Video & Transcript Research : 'prevention program'

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HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

WAM/FIN Joint Info Briefing - Fri Feb 14, 2025 @ 9:30 AM HST

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • that Watch program a vital program that Watch program a vital program that brings<03:56:13.960>
  • Our trap-neuter-return program is the most humane and effective solution, preventing thousands of unwanted
  • Our trap-neuter-return program is the most humane and effective solution, preventing thousands of unwanted
  • mental health homeless prevention mental health homeless prevention re-entry<05:02:48.120> programs
  • > not re-entry programs this program does not re-entry programs this program does not exist<05:02
Keywords: 910, house, all
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Legislative Health and Human Services Sep 12th, 2025

Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • Looking at Figure 2, within child maltreatment prevention, secondary and tertiary prevention strategies
  • These programs include safe care plans, targeted home visiting programs, and intensive family preservation
  • We provide wellness in my program.
  • Within our program, we are sponsors of the summer food program.
  • We do have a fatherhood program.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Corrections Mar 26th, 2025

Corrections

Transcript Highlights:
  • In this scenario, we would have prevented that.
  • Your rehabilitation programs for the department.
  • Okay, how long do these programs last?
  • They have substance use programs, they have a DWI program, and they have sex offender programs. ...under
  • go through that program in order to get out.
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

RM 411 Conference PM - Fri Apr 25, 2025

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • We removed language regarding the agricultural prevention program.
  • ><00:57:23.200> program.
  • <00:57:23.680> The the agricultural prevention program.
  • The the agricultural prevention program.
  • agricultural enforcement pilot program agricultural enforcement pilot program for<00:57:36.319><
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Public Health Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am

Joint Committee on Public Health

Transcript Highlights:
  • It's about awareness and being preventive.
  • It prevents us from providing care and prevents the boards of registration from actually doing their
  • I am the interim program director of the Westfield State University Physician Assistant Program.
  • We are the only public PA program in the Commonwealth.
  • Can it be called prevention if it requires drugs or surgery?
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health held a hearing to take testimony on a wide range of bills involving professional licensure, clinical practice, and public health-related workforce issues. The chair explained that no votes would be taken at the hearing and that the purpose was to gather public input. Early testimony focused on Marnie’s Law, with supporters describing the bill as a no-cost, preventive measure to require nursing education on inflammatory breast cancer after a family tragedy and arguing it could reduce misdiagnosis and save lives. A major portion of the hearing centered on bills affecting clinical decision-making and licensure compacts. Supporters of the physician ownership/clinical autonomy bills argued they would protect independent practices from corporate interference after the Steward collapse, while supporters of EMS, dental, psychology, physical therapy, and physician assistant compacts said the measures would improve workforce mobility, reduce delays, and expand access to care, especially for rural patients, military families, and telehealth users. Several witnesses emphasized that the compacts would not reduce standards and would strengthen public protection through shared disciplinary databases and streamlined credentialing. There was also testimony on bills to ensure safe medication administration and to protect the independence of complementary and alternative health care practitioners. Nursing representatives urged that only licensed professionals administer medications in hospitals, hospices, and home care settings, warning that delegation to unlicensed staff could endanger patients and nurses’ licenses. A complementary and alternative care witness supported consumer access with mandatory disclosures and limits on reserved medical acts. On the dental compact, witnesses were split: some supported portability and workforce flexibility, while others warned the compact lacked a hands-on skills exam and could weaken Massachusetts’ regulatory authority and patient safety. The hearing concluded with continued testimony on the psychology compact, physical therapy compact, and physician assistant bills, with most speakers favoring expanded interstate practice and reduced administrative barriers.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Mortgage Finance Authority Act Oversight May 28th, 2025

Mortgage Finance Authority Act Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • Uh, the programs that they oversee are the homeless programs, energy efficiency programs, and rehab programs
  • program.
  • Um, almost 19,000 families were helped through our programs or impacted through our programs.
  • emergency housing programs.
  • , about a year's worth of program. funding for that program.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Unredacted Optum report for legislators 3/12/26

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • of Human Services entered into a contract with Optum to provide assistance in two areas of fraud prevention
  • the first phase of the contract with Optum, they did a four-year claim audit of the 14 high-risk programs
  • We want to be partners in this process, not only for fraud prevention but loss prevention, and making
  • <00:01:39.840> but<00:01:40.079> loss<00:01:40.479> prevention<00:01:41.200>
  • and fraud prevention but loss prevention and fraud prevention but loss prevention and making<
Keywords: 1183, house
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

EDT Public Hearing 03-20-2025

Economic Development and Tourism

Transcript Highlights:
  • Um, so this is impacting a lot of our program, well, not a lot, two of our three programs that we do.
  • Um, so this is impacting a lot of our program, well, not a lot, two of our three programs that we do.
  • energy and um we have our NISMP program energy and um we have our NISMP program that<00:04:34.080
  • issues and then we create programs issues and then we create programs around<00:05:21.199> that
  • You're trying to prevent right?
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 449 relating to economic development, HB 1006 relating to the Agribusiness Development Corporation, and then began HB 1467 relating to housing resiliency. On HB 449, Director Wayne Enoy of the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation and several business groups, including the Chamber of Commerce and Hawaii Food Industry Association, testified in strong support. They said the measure would help local manufacturers and tech-focused businesses adapt to uncertainty around tariffs and federal funding pauses, diversify Hawaiʻi’s economy, and expand workforce training and apprenticeship efforts tied to innovation and manufacturing. The bulk of the discussion focused on HB 1006 and proposed agritourism authority for ADC. ADC, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and other supporters said agritourism can be a value-added tool that helps farmers diversify income while keeping agriculture as the primary use of the land. One testifier opposed the bill’s direction without stronger guardrails, urging that a high percentage of revenue or land use remain tied to actual agricultural production. Committee members questioned ADC and Farm Bureau witnesses about how much land should remain in production, whether agritourism could expand on public lands, how enforcement would work, and whether responsibilities should be shifted from the Department of Agriculture’s marketing functions to ADC. Witnesses said ADC currently has no tenants engaged in agritourism, but would support standards, annual reporting, site visits, and the ability to reclaim land if production requirements are not met. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided. After concluding HB 1006 testimony and questions, the committee moved on to HB 1467 and called the first witness, Luke Meyers, before the transcript ended.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Education Committee Apr 22nd, 2026

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • program flexibility.
  • So we had no legal mechanism to prevent that individual from returning to campus.
  • And we see— We will keep reacting instead of preventing.
  • also be part of the semester program and that the curriculum, the program, was not approved.
  • Same exact thing for the engineering program, a leading national program.
Keywords: 987, senate, all
Summary: The committee heard SB 1067, which would require annual math screening for students in kindergarten through second grade beginning in 2028-29 to identify early numeracy difficulties and connect students to evidence-based support. Senator Weber and supporters, including EdVoice and UC Davis researcher Dr. Charles Wilkes, argued that California’s math outcomes are too low and that early screening is a quick, developmentally appropriate tool that would not mandate curriculum or high-stakes testing. Opponents, including the California Mathematics Council, county superintendents, and CTA, said the bill adds a mandate without funding, could narrow instruction, and may lead to premature labeling or deficit-based thinking. Committee members discussed how the screeners would work and whether they would identify disabilities or simply flag students needing further assessment; the bill was left on call due to lack of quorum at the time of the hearing. SB 1110 was also presented as a child care subsidy administration measure that would stabilize funding for alternative payment programs and better distinguish administrative overhead from direct family services. Senator Becker and witnesses from the Child Care Resource Center and Every Child California said the bill would help providers manage enrollment, compliance, staffing, and payment timelines as the state transitions to enrollment-based funding. No opposition testimony was offered, and the bill received a favorable committee comment, but no vote was taken because quorum had not yet been established. The committee then heard SB 1374, which would allow public higher education institutions to seek temporary restraining orders on their own behalf when they face credible threats of violence not directed at a specific person. CSU and San Diego State University representatives described incidents where threats against a campus could not be addressed through current restraining-order law, and said the bill would close that gap and improve campus safety. There was no opposition testimony, and the bill was left on call pending quorum. Later, the committee discussed SB 1321, which would direct the State Auditor to review remedial education and student preparedness at selected UC and CSU campuses after a UC San Diego report showed a sharp decline in incoming students’ math preparation. Supporters, including the author and a community college union representative, said the audit would help identify the scope of basic-skills gaps and inform policy. Some members raised concerns about bypassing the usual audit-request process, but the bill was placed on hold for absent members. The committee also heard SB 1086 on microschools, which would direct model ordinances and statutory definitions for these small learning settings; after extensive questioning about definitions, oversight, and local land-use issues, the bill was moved on a do-pass motion to Senate Appropriations and placed on call. Finally, SB 1181 was presented as a limited pilot program to allow Central Valley schools to communicate with regional threat assessment centers about credible safety concerns, with the author and a victim’s mother describing it as a prevention tool after a student homicide; committee members expressed support for stronger coordination and guardrails, and the bill was discussed further as the hearing continued.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • dual credit programs.
  • in the program.
  • funding for programs like the Golden State Teacher Program.
  • is the leadership program.
  • is the leadership program.
Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education heard the Governor’s proposals on dual enrollment, reading difficulty screeners, special education, school facilities, and Commission on Teacher Credentialing programs. On dual enrollment, the Department of Finance described a $100 million one-time Proposition 98 investment to expand the Dual Enrollment Opportunities Grant Program, along with changes to make regional occupational centers eligible, add funding for justice-involved youth, prioritize higher-need LEAs, support teacher professional development, and reduce daily instructional minute requirements for some dual enrollment students. The LAO recommended rejecting the new funding as not clearly addressing implementation barriers, while CDE supported the proposal and suggested reserving $10 million for technical assistance. Committee members and public commenters generally supported the expansion, with some asking for technical assistance and broader access, including adult dual enrollment. The committee also reviewed a $40 million one-time Proposition 98 proposal for reading difficulty screener implementation and related trailer bill language that would require screening after 91 school days for kindergarten and 46 school days for grades 1-2. Finance said the timing was intended to reduce over-identification and align with evidence from preliminary data; the LAO recommended rejecting the funding and redirecting it to a discretionary block grant. CDE supported the funding and the general approach but acknowledged the need for local support and training. Several committee members and public witnesses raised concerns that the proposed timing restrictions were too rigid and could delay early intervention, while others supported the delay as a way to improve accuracy and avoid misidentification. For special education, Finance proposed ongoing Proposition 98 increases to adjust for COLA and enrollment changes and to raise the statewide special education base rate to $99 per ADA, equalizing rates across SELPAs. The LAO said the proposal should be adopted but estimated it could be funded for less than the Governor’s figure. CDE and multiple local education representatives strongly supported the increase, citing rising special education enrollment, cost pressures, and large local funding gaps. The committee also heard a brief overview of the school facilities proposal, which continues $1.5 billion in Proposition 2 bond funding for the School Facility Program; OPSC reported significant remaining bond authority but also substantial pending demand, and explained that natural disaster school rebuilding draws from the broader new construction and modernization pools. Finally, the committee reviewed Commission on Teacher Credentialing proposals, including the already-funded $300 million Student Teacher Stipend Program, new state operations resources for misconduct investigations and grant administration, and a $250 million one-time continuation of the Teacher Residency Grant Program. CTC said its grants management system is ready and that it expects better data tracking; public testimony broadly supported the educator workforce investments and urged continued funding for the Golden State Teacher Grant Program and additional support for rural and leadership pipeline programs. No votes were taken, and the hearing adjourned after public testimony.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Vets Committee Meeting - 2025-04-09

Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Transcript Highlights:
  • Those are the two largest programs for DMA.
  • The next change is on line 16, the increase in suicide prevention programs of $2.2 million.
  • Moving on to changes to the programs and services program, you'll see the first is reducing the homelessness
  • prevention programs, which is a $10 million reduction for the biennium.
  • This is approximately a $5 million cut in funding to those programs.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

89th Legislative Session Mar 7th, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • HB 13 by King relating to the creating of the Texas Insurability Council and the grant program administered
  • the improvements of the Texas Information Referral Network referred the Subcommittee on Disease Prevention
  • AB 1013 by TOT relating to the election integrity, security, including by preventing fraud in the conduct
  • AB 1033 by Morales of Maverick relating to the applicability of law governing a grant program for the
  • It'd be 10:38 by Morales of Maverick relating to the applicability of law governing a grant program for
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Energy Resources Mar 17th, 2025

Energy Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • The Texas seismic monitoring and seismology research program is a multidisciplinary program funded by
  • I'm a program coordinator here at San Antonio Water System.
  • began developing these regional statewide programs.
  • We're part of the pilot program that we have today, our leadership for our utilities program, we're part
  • We have an apprenticeship program.
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

Committee on Transportation - 03/28/25

Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • over the time of the interlock program over the time of the interlock program and<00:12:24.560><
  • that we can use to prevent uh DWI drivers<00:14:24.639> uh<00:14:24.959> prevent<00:14
  • And then program properly.
  • use that car to uh be in the program. use that car to uh be in the program.
  • program and I have to agree with Mr. program and I have to agree with Mr.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Education Apr 23rd, 2026

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • We spent an entire summer building this program. We spent an entire summer building this program.
  • Our infants and toddler program operates under a daycare license, and we offer appropriate academic programming
  • Then our pre-K program is part of our academic institution, transitioning from our daycare program.
  • I went to, in March, an accreditation program in Memphis called the National Early Child Program accreditation
  • National Early Child Program accreditation.
Summary: The committee first heard SB 206, which would require cardiovascular pre-screening and blood pressure testing for student athletes beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. Chairman Miller said the bill was prompted by concerns about undiagnosed hypertension and sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes, and Coach Marcus Scott testified about his own kidney transplant after years of untreated high blood pressure. Members asked about who would perform the screenings and how follow-up would work; the American Heart Association said existing athletic physical processes and referral networks could handle it. An amendment was adopted, and the committee reported SB 206 favorably as amended. The committee then took up SB 305, which would require a publicly available statewide career-alignment dashboard showing how degree programs connect to workforce outcomes, including completion, employment, wages, and high-demand jobs. Chairman Edmonds and student task force member Cruz Cassard said the goal was to help students understand job opportunities in Louisiana and reduce the number leaving the state after graduation. Workforce and higher education stakeholders supported the measure as a transparency and workforce-planning tool. The committee reported SB 305 favorably. Next, the committee considered HB 624, a school safety cleanup bill updating references from crisis management plans to emergency operations plans and aligning school emergency language with national standards. Representative Johnson and the Louisiana Center for Safe Schools said the bill would not create new mandates or costs, but would clarify existing requirements. The committee reported HB 624 favorably. The committee then heard HB 1022, as substituted, concerning school-based health care services. Representative Jackson said the bill was intended to clarify that medical decisions in school-based health centers should be made by licensed health professionals, not school staff, while preserving parental consent. Testimony from school-based health center providers supported the bill, but several members raised concerns about consent, parental authority, and whether the language shifted too much responsibility away from schools; the Charter School Association suggested adding more collaborative language. After discussion, the committee adopted the substitute and reported HB 1022 favorably by a 10-4 vote.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Informational interview with Rep. Isaac Schultz (R-Elmdale Township) Dec 18th, 2025

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • And when we look forward, we need strong program integrity measures.
  • <00:02:49.280> fraud target how you're preventing fraud target how you're preventing fraud
  • we look forward, we need strong program we look forward, we need strong program integrity<00:03:
  • legislation to correct the program legislation to correct the program integrity<00:03:24.159>
  • ,<00:03:48.080> which the housing stabilization program, which the housing stabilization program
Keywords: 919, house, all
Summary: Representative Schultz reflected on the prior session as highly dynamic and unpredictable, but said it was productive because it allowed many viewpoints to be represented. He described the session as history-making and said he was able to advance priorities for his district and conservative constituents. He highlighted two main policy wins: a bill he said prevented illegal immigrants from receiving taxpayer-funded health care benefits, identified as House File 10, and a bipartisan measure he called “freeing the hot tubs,” which allowed hot tubs at short-term rentals such as Airbnbs and VRBOs after prior Department of Health restrictions. He said both measures were enacted during the special session. Schultz also discussed his work on the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee, saying the committee was needed to focus on fraud in state agencies. He cited more than a billion dollars in fraud over the past six or seven years, including Feeding Our Future and issues in Medicaid-funded services, waiver services, and the housing stabilization program. He said the committee’s hearings and agency discussions helped produce tangible legislation to strengthen program integrity and protect taxpayer dollars. Looking ahead to 2026, he said his priorities would be affordability, stopping fraud, and improving school safety and learning environments across all types of schools in Minnesota.
FL

Florida 2026 5th Special Session

Health Policy Feb 11th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • We started with marijuana, chiefly because, A, we are focused on prevention.
  • And again, this could have been prevented had they acted on direct bilirubin.
  • And financing of our own Medicaid program.
  • It's almost a $40 billion program. It's the largest portion of our budget.
  • For those not familiar, the ASR program is the profit-sharing mechanism.
Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 1414 by Sen. Polsky on congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) education. The bill would require the Department of Health, working with medical experts, to create and distribute CMV educational materials to expectant and new parents or caregivers through hospitals, birth centers, and OB/GYN practices. An amendment removed a section that would have required instruction for medical professionals, and the amended bill was reported favorably as a committee substitute. The committee then took up a block of confirmations. Appointees on tabs 2 through 7 were recommended favorably in one vote, and Chavon Harris was separately confirmed as Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration after extensive questioning. Senators praised her leadership and experience, while others raised concerns about Medicaid redeterminations, the state’s CORE modernization project, Hope Florida, and a DCF anti-marijuana ad campaign; Harris said she would follow up on some issues and defended the agency’s work on transparency, managed care oversight, and access to care. Her confirmation was recommended favorably, with Sen. Berman noting opposition. Several health-related bills were then heard and advanced. SB 186 by Sen. Garcia expanded epilepsy training requirements for school personnel, including charter school bus drivers, and was reported favorably. SB 902 by Sen. Garcia, after amendments narrowing dental workforce provisions and allowing certain seizure rescue medication delegation to family home health aides, was reported favorably; testimony focused on medical marijuana regulation, practitioner accountability, and concerns about park and child-care proximity restrictions. SB 196 by Sen. Sharif created a uterine fibroid research database with privacy protections and was reported favorably after emotional testimony from a patient and supporters. SB 688 by Sen. Rodriguez would reestablish licensure of naturopathic doctors; it drew both support and skepticism about diagnosis and treatment boundaries, but was reported favorably. SB 1574, Maddie’s Law, would add biliary atresia screening to newborn screening and was strongly supported by parents describing a delayed diagnosis; it was reported favorably. SB 878 on clinical laboratory personnel, SB 1092 on podiatric medicine and certain cellular/tissue-based products, and SB 1032 on medical marijuana registry timelines and veteran fee waivers were also reported favorably, while SB 1032 drew debate over longer renewal/supply periods. The committee then began SB 1760 on Medicaid oversight and program transparency, with the sponsor describing the bill’s creation of a joint legislative oversight committee and a legislative actuary.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee Jun 10th, 2026

Housing and Community Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • The program will provide...
  • It both prevents displacement and homelessness for the residents of these buildings today, while also
  • And we had an excellent bill from Assembly Member Jesse Gabriel a few weeks ago related to prevention
  • So prevention and preservation.
  • Instead, because of the small sites program, we not only purchased the building, renovated it, Program
Keywords: 988, house, all
Summary: The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee heard several housing-related bills, with most of the discussion focused on streamlining housing production, preserving affordable housing, and reducing barriers to ADUs and EV charging in HOAs. SB 457 would direct HCD to develop statistical formulas based on historical development data to help cities complete housing element site inventories; supporters said it would replace costly parcel-by-parcel analysis with a more realistic, data-driven approach, while the California Building Industry Association raised concerns. SB 1091 would create a Community Anti-Displacement and Preservation Program to help acquire and preserve unsubsidized affordable rental housing; it drew broad support from housing nonprofits, local governments, and committee members who emphasized prevention and preservation, and it was advanced with a motion and second. SB 1117 would clarify that ADU impact fees above 750 square feet are charged only on the portion above that threshold; supporters said current practice creates a fee cliff that discourages ADUs, while cities, counties, special districts, and fire groups opposed it over infrastructure and service funding concerns. The committee members were split, but the bill ultimately advanced on a 10-0 vote with two not voting. The committee also considered SB 904, which would codify and expand reporting and coordination practices used after wildfire disasters to speed rebuilding and identify permitting or code barriers. The author and supporters argued that future wildfire recoveries should not depend on ad hoc executive orders, while some members questioned whether the bill was duplicative of existing streamlining laws; it passed on a roll call after discussion. SB 1267 would require EV charger installers in HOAs to indemnify associations during installation and make homeowners liable for costs arising from use of a privately owned charger; HOA representatives and EV advocates supported it, the California Association of Realtors said it would remove opposition once amendments were in print, and the bill advanced unanimously. SB 1361 would prevent local governments from taking actions to avoid SB 79 transit-oriented housing requirements at existing or planned transit stops; L.A. Metro, labor groups, and housing advocates supported it as protecting transit investments and jobs, while the City of Burbank opposed it, and it was approved on a 9-0 vote. The committee also took up consent items SB 722 and SB 1426, which were approved without controversy.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • maximize instructional time and prevent maximize instructional time and prevent the<00:10:04.320
  • ,<00:21:05.000> crisis success through prevention, crisis success through prevention, crisis
  • And lastly, if go to public programs.
  • Those are meaningful prevention-focused<00:30:26.160> investments<00:30:26.880> in prevention-focused
  • They prevent violence and they save kids' lives.
Keywords: 1183, house
Summary: The committee heard House File 3493, the Safe Schools Revenue Increase bill, and first adopted the DE amendment before moving the bill on for re-referral to Ways and Means. Representative Lawrence described the bill as a multi-layered school safety package for all students and schools, including public, nonpublic, charter, and tribal schools, with increased safety funding, mental health support, anonymous threat reporting, school safety plans, and student discipline changes. Several supporters emphasized the need for flexible safety funding and cited real-world safety concerns, including anonymous tip systems that had generated many reports, classroom evacuations, staff injuries, and the need for more resources for mental health and safety infrastructure. Some supporters, including charter school leaders and Catholic Conference testimony, argued the bill’s flexibility and broader safety approach were important, while others supported the K-3 suspension language as a needed tool in severe cases. Opponents focused heavily on the bill’s repeal of Minnesota’s K-3 suspension ban and non-exclusionary discipline requirements. Legal aid, disability advocates, and education groups argued that suspensions harm young children, worsen disparities, and disproportionately affect students of color and students with disabilities, and they urged the committee to keep restorative and non-exclusionary practices in place. Disability advocates also asked that any safety planning explicitly account for students with disabilities and that the bill remain aligned with IDEA protections and individualized education decisions. Several testifiers opposed using public funds for private schools, saying public money should stay in public programs. Other testimony came from school administrators and staff who supported restoring limited suspension discretion, describing serious elementary incidents, classroom evacuations, and injuries that they said required a short-term removal option to stabilize classrooms and plan for students’ return. Mental health and school support personnel witnesses stressed that safety and mental health funding should remain distinct and that more counselors, social workers, and related staff are needed to address student crises. No final vote on the bill itself was taken in the portion provided beyond adoption of the DE amendment and the motion to re-refer the bill.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • and similar programs.
  • and similar programs.
  • We provide programs.
  • programs? programs?
  • program costs, are the collaboratives part of these programs?
Summary: The Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee met to review how tobacco settlement dollars are being used and to press recipients for detailed information on total funding, administrative versus program spending, and measurable outcomes. The chair emphasized that the committee was not there for general program overviews, but to assess return on investment and whether each program should continue to receive tobacco settlement support. The committee approved the minutes from its December 22, 2025 meeting and then heard presentations from several agencies and organizations. Volunteers of America Mid-States described its southeastern Kentucky restorative justice program, which uses an evidence-based New Zealand model for juvenile cases in nine counties. The group reported tobacco settlement funding of $516,000 in FY24 and $233,500 in FY25, representing about 17% and then about 5% of the program budget, respectively. It said the funding helped expand the program from 13 cases in 2021 to 180 youth served, and cited an independent evaluation showing recidivism of 24.5% compared with 40.4% in AOC data, along with a cost of a little under $20 per day versus detention and other placements. Some members questioned whether the program fit the tobacco settlement funding categories and suggested it might be better supported through other justice-related funding sources. The Energy and Environment Cabinet’s Division of Conservation explained that tobacco funds support $1 million in direct aid to conservation districts and $2 million in cost-share projects for farmers, with 5% of the cost-share appropriation allowed for administration, or about $100,000 in FY26. Officials said the direct-aid line was moved into tobacco funding in 2019, reducing money available for farmer cost-share, and described a multi-year project approval and reallocation process. Senator Webb asked for a more specific breakdown of the $850,000 direct-aid amount, and the cabinet said it would provide that information. The Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy reported that in FY24 it expended just under $30 million across tobacco funds, general funds, restricted funds, and a one-time federal grant, with less than 2% used for administration. Officials said most tobacco settlement money goes to Kentucky ASAP local boards in all 120 counties, supporting prevention, treatment, and some law enforcement work. The Department of Agriculture then began its presentation, describing strategic investments, loan programs, county funding, administrative costs, and a reported return of about $2.30 for every dollar spent, but the transcript cuts off before that presentation was completed.