Video & Transcript Research : 'regional program'

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FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • Assisted treatment just threw our program.
  • And so this is really the heart of our program.
  • since setting up that program.
  • Every regional operations center has agents dedicated specifically to focus on covert programs to target
  • and our familial search program.
Keywords: 999, senate, all
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Health Care Financing Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am

Joint Committee on Health Care Financing

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm the Eastern Region advocacy director for Dialysis Patient Citizens.
  • I'm the Eastern Region advocacy director for dialysis patient citizens.
  • I mentioned our financial assistance programs at AKF.
  • My name is Tiffany Zayez, and I'm a senior regional clinical director with BCI.
  • Megan Van Nostrand, and I am also a senior regional clinical director at BCI.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a public hearing on several health care bills focused primarily on autism services and kidney disease coverage. Committee chairs John Lawn and Cindy Friedman opened by outlining hearing procedures, testimony rules, and filing deadlines, and noted the hearing would be recorded and written testimony accepted. They said the day’s topics included affordability and access to behavioral health services, provider reimbursement, Medicare coverage for vulnerable populations, and MassHealth eligibility asset exemptions. A major portion of the hearing concerned House Bill 4623, which would add board-certified assistant behavior analysts (BCABAs) as a recognized mid-level supervisory role in the MassHealth reimbursement framework to help address long wait lists for autism spectrum disorder services. Representative Lisa Field, actuaries, clinicians, and autism service providers testified that the current two-tier model limits workforce capacity, contributes to long delays, and leaves families waiting months for care. Supporters said the bill could expand access, improve retention, and potentially reduce MassHealth costs, while also helping providers meet growing demand and new administrative requirements. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 4425 and Senate Bill 2737, which would allow Massachusetts residents under 65 with end-stage renal disease to purchase Medigap coverage. Legislators, dialysis advocates, and patients described high out-of-pocket costs under Medicare, barriers to kidney transplant eligibility without secondary insurance, and the financial strain on patients and families. Testifiers said the change would affect about 846 residents, could modestly increase premiums, and might reduce Medicaid spending by preventing asset spend-downs. Senator Gomez and others spoke from personal experience with dialysis and transplant care. Finally, the committee heard testimony on House Bill 4353 and Senate Bill 2587, which would require regular data-driven review of MassHealth ABA reimbursement rates. Providers and association representatives argued that reimbursement has not kept pace with inflation, workforce shortages, accreditation costs, and new 2026 MassHealth policy requirements, and said the bills would improve transparency and ensure rates reflect the true cost of care. No votes were taken; the hearing concluded with the chairs thanking participants, inviting additional written testimony, and adjourning the meeting.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Education May 6th, 2026

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • They like their experience at the regional institution.
  • Thank you so much for your support of the TOPS program. Okay, members, we're at first here.
  • And I'll use McNeese in your region.
  • The witness responded that, right now, institutions often use the accreditor in their region.
  • This type of school could be a regional school of choice focused on vocation. Rep.
Summary: The House Education Committee met on May 6 and began with a presentation from LSU leadership, including LSU System President Wade Roos and Chancellor Jim Dalton. They outlined LSU’s goals of building an “elite” flagship university while maintaining accessibility through transfer pathways from regional campuses, increasing research expenditures toward top-tier status, and keeping more Louisiana students in-state for college and jobs. Members responded positively, praising LSU’s leadership, workforce focus, and efforts to retain the state’s best and brightest students. The committee then considered several bills. SB 105, by Sen. Kathy, would reinstitute a TOPS Tech-related benefit for veterans using existing TOPS Tech funds, with no new money added; it was reported favorably. SB 374 would create a uniform framework for college economic development districts, allowing other institutions to establish districts with local government approval; Rep. Tarver offered and the committee adopted an amendment adding a legislator to each district board, and the bill was reported with amendments. SB 304 would let Louisiana institutions choose from a Board of Regents-approved list of accreditors recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, while preserving specialized accreditation; it was reported favorably. The committee also took up SB 522, which would allow vocational and technical charter schools to apply directly to BESE as Type 2 charters when supported by the State Board of Commerce and Industry. Rep. Taylor objected that the bill should apply equally to public schools and charter schools, but the committee ultimately voted 9-1 to report the bill favorably. SB 290, a cleanup bill on student exit codes and school accountability data, was reported favorably. H.R. 175, which would have asked for a study of TOPS Tech, was voluntarily deferred by the author. Finally, H.C.R. 81, by Rep. Freiberg, requested a Department of Education study on options for public school systems facing declining enrollment, including funding, staffing, closures, and consolidation. Caroline Romer of the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools supported the study, and Rep. Taylor asked whether charter schools should be included in the review. The resolution was reported favorably. The meeting ended with several members recognizing visiting mayors and other guests before adjournment.
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

House Standing Committee on Economic Development & Workforce Investment (2-12-26)

Economic Development & Workforce Investment

Transcript Highlights:
  • And finally, the bill expands the angel investment investor program to allow pass-through entities to
  • > this<00:04:02.400> name<00:04:02.799> change<00:04:03.200> just Hub program
  • And this name change just Hub program.
  • to allow pass through entities program to allow pass through entities to<00:05:00.560> participate
  • I represent Georgetown Scott County<00:14:39.199> regional<00:14:39.680> airport<00:14:
Summary: The House Standing Committee on Economic Development and Workforce Investment met for its first meeting, reviewed housekeeping procedures, and established a quorum. The committee first considered House Bill 577, relating to economic development. The bill sponsor and a representative from Blue North said it would modernize Kentucky’s economic development statutes to better support startups and high-growth companies, rename the innovation center program as the Kentucky Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub program, clarify statutory definitions, expand the Kentucky Enterprise Fund, allow certain out-of-state companies to qualify if they commit to becoming Kentucky-based within 180 days, and broaden the angel investment program to include pass-through entities. The committee approved HB 577 with a favorable expression. The committee then took up House Bill 392, relating to local public agency transactions, and adopted a committee substitute negotiated with stakeholders including the Kentucky Press Association and the Kentucky Association of General Contractors. The sponsor said the substitute removed the original bill’s best value and reciprocal bidder provisions, lowered the small purchase threshold from $60,000 to $50,000, and would increase that threshold by $10,000 every five years to account for inflation. It would also allow local governments to use certain state contracts with price ranges, permit independent evaluation of some small non-evaluative equipment, and exempt law enforcement vehicles and related equipment from procurement code requirements. HB 392, as amended by committee substitute, passed with a favorable expression. House Concurrent Resolution 16 was then heard. The sponsor, who had co-chaired the Air Mobility and Aviation Economic Development Task Force, said the task force held six meetings and heard from airports, aviation and education stakeholders, logistics companies, and others. She said the group found there was no real strategic plan for advanced air mobility and recommended that state agencies study infrastructure needs and that the General Assembly develop a strategic plan and legislation for AAM vehicles. Members discussed airport and drone-related issues, and the resolution passed with a favorable expression. Finally, House Bill 593, relating to data centers, was announced but passed over for a later hearing, and the committee adjourned.
NJ

New Jersey 2026-2027 Regular Session

Assembly Session Jun 11th, 2026

New Jersey House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The problem this bill solves is that we haven't created a program for it yet.
  • This program is being run through Rutgers, and we should have Rutgers' MBA program provide these services
  • A little fact about New Jersey and the surrounding region is that it happens to be a great...
  • A little more fact about New Jersey and the surrounding region is that it happens to be a great place
  • Reed Funk, who was the father of this revolutionary program.
Keywords: 1146, all
MS

Mississippi 2026 Regular Session

Energy - Room 210, 2 February, 2026; 4:15 PM

Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • the issue with the Gulf Coast regional the issue with the Gulf Coast regional utility<00:08:08.319
  • And so what this bill does is it allows us to continue to do grant programs that can fund other programs
  • And so what this bill does is it allows us to continue to do grant programs that can fund other programs
  • that can fund other other programs that can fund other other programs<00:26:20.559> and<00:26
  • of those we don't know what the program of those we don't know what the program outlines<00:27:03.200
Summary: The committee took up several energy, utility, and infrastructure bills. Bill 2527 on solar decommissioning was presented as a landowner consumer-protection measure that would set statewide baseline requirements for solar lease agreements, preserve some freedom of contract, preempt duplicative local rules, and protect landowners from reclamation costs; after no questions, it was moved and passed. The committee also discussed changes to the Gulf Coast Regional Utility Act in HB 2058 and HB 2309, including new first-right-of-refusal language, prohibitions on unauthorized service, civil penalties and enforcement tools, and legislative intent language aimed at preventing duplication and protecting public investment; both were adopted as committee substitutes and passed. HB 2018 was amended to extend similar oversight to water systems, and it was reported after questions about the scope of the change. Several bills focused on water and wastewater oversight. SB 2311 and SB 2312 would create statewide A-to-F grading systems for drinking water and wastewater systems, require annual public reporting, and direct the health and environmental agencies to adopt objective scoring rules; both were passed. SB 2526 would create a Mississippi Rural Water Oversight Committee, require rate studies, capacity studies, and asset management plans for water associations, and provide staffing and funding support from existing revolving-fund resources; it was adopted as a committee substitute and reported, with supporters saying it would help identify and assist troubled associations. The committee also heard a bill creating the Metro Jackson Water Authority, allowing a lease of city system assets, special revenue bonds to refinance legacy debt, and supplemental revenue sources such as sanitation fees and possibly sales tax revenues; the sponsor said no general fund money would be used, and the bill was reported. The committee also advanced HB 2641, which was stripped down to a study committee on wind turbine facilities, grandfathered existing projects, and imposed a moratorium on new construction until the study is completed; members asked about existing projects and were told current projects under construction would not be penalized, and the committee substitute passed. SB 2783 would make targeted definition changes to BEAD-related broadband grant programs so remaining federal funds could support other state initiatives, including AI workforce training, and it was reported after questions about future federal guidance. Finally, HB 2787 would add propane to the school gas-leak testing statute; the sponsor said the inspections would not require additional state funding because propane dealers and the State Fire Marshal’s office already handle the checks, and the bill passed.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • PROGRAM REVIEW, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS PERFORMANCE MEASURING PROGRAM WITH SECRETARY DIXON.
  • SO AS IT RELATES TO PROGRAMS WE KNOW THAT IF WE INVOLVE INDIVIDUALS IN EDUCATION PROGRAMMING THEY HAD
  • OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM EXPENDITURES.
  • WITH THEIR PROGRAM THERE.
  • THOSE ARE PROGRAMMING SERVICES.
Keywords: 999, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Higher Education - 03/06/25

Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • program and our 4 program we Gardener program and our 4 program we have<00:09:24.040> four<00
  • program.
  • program.
  • awarded this program the program has awarded this program the program has awarded 17<01:04:23.680
  • <01:42:00.199> serves programs each year the program serves programs each year the program
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • current facilities uh in our regional current facilities uh in our regional facility<00:37:19.359
  • to add on to each one of these Regional to add on to each one of these Regional facilities<00:37
  • We've directed them to go back to the regional model first.
  • We've directed them to go back to the regional model first.
  • We've directed them to go back to the regional model first.
Summary: The committee first considered Senate Bill 2, sponsored by Senator Mike Wilson, which would prohibit incarcerated people from receiving cross-sex hormones or gender-affirming surgeries, while allowing a tapering period if stopping an existing treatment would cause physical harm. Wilson said the bill was needed to prevent the Department of Corrections from providing such care by memo or policy rather than statute, and he argued the care was elective and not medically necessary. Senators Thomas, Neal, Nemes, Styers, and others questioned whether any gender-affirming surgeries had actually occurred in Kentucky, whether the hormone treatments were physician-prescribed, and whether the bill would override medical judgment; Wilson said the department reported no surgeries, that 67 incarcerated people were receiving cross-sex hormone therapy, and that he would only support treatment if it fit the bill’s narrow medical-harm exception. Public testimony on SB 2 was strongly opposed. Chris Hartman of the Fairness Campaign said the bill would deny medically necessary care, violate the Eighth Amendment, and target a very small and vulnerable incarcerated population. Dr. Jack Skilles testified that gender-affirming care is medically necessary and supported by major medical organizations, warning that denying it could worsen mental health and lead to suicidality. Hannah Callahan, a transgender woman, described being denied hormone therapy while incarcerated and said the interruption caused severe physical and mental harm, including suicidal thoughts. Emma Curtis, Lexington’s Fourth District councilwoman, also urged a no vote, framing the issue as a matter of compassion and religious duty. The committee then voted on SB 2. Senator Neal explained his no vote by saying he was not medically trained and deferred to doctors; Senator Nemes said he wanted clarification that the bill would not stop ongoing treatment; and Senator Styers argued the bill was a poor priority and noted there was no fiscal note and that only 67 people were affected. Senator Wheeler moved the bill, Senator Reed seconded, and the committee reported Senate Bill 2 favorably. Afterward, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 84, sponsored by Senator Steve Rawlings, which would limit judicial deference to state agency interpretations and require courts, not agencies, to interpret ambiguous laws, citing the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 Loper Bright decision overturning Chevron deference.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Public Service Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on Public Service

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm the executive director of Middlesex Regional 911.
  • Each municipality or regional center operates within its own retirement system.
  • For those who are not aware, this program is a cooperative program with the United States Department
  • For those who are not aware, this program is a cooperative program with the United States Department
  • We are in fact recognized as a model program for invasive pest control in the country.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held its 15th hearing of the 194th General Court, focused on retirement group classifications for a range of public safety and related employees. Much of the testimony centered on bills affecting Barnstable County dispatchers and 911 telecommunicators, who argued they should remain in or be moved to Group 2 because their work is highly stressful, life-or-death in nature, and historically had been treated that way. Speakers said the proposed changes would largely grandfather in current employees, would not add costs in some cases, and were needed to correct outdated statutory language and PERAC rulings that had created uncertainty for workers nearing retirement or already retired. Similar support was offered for bills to reclassify 911 dispatchers statewide from Group 1 to Group 2, with testimony from dispatch supervisors, sheriffs, and police associations describing chronic stress, PTSD, staffing shortages, and retention problems. The committee also heard testimony on several other retirement-related bills. Representatives of Massport and campus police supported measures to align retirement benefits for Massport police and public higher education police with other law enforcement groups, arguing they perform comparable duties and face similar risks. The Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association also backed a bill to ease post-retirement earning restrictions for retired police and firefighters so they can continue consulting, training, or advising without penalty. MOSES testified in favor of bills moving certain state employees into Group 2, including forensic scientists at the State Police Crime Lab, DCR aerial foresters, and Department of Correction construction coordinators, citing hazardous work environments and physical danger. Department of Fire Services compliance officers likewise sought Group 4 classification, describing exposure to toxins, fatal fire scenes, and cancer risks. No votes were taken during the hearing. The committee heard extensive testimony from affected employees, union and association representatives, and public safety officials, all urging favorable reports on the bills. At the end of the hearing, the chairs thanked witnesses and staff, and the committee adjourned after a motion and second.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Oklahoma Education Commission Apr 30th, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Oklahoma Education Commission

Transcript Highlights:
  • Institution you're with, and also maybe help in a regional area when we get.
  • I think we're trying to get the program, from my understanding, program, and the speakers and the participation
  • She's been wonderful in helping put all of this together, but the regions.
  • Some of our region institutions are also applying to OU specifically.
  • Regional hubs or is that going to be separate from that?
Keywords: 914, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • We're asking for increased support to reinvest in our facilities programs and the future of California
  • Our fairgrounds are regional assets. There's no doubt about that. Many are very well run.
  • I'm the Senior Counsel of Public Policy and Advocacy for United Way California Capital Region.
  • For over 100 years, United Way California Capital Region has been mobilizing people to action so that
  • In the past five years, we have completed over 22,000 tax filings within our five-county region.
Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation held its first regular hearing of the 2025-26 session, adopted its proposed committee rules on a 5-0 vote, and reinstated a suspense file for bills with fiscal impacts over the committee threshold. The chair explained that only AB 418 would be eligible for an immediate vote, while several other measures would be held for suspense consideration because of budget constraints. AB 330 was pulled by the author. AB 418 by Wilson, which would create a clearer process and administrative remedy for county Chapter 8 tax sales, received support from county tax collectors and housing and taxpayer groups. Supporters said the bill would add transparency, due process, and a noticed public hearing for negotiated sales of tax-defaulted properties, while helping counties dispose of low-value or problematic properties more efficiently. The committee voted 6-0 to send AB 418 to Appropriations. Several other bills were heard and then referred to suspense: AB 27 by Chau, which would exclude Chiquita Canyon landfill relief payments from gross income and protect recipients’ eligibility for public benefits, drew strong support from affected residents and environmental advocates; AB 258 by Conley would increase funding for California fairs, with supporters emphasizing fairs’ emergency-response role; AB 397 by Gonzalez would expand the California Young Child Tax Credit into a broader child tax credit for older children; and AB 398 by Aaron would set a $300 minimum refundable Cal EITC benefit. The committee also heard AB 231 by Tye, which would offer a tax credit to microbusinesses that hire formerly incarcerated people, and it too was referred to suspense after supportive testimony from reentry and small-business advocates.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • program.
  • , our licensing and certification program, and of course our Women, Infants, and Children program.
  • And then finally, for the WIC program, it's a $1.25 billion program for 2025-26. years.
  • The program has far outpaced what we do in that program compared to what a lot of states do in the genetic
  • licensure program.
Keywords: 988, house, all
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

Minnesota House passes HF2563, the Legacy finance bill 4/25/25

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • State parks, state regional trails, metro, regional, and greater Minnesota regional parks, Mr.
  • Our state's parks, state and regional trails, metro, regional, and greater Minnesota regional parks,
  • metro<00:08:30.479> regional<00:08:30.800> and and regional trails, metro regional
  • and and regional trails, metro regional and greater<00:08:31.199> Minnesota<00:08:31.680>
  • regional<00:08:32.080> parks<00:08:32.479> and greater Minnesota regional parks and
Keywords: 1183, house
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • First up, we have the State Department of Health, Mar... aahu Regional Health Care system from aahu Regional
  • > should<00:50:17.280> focus<00:50:17.559> on program we should focus on program
  • Can we afford another program to be added to our existing programs that we still have to fund?
  • to our existing programs that we added to our existing programs that we still<01:41:32.560> have<
  • Who is funding these programs?
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The Committee on Health heard testimony on several bills. On SB 1441, which would repeal the transfer of the Oahu Regional Health Care System from HHSC to the Department of Health, the Department of Health said it strongly supports the measure and requested clarifying amendments. HHSC/Oahu Region also supported the bill and said it had no objection to the department’s amendments. In response to questions, witnesses said the agencies have been working on an MOU to support transfers of long-term care patients to Leahi, with the current goal being about 10 to 15 patients, but transfers would occur only as space and staffing allow; one patient was reportedly being admitted at the time, and the process was described as slow and case-by-case. The committee then heard SB 1443 on payment rates for state hospital patients and related Department of Health services. The hospital administrator said the bill would allow rates above Medicaid for community or foster-home placements if patients cannot be placed at Leahi or elsewhere, and would set Medicaid-level reimbursement for outside medical services used by state hospital patients. He said at least one provider was interested in offering services at that rate and that the population involved is largely non-ambulatory long-term care patients. Members asked about availability and training, and the witness said special training could be provided. SB 1322, a broad mental health bill, drew mixed testimony. The Department of Law Enforcement supported giving crisis-intervention-trained officers more discretion to transport people to medical care instead of arresting them. The Attorney General supported the bill but recommended revisions to emergency-transport language and restoring liability protections. HHSC and Queens Hospital supported the overall goal but sought amendments to preserve the mental health emergency worker role in decision-making and to avoid negative impacts on emergency departments. The Disability Rights Center and ACLU opposed parts of the bill, arguing that it weakens due process, reduces protections in involuntary treatment and transport, and should retain a three-person treatment panel rather than reduce it to one. A Queens representative said the current program works well and reported that more than 90% of MH1 cases once went to hospitals, but that figure has dropped to about 60-70%, with about 20% now diverted to community settings or the behavioral health crisis center. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion provided.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • the UIC program through its regional offices. in the EPA-created Class VI wells, which specifically
  • We administer 12 incentive grant programs under the Texas Emission Reduction Plan, or TERP.
  • Furthermore, we have 16 regional offices.
  • That put TCEQ in a difficult position of implementing our programs with limited time and resources.
  • As you know, we have an orphaned abandoned well program.
Keywords: 1185, senate, all
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • And we are going to sample an Oklahoma snack from a company in each region.
  • So the Maiden in Oklahoma program is a free marketing program for all producers of almost any product
  • So Shelter Creek is a part of the program.
  • Right, last but not least, we have our northwest region.
  • The next item is our Taiwan regional trade office.
Keywords: 914, all
ND

North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Human Services Committee May 27th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • And there is a great program.
  • The program types are not named; they are just described. So program type 1 would be...
  • , and our school-age programs.
  • type 2 or program type 3.
  • program, among other programs.
Summary: The committee first heard an update on North Dakota’s Interagency Council on Homelessness and Continuum of Care funding. Jennifer Henderson of the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency reported that homelessness remains driven by tight housing markets, low incomes, rising rents, and barriers to rental assistance, public benefits, and disability determinations. She said the state’s one-time North Dakota Homeless Grant is serving all regions but reaches far fewer households than the former Rent Help program, and that aging homelessness, shelter staffing shortages, and limited affordable units are growing concerns. Members discussed the need for more housing supply, better coordination with Health and Human Services, landlord engagement, reentry housing, and possible continued one-time funding for the $10 million Homeless Grant and $25 million Housing Incentive Fund. Henderson also warned that federal Continuum of Care funding is uncertain, with HUD expected to issue a new notice June 1 and possible shifts away from permanent supportive housing toward transitional housing and other models. The committee then took testimony on accessibility of government services for people who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, or hard of hearing. Paul Olson of North Dakota Vision Services School for the Blind described the school’s services for infants, children, and adults, including screenings, mobility training, assistive technology, and outreach across the state. He said the agency works closely with Vocational Rehabilitation and is also involved in improving website and document accessibility, especially for PDF materials. Public testimony highlighted barriers such as inaccessible CAPTCHA systems, online forms, driver’s license requirements on job applications, and limited transportation in rural areas. A deaf resident urged broader use of video remote interpreting and video relay services, along with training so people know how to use them effectively. Finally, Kay Larson presented the final report on the child care provider licensing study. The report recommended streamlining North Dakota’s child care licensing structure into three provider types plus a preschool designation, while preserving health and safety standards and maintaining eligibility for child care assistance. The committee discussed simplifying training and qualification rules, revising ratio and group-size requirements, and adjusting age bands for infants and toddlers. The report also noted that some changes would require statutory amendments and later administrative rule changes, with a transition period likely extending through 2029. No formal votes were taken in the transcript, but the committee accepted the updates and scheduled follow-up presentations for a later meeting.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
  • This program is an executive request.
  • Slide 12: program support roll up.
  • That's like the Be Well program at the state. Program at the state. Moving to page 15.
  • Charles Plus is a very popular program.
  • They are a pilot program, and the intent is to test out the pilot program to see if it works through
Keywords: 996, all
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Fiscal Policy Mar 13th, 2025

Fiscal Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill requires DCF to create a treatment foster care pilot program that will increase family-like
  • Those are the circuits that will be identified for that program. Senator Graal, you're recognized.
  • , appropriately named the FARM program.
  • Regarding the Regional Consortia Service Organization Supplemental Service Program created in the bill
  • Regarding the Regional Consortia Service Organization Supplemental Service Program created in the bill
Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy met and first considered CS/SB 7012 on child welfare, presented by Senator Graal. The bill addressed three areas: child welfare workforce shortages, higher-acuity children in out-of-home care, and services/data for commercially sexually exploited children. It would create a CPI and case manager recruitment program aimed at former public safety and service workers, convene a workforce work group, establish a four-year treatment foster care pilot in two judicial circuits identified by DCF based on removal and placement data, and require more detailed, extractable child-level data on commercially sexually exploited children along with a bed capacity study and service gap analysis. Two amendments were adopted: one clarified record retention for redacted assessments, and another attached the appropriation. The committee then heard CS/SB 110 on rural communities from Senator Simon. The bill proposed a broad rural development package, including a state office of rural prosperity, a Renaissance grant program for counties with declining populations, increased housing support, major rural road funding, school consortium funding, and additional health care resources for rural facilities and training. A delete-all amendment was adopted that expanded and refined several provisions, including local sales tax trust fund distributions, county connectivity projects, agritourism marketing support, disaster-impacted rural infrastructure eligibility, insurance and provider eligibility changes, and increased funding for critical access hospitals and rural medical education reimbursement. Both bills drew broad support from local government, education, health care, housing, and rural advocacy representatives. Supporters said the rural bill was especially comprehensive and would help small counties, schools, roads, housing, and health care, while one witness cautioned that road expansion should be balanced with protection of agricultural and natural lands. Senator Bradley and Senator Simon emphasized local control and the importance of strengthening rural Florida without imposing mandates. CS/SB 7012 and CS/SB 110 were both reported favorably, and the committee then adjourned.