bill is intended to give health care providers reasonable time to comply with HIPAA, redact records, and avoid motions to quash when subpoenas are served on short notice. A question about appeal deadlines was answered by noting the bill would not affect the common 10-day motion-to-reconsider rule. The bill passed 9-0. Senate Bill 66, as amended by committee substitute, was also passed 9-0. The substitute addressed DUI-related issues, including preserving certain driving records for 10 years, removing urine screens from the bill, adding fentanyl and other substances to the per se controlled-substances DUI list, and clarifying that a preliminary breath test may be refused and that officers should advise drivers of that right. The committee also passed Senate Bill 221, a model-law bill making the knowing purchase, sale, transfer, or offer to sell human remains for consideration a Class D felony; members asked about whether it could affect older medical specimens or fetal remains, and sponsors said the bill is aimed at remains authorized for final disposition through cremation or burial. That bill passed 8-0. Finally, Senate Bill 312, concerning court-ordered transports in mental health cases, was presented by court security and sheriff’s association representatives. They said the bill clarifies that sheriffs may use court security staff to monitor and transport individuals undergoing 202A mental health evaluations, addressing staffing shortages and existing practice. The committee passed the bill 8-0. The committee then began hearing Senate Bill 333 on body armor grants, with the Attorney General’s office testifying that the bill would transfer administration of the Law Enforcement Protection Program to the AG and align it with the office’s existing body armor grant program, but the transcript cuts off before any vote on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• but<00:26:50.399> I<00:26:50.520> like<00:26:50.679> to<00:26:50.880> monitor
• <00:26:51.520> the good plan but I like to monitor the good plan but I like to monitor the
• They will continue to monitor capital spend closer to the sale date.
• that are callable on August 1 that may be included in this financing, but they are continuing to monitor
• They will continue to monitor capital spend closer to the sale date.

Keywords: 00:13 Call to Order and Roll Call 01:00 Election of Co-Chairs 03:38 Approval of Minutes 04:09 Information Items 05:55 Project Rpt from Finance and Admin Cab 12:13 Lease Rpt from Finance and Admin Cab 17:48 Ky Infrastructure Authority 28:50 Economic Development - EDF Grants 32:50 Ofc of Financial Mgmt 36:30 SFCC Debt Issues 40:50 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee first reorganized by electing new co-chairs for the Capital Projects and Bond Oversight Committee: Senator Fanny Fromom? as Senate co-chair and Representative McPherson as House co-chair, both by acclamation. The committee then approved the minutes from the prior meeting and received quarterly capital project status reports from the Administrative Office of the Courts, Finance and Administration Cabinet, and postsecondary institutions. Those reports noted University of Kentucky equipment purchases, several school districts planning general obligation and revenue bond issues, a notification of non-approval for PR 3567, and Kentucky Community and Technical College System asset preservation projects. Kevin Cardwell of the Finance and Administration Cabinet reported two action items: a $5,100 federal-funded Transportation Cabinet renovation of the Rowan County east and westbound rest areas, and a $1 million federal fund increase for the Capitol City Airport terminal building project, bringing the total federal support to $10 million and reducing the need for restricted funds. The committee also received a no-action report on a $1,363,000 Kentucky State University exterior repairs project funded through the 2024 asset preservation pool. Both action items were approved unanimously after roll call votes. The committee approved four lease renewals presented by Natalie Bronner for Cabinet for Health and Family Services locations in Bell, Lee, and Clay counties, plus a parking lease for the Department of Corrections in Jefferson County. Members asked about lease pricing and were told renewals must remain at existing terms and conditions. The committee then approved a $57,000 Kentucky WATS emergency grant for Wood Creek Water District to cover part of arrears tied to the City of Livingston; members discussed the city’s audit delinquency, possible regional water/sewer solutions, and concerns about rates and private involvement, but the grant was approved. Finally, the committee approved a $1 million line-item water grant to the City of Williamsburg with no action required, three Economic Development Fund grants for Bell, Franklin, and Shelby counties totaling $8 million in state support for site acquisition and infrastructure work, and five SFCC-supported school debt issues for Elizabethtown Independent, Erlanger Independent, Boyd County, Henderson County, and Union County. The school projects included middle school, high school, and vocational school renovations or new construction, and members requested a breakdown of the space funded by the debt. All action items were approved, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• She should wear a CGM, a glucose monitor. There are probably costs associated with that, right?
• Are there other things that you need to worry about to make sure that your daughter is being monitored
• So she does wear a glucose monitor, and she'll wear that on her arm or leg, and those last 10 days.
• and has access to life-saving treatment when she needs it absolutely so she does wear a glucose monitor
• So she does have care there that they monitor her glucose monitor electronically.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a hearing with Chair Jamie Murphy and Senate co-chair Senator Feeney presiding. Members asked witnesses to keep testimony to three minutes and noted that written testimony could still be submitted. The committee heard testimony on several health insurance and pharmacy-related bills, including a proposal to allow controlled prescriptions to be transferred between pharmacies within the same chain, legislation affecting health savings account (HSA)-compatible plans and future insurance mandates, a bill on small business health insurance incentives, and H. 1212 on emergency insulin access. Several parents and patients testified in support of emergency insulin access, describing severe diabetes emergencies, diabetic ketoacidosis, prescription delays, and the need for pharmacists to dispense insulin in urgent situations when doctors or insurers are unavailable. A parent also described the burden of repeatedly obtaining new prescriptions for ADHD medication when pharmacies are out of stock. Witnesses supporting the HSA bill argued that state coverage mandates can unintentionally disqualify HSA-qualified plans and that the bill would preserve tax advantages for enrollees while avoiding repeated legislative fixes. A representative of the Retailers Association supported the small business health insurance incentives bill, saying it could help retain small employers in the merged market by allowing carriers to offer financial incentives tied to cooperative purchasing and utilization efforts. One witness, Kathleen Demarest, testified against a co-pay assistance restriction, saying a state rule had unexpectedly cut off her drug assistance before a generic was actually available, leaving her with very high out-of-pocket costs. Committee members asked a few clarifying questions about HSAs, insulin dispensing, and school support for diabetes care. After all scheduled witnesses had testified and no additional testimony was offered, the committee voted to close the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• how we can alleviate some of that burden at that level, but also have more accountability down in monitoring
• It's<00:19:23.039> administration<00:19:24.000> monitoring<00:19:24.480> of It's
• administration monitoring of It's administration monitoring of special<00:19:25.039> education
• You can go back and, based on monitoring findings, reimbursement of overpayment may occur.
• have the random 20% you know monitoring have the random 20% you know monitoring rather<00:36:14.480

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• first started in the federal system, we were all about enforcement of compliance, which means we monitored
• We later migrated to evidence-based practices, which means that, you know, we stopped doing the monitoring
• first started in the federal system, we were all about enforcement of compliance, which means we monitored
• We later migrated to evidence-based practices, which means that, you know, we stopped doing the monitoring
• We were all about enforcement of compliance, which means we monitored conditions, had people come to

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees met on February 19, 2025, to hear advice-and-consent nominations, beginning with GM 645/GM 650 for Mike Lambert as Director of the Department of Law Enforcement. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from state officials, community leaders, nonprofit representatives, and others, who praised Lambert’s collaboration with communities, communication skills, and practical approach to public safety. Several speakers highlighted his work on homelessness, game rooms, community policing, and his ability to work across public health and law enforcement lines. Lambert told the committee he has 22 years of law enforcement experience, including patrol, community policing, training, narcotics/vice, and work on fentanyl, internet crimes against children, and ghost guns, and said his priorities would include building community trust, improving training and discipline, and addressing fireworks and firearms enforcement. Senators asked about fireworks, federal collaboration, ports and airport screening, recruitment, pay parity, and whether the department should expand into a more formal state police force; Lambert said he would need time to learn the new port/shipping environment and would support a state police class and expanded enforcement capacity. The committee did not take a final vote in the portion of the transcript provided. The committee then heard GM 567 for Jean Dello Jr. as chairperson of the Hawaii Paroling Authority. Supporters, including Hawaii Friends of Restorative Justice and Hawaii Paroling Authority staff, described him as honest, ethical, fair, and experienced in balancing public safety with rehabilitation and re-entry. Dello said he came out of retirement in 2021 to serve on the board, and that his background in federal probation and state corrections led him to favor evidence-based practices over simple compliance monitoring. He emphasized the need to weigh public safety with giving inmates a real opportunity to transition successfully back into the community. No final action or vote was announced in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• conservation lands so we help monitor conservation lands so we help monitor Steward<00:04:20.400
• <00:05:29.280> of monitoring of monitoring of conservation conservation conservation easements
• <00:10:32.560> the uh from from a Butters we monitor the uh from from a Butters we monitor
• The seasonal staff focuses heavily on monitoring as well, but yes, the two full-time positions also monitor
• <01:48:38.080> M to and monitored M to and monitored M 349<01:48:40.480> citizen 349

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with testimony from Charlotte Harding of the Conservation Land Stewardship Program, who explained that the office protects the state’s interests in conservation lands by monitoring conservation easements and related stewardship obligations. She described the program’s funding sources: a land conservation endowment held at the State Treasury and administered by the Council on Resources and Development, plus transfers from Fish and Game for easements not covered by the endowment. Members discussed how the endowment is funded when new easements are created, the program’s staffing, the loss of a state vehicle, and the need to increase in-state travel so staff can use personal vehicles for field monitoring. Harding said the office has two full-time positions and a seasonal employee, that the work is mostly monitoring rather than hands-on land management, and that enforcement issues are referred to the grantee agencies or, if needed, to the Council on Resources and Development. She also noted that the office works directly with landowners to resolve smaller issues and that stewardship has become a greater focus in the conservation community because ongoing oversight requires funding. Members asked about examples of properties under the program, including LCIP lands such as Musquash Headwaters, Hidden Valley Boy Scout Camp, and Nash Stream, and the committee did not take a motion before moving on. The committee then heard from Paul Breen and Susie Anzelone of the Pease Development Authority regarding the Division of Ports and Harbors operating budget. They explained that the authority provides finance, legal, environmental, and engineering support to the division, which operates New Hampshire’s only deep-water berth at Market Street, as well as facilities in Hampton, Rye, the Portsmouth Fish Pier, and navigational waters in the Piscataqua and Great Bay. They described the authority’s history after the closure of Pease Air Force Base, the transfer of roughly 2,400 acres, and the creation of a self-sustaining enterprise fund tied to airport and port operations. They emphasized that the division does not draw on the general fund because revenues from wharfage, dockage, parking, registration, and mooring fees cover operating costs, with any surplus retained for capital improvements and replacement. Members questioned several budget lines, including a sharp increase in overtime and workers’ compensation. Breen said overtime is driven largely by security needs at the deep-water port and fluctuates with vessel traffic, such as salt shipments, while workers’ comp is a DAS-set cost and not something the division controls. He said the budget is conservative and that if revenues fall short, capital projects would be the first items scaled back. The discussion also covered fee-setting, with Breen saying rates are reviewed against the local market and infrastructure constraints, and that some smaller facility fees had recently been increased after being stagnant for years.

Transcript Highlights:

• But it looks like there were other ways we could monitor them without just saying, you know, we're not
• We were financially monitoring them, but our jurisdiction over these type plans is not as extensive as
• them without just saying, you monitor them without just saying, you know,<00:14:22.560> we're
• > them,<00:14:26.160> but We were financially monitoring them, but We were financially
• monitoring them, but our<00:14:26.880> jurisdiction<00:14:27.440> over<00:14:27.680>

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:16 HB 176 Discussion 01:10 HB 176 Vote 06:45 HB 184 Discussion 08:47 HB 184 Vote 09:53 HB 265 Discussion 10:39 HB 265 Vote 15:09, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Banking and Insurance met with a quorum and first passed over House Bill 164 pending a document. The committee then heard House Bill 176, sponsored by Rep. Kim Moser, which would create a framework for insurer-run prior authorization exemption programs, often called “gold carding,” for certain health care providers. Moser said the bill is the product of years of negotiation with insurers, would include behavioral health providers, would exclude prescription drugs, and would require annual reporting from the Department of Insurance and DMS on prior authorization activity. A committee member asked whether the 93% approval threshold for exemption matched other states; Moser and a witness said it was consistent with other states and current insurer programs, and that insurers could set a lower threshold if they wanted a competitive advantage. The committee voted on HB 176 after a motion and second, and the bill passed with a favorable expression. The committee also heard a guest introduction from Rep. All, who introduced a student shadow, Ava Oman, before moving on to House Bill 184. Rep. Meredith explained HB 184 would create a safe harbor for health savings account-qualified insurance plans so state mandates and cost-sharing rules would not conflict with IRS requirements and disqualify those plans at the federal level. The committee approved HB 184 unanimously with a favorable expression. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 265, also presented by Rep. Meredith with a Department of Insurance representative. The bill would allow workers’ compensation self-insured pools to have a dissolution process and would prohibit authorizing any new pools, while leaving existing pools in place. Meredith and the department said the change was prompted by solvency problems in some pools, including a large one that had entered receivership, and by limited regulatory authority over these arrangements. After questions about whether the bill affected health insurance, the committee was told it did not. HB 265 also passed with a favorable expression, and the meeting adjourned after a late-arriving member registered votes in favor of all three bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will begin with the implementation and monitoring section.
• extra money to pay for those extra monitors. And the chief could buy that $50,000 heart monitor?
• Our heart monitors we got last year are $70,000.
• We do have various elements of remote patient monitoring.
• We actually have monitors up in their emergency department.

Keywords: 1184, house, all