Video & Transcript Research : 'parochial school'

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FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

December 10, 2025 - 01:00 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • AT THAT TIME ALL OF OUR STATES DID NOT HAVE MEDICAL SCHOOLS OR DENTAL SCHOOL SO WE WERE FORMED TO SHARE
  • BUT WE HAVE AN OFFICE OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT WHERE WE HAVE COACHES THAT GO OUT AND WORK WITH SCHOOLS AND
  • WE ARE A 24/7 SCHOOL DISTRICT.
  • WHAT WE WANT THEM TO DO IS HAVE THE TEACHER CERTAINLY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL TO BE VERY
  • IF YOU TALK TO EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT ALL SCHOOLS ARE THINKING ABOUT SAFETY ESPECIALLY AT THE POSTSECONDARY
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Appropriations Committee May 14th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • activities out of our schools.
  • lawsuits to the school.
  • I am the former school board president for Clarksville Charter School, and I am also the hiring manager
  • I am the former school board president for Clarksville Charter School, and I am also the hiring manager
  • I am the former school board president for Clarksville Charter School, and I am also the hiring manager
Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on May 14, 2025, for a regular order hearing with a large consent calendar and many individual bill presentations. The committee first approved numerous bills on consent, then heard a series of measures spanning reproductive health, child care eligibility, transportation, mental health diversion, county recorder fees, groundwater management, election deadlines, parking enforcement, consumer protections, housing, immigrant and student protections, and utility/CPUC oversight. Several bills were taken up only for presentation because they were on suspense, including ACA 4 on long-term housing funding, and the committee later approved a very large suspense calendar as a whole. Among the bills discussed, AB 260 would protect medication abortion access and providers; AB 904 would clarify child care subsidy eligibility during family leave or job search; AB 1014 would give Caltrans more flexibility on speed limits in rural highway segments; AB 46 would clarify judicial discretion in mental health diversion; AB 1413 and AB 929 addressed groundwater adjudication and SGMA-related protections for small community water systems and wetlands; AB 930 would count vote-by-mail ballots postmarked by Election Day and received within seven days; AB 1022 would end towing solely for unpaid parking tickets; AB 290 and AB 302 dealt with automatic payments for the California Fair Plan and medical data protections; AB 1303 would remove the need for a Social Security number for California Lifeline eligibility; and several housing bills, including AB 920, AB 956, AB 1470, AB 893, and AB 1021, sought to streamline approvals or expand housing options. AB 1318 and AB 49 focused on immigrant-serving nonprofits and keeping immigration enforcement out of schools, while AB 1532 extended telecommunications and transportation access programs and added CPUC accountability measures. Testimony was generally supportive for the bills heard, with authors and sponsors emphasizing low or absorbable fiscal impacts, consumer protection, housing production, public safety, and protections for vulnerable communities. Opposition appeared on a few measures, including concerns about ADUs, towing authority, charter school-related issues, and the scale of proposed housing funding in ACA 4. Several members also commented in support of the housing and immigrant-protection measures, and some bills were voted out with recorded no votes or not-voting members noted. After the suspense calendar was deemed approved, the committee opened public comment on bills not presented that day, heard a long list of supporters and opponents on various measures, and then adjourned.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • vacant elementary schools? vacant elementary schools?
  • do all schools have this the schools?
  • be into schools? be into schools?
  • I had alternative school in the school.
  • schools? schools?
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The commission met to review and amend the minutes from its previous meeting, correcting the date, several spelling and wording errors, and clarifying references to a scholarship fund and a member’s title. The minutes were then approved as amended, with some members abstaining because they were not present at the prior meeting. The chair then turned to the commission’s work plan under SB 57, emphasizing the need to prioritize the statutory topics and identify which issues require additional research, documentation, and possible spreadsheets. Members discussed a broad range of special education cost drivers and policy questions, including student referral rates, why students are classified as other health impaired, whether referrals increased after COVID school closures, intervention processes before referral, the cost of services required under IEPs and 504 plans, differences between federal law, state law, and DOE rules, reporting of special education costs, out-of-district and residential placements, district sharing of resources, dispute resolution, graduation rates, and adult learning outcomes. Several members raised concerns that school environments, mental health, bullying, and possible overidentification may be contributing to rising special education numbers and costs, while others cautioned that some reported district percentages may be inflated or unclear because of how the data are counted. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 742, which would eliminate prorated special education aid when state appropriations are insufficient and require the governor to draw a warrant to cover shortfalls. Representative Ames explained that the bill had been recommended for interim study because the commission is already examining special education costing, and he highlighted the gap between FY24 special education costs of about $977.1 million and state aid of $33.9 million for catastrophic aid, $67.4 million for differentiated aid, and $50.8 million in federal IDEA funds, leaving local districts to cover about $825.1 million. He argued the commission should ultimately make clear that both the federal government and the state should contribute more. The Department of Education, through Melissa White, answered questions about data and oversight. She said special education counts come from IEPs entered into the state system using SASIDs, that DOE monitors districts through both desk audits and on-site visits, and that billing is checked against the services listed in each student’s IEP. She also said DOE’s special education work is largely federally funded, with roughly $56.7 million received through IDEA this year and about $49.1 million flowing through to LEAs, while the department retains a small amount for administration and statewide support activities. Members also discussed how adequacy calculations use special education counts from the state system and how those figures are reported.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Seclusion Working Group 11/19/25

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:08:47.040> because times they contact the school because times they contact the school
  • internally within the school district. internally within the school district.
  • > they're<00:18:00.400> reporting school districts if they're reporting school districts
  • school standing there when this is school standing there when this is occurring,<00:35:04.560> but
  • Um, and so every single of school.
Keywords: 919, house, all
Summary: The Seclusion Working Group approved the minutes from its November 5, 2025 meeting and then heard presentations from Jessica Heiser and Aaron Sansmark of Solutions Not Suspensions and the Minnesota Disability Law Center on the misuse and illegal use of seclusion in schools. They described illegal seclusion as including use outside emergencies, for discipline or noncompliance, beyond the emergency period, in unregistered rooms, without parent notice, without required observation or documentation, for students outside the grade-limit rules, when meals/restroom/water are withheld, or when staff are not properly trained. They emphasized that Minnesota lacks a single reliable data source for identifying illegal seclusion and that families often learn about incidents late, if at all, making complaints and legal action difficult because of barriers such as time, cost, language, and access to advocates. The presenters summarized Minnesota Disability Law Center records, saying they receive about one seclusion-related case per month during the school year, statewide, and that in the cases reviewed over the last year the children were all boys with disabilities, including autism, ADHD, developmental delay, or emotional disabilities; three were white and two were children of color, and four of the five were age 10 or younger. They said all of those families pulled their children from school afterward, and that five of five cases potentially had valid illegal-seclusion claims, though only three pursued legal action. They also noted PACER reports many discipline and behavior calls involving seclusion but does not keep hard records. The presenters proposed better statewide data collection, including identifying school buildings, staff, or students involved, reporting incident duration, and adding a checkbox on MDE complaints to flag restraint/seclusion allegations. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on disproportionality. The presenters cited national research showing students with disabilities and students of color, especially Black boys, are disproportionately restrained or secluded, while acknowledging Minnesota does not have a single statewide racial aggregate for seclusion. Members discussed whether banning seclusion would reduce misuse and disproportionality, whether it could increase physical holds or injuries, and whether the issue should be viewed in the broader context of emergency interventions. Heiser argued Minnesota is moving in the same direction as federal actions and other states that have restricted or banned seclusion, and noted that the current birth-through-third-grade ban has reportedly reduced seclusion by 40%. Other members agreed disproportionality is a serious systemwide problem, but emphasized the need to keep the conversation focused on seclusion and emergency use. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approval of the minutes.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Finance - 04/14/26

Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • ensure schools receive the full amount ensure schools receive the full amount of<00:02:46.680> state
  • > fund<00:13:52.160> was The Minnesota school trust fund was The Minnesota school trust
  • back in our schools. back in our schools.
  • How is that impacting the school How is that impacting the school district?
  • And how do the school and down?
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

06/12/2026 - Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Transcript Highlights:
  • , charter school, home education, private Christian school, Jewish school, whatever it is, that should
  • more homeschoolers, not those that are in a school in a private school.
  • schools and ESAs.
  • I support school choice.
  • The students in public schools are tested constantly, as are the schools.
Bills: HCR2048
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

Seclusion Working Group - 10/15/25

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • school that we can tour. school that we can tour.
  • in our setting, but in our elementary schools, our early childhood programs, middle school, high school
  • in our setting, but in our elementary schools, our early childhood programs, middle school, high school
  • school system.
  • are, there are 38 school buildings. are, there are 38 school buildings.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
AR

Arkansas 2026 Regular Session

LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS Mar 12th, 2026

LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Transcript Highlights:
  • The school district to be here to explain anything?
  • It’s not so much that the school district It’s not so much that the school district had an event for
  • It’s that they used the school funds to do it.
  • Cedar Ridge School District, finding one.
  • your schools.
Summary: The Legislative Audit Education Institution Subcommittee met to review 57 education audit reports, including 52 with no findings and five with findings. The committee adopted the previous meeting’s minutes and then heard staff summaries of the findings, which focused largely on school district spending and internal control issues. Two reports, Camden-Fairview and Forest City, involved district use of operating funds for staff end-of-year celebrations that staff said conflicted with the Arkansas Constitution and AG opinions. Camden-Fairview’s questioned costs totaled $10,668, including meals, door prizes, and facility rental, and Forest City’s totaled $33,436, including decorations, catering, entertainment, and rental fees. Members discussed whether district officials should attend to answer questions, and both reports were deferred to the June meeting with requests for district attendance. The committee also reviewed a referred finding at Nettleton School District involving a $1.9 million fraud scheme tied to emailed bank-account change requests; the district recovered $1.5 million from the bank and arranged for the vendor to reimburse the remaining $204,890 loss. Members questioned why the vendor would repay money it did not receive, and the report was also held over to the June meeting for further explanation. A separate referred case at Camden-Fairview noted unauthorized credit card charges of $2,140, with $262 remaining as a loss after bank reversals. Staff also presented non-referred findings at Cedar Ridge, including improper Title I payroll charges, salary overpayment and underpayment errors, and an unreconciled bank account variance, and at Green County Technical School District, where a $1,400 vendor check was fraudulently diverted but later recovered. Those reports were filed after no objections. During discussion, staff explained that Legislative Audit is trying to reduce recurring fraud and control problems by advising schools on verifying banking changes in person or through other direct contact, using bank controls such as positive pay, and monitoring accounts more frequently. Members encouraged schools to take audit training seriously and noted that clean reports should be recognized as a positive result. The remaining 52 reports with no findings were filed as reviewed, and the meeting adjourned with no new business.
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee 2/17/25

Elections Finance and Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:
  • come from uh School come from uh School elections<00:52:47.040> and<00:52:47.920> I
  • of metropolitan school of metropolitan school districts<00:54:29.880> we<00:54:30.000>
  • School Board elections to School Board elections to November<00:55:04.680> as<00:55:04.920>
  • I'm a school board member in deay and I'm a school board member in what<00:59:37.280> I<00:59
  • District 621 the MSU Public School District 621 the MSU Public Schools<00:59:43.039> I<00:59:
Bills: HF72, HF66, HF69, HF73
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Legislative Audit Committee Jun 18th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • Unified School District in 2019.
  • after school, for summer school, and for our special education extended school year.
  • It is about all school districts.
  • We have Fullerton Elementary School District and Fullerton Unified School District.
  • Of a fairly 150,000, two school districts, one high school, one elementary.
Summary: The committee heard several audit requests and related testimony. The first major item was an audit of Coachella Valley Unified School District’s contract and fiscal management. The author and supporters described long-standing fiscal mismanagement, large budget shortfalls, layoffs, contracting concerns, and questions about the district’s foundation and use of public funds. District representatives and the Riverside County Office of Education said the district is already under fiscal oversight, has a stabilization plan, and is working to reduce deficits and improve student outcomes. After extensive debate and public comment, the motion to approve the audit was put on call because the committee did not have the required votes from both houses at that moment. The committee then approved an audit of East Bay transit agencies in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Senator Wahab argued the region’s many overlapping transit agencies create fragmentation, duplication, and inefficiency, especially amid a fiscal cliff and possible future tax increases. Transit agencies and labor representatives opposed the audit, saying the agencies already undergo multiple audits, serve distinct local needs, and are implementing regional coordination efforts. After testimony from agency leaders and public commenters, the committee voted to approve the audit. The next item was an audit of California Community Colleges’ unrestricted reserves. Senator Archuleta and supporting faculty representatives said reserves have grown substantially and may be diverting resources from student services, instruction, and workforce programs. They argued there is little oversight when reserves become too high. The Chancellor’s Office and Calbright College were invited to respond, and the audit objectives focused on reserve growth, reasons for high balances, oversight by the Chancellor’s Office, and effects on students and staff. The transcript cuts off during the Chancellor’s Office response, so the final committee action on this item is not shown.
CO

Colorado 2026 Regular Session

Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 118 May 12th, 2026

Colorado House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • different learning environments: public traditional public schools, charter public schools, home schools
  • And, you know, I went from public school. I went to public schools. public school.
  • To multiple school districts or charter schools that are eligible for a school transformation grant.
  • Teacher, a school bus driver, a school food services cook, a school nurse, or a paraprofessional as defined
  • That was the teachers, school bus drivers, school food services cooks, school nurses, superintendents
Keywords: 981, all
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • personnel on school property or at a school function.
  • school employee believed to have occurred on school property or a school-sponsored event by a student
  • schools.
  • , not outside of schools.
  • outside of schools but um schools not outside of schools but um first<02:04:36.080> degree<02
Summary: The Juvenile Justice Oversight Council met on February 6, 2026, took roll, approved a motion to convene, and heard agency updates from materials in the packet. The council then took up Senate Bill 125 out of order because Senator Carol was present. The bill was presented as a collaborative effort focused on creating a secure, state-run high-acuity mental health facility for justice-involved youth who need specialized psychiatric care and cannot be appropriately served in detention or by private hospitals. Speakers said the facility would fill a gap in services, improve safety and treatment outcomes, and be designed with trauma-informed, medically equipped spaces rather than a jail-like setting. The presenters also outlined other parts of the bill, including a placement process in which DJJ and CHFS would evaluate youth and provide recommendations before the judge makes the final decision, with certain hospital-declination provisions to be delayed until the new facility is operating. They described payment incentives for hospitals treating high-acuity youth, confidentiality and escape-related disclosure provisions, and contracts with a public teaching university for clinical services. The proposed facility was described as a 24-bed center at Central State, with staffing to include mental health professionals and juvenile detention staff receiving enhanced training. Dr. Clark Lester said staffing needs would vary by youth and could include one-to-one supervision for some patients. The bill also addressed female juvenile detention capacity. Speakers said the number of detained girls has risen sharply since 2024, peaking at 51 in 2025, and that current facilities cannot meet the separation requirements for boys and girls or high- and low-level youth. The proposal would build two female detention centers, with possible locations discussed in central Kentucky and western Kentucky, and a third or fourth center could be added if population data show the need. Members asked about hospital placement authority, staffing, and average length of stay for girls; the presenters said the current court-order process would remain until the new facility is built and that they would provide additional data later. No vote was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

Senate Education Finance (04/22/2026)

Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • And so this was not for those schools.
  • <00:11:17.960> districts allocated from school districts allocated from school districts uh
  • I think this is a good thing for our schools. I think it's a good thing for the school districts.
  • by elected school boards.
  • by elected school boards. by elected school boards.
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • Health Institute Bo Farm to school Health Institute Bo Farm to school network<00:03:32.680> um
  • I came and I was interested because all the students from my school—well, not my school, the school I
  • well not my students from my school well not my school<00:47:38.280> the<00:47:38.400> school
  • the school I used to go to Camp school the school I used to go to Camp High<00:47:40.160> School<
  • some schools or deal that the schools some schools or many<00:48:19.640> schools<00:48:20.119
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 110, HD1, which would clarify local food purchase goals for the Department of Education. DOE said it supports the measure and will work toward the 30% local food mandate by 2030. The Department of Agriculture also supported the bill, and outside advocates from the Hawaii Public Health Institute and Hawaii Farm to School Network strongly backed it as consistent with prior farm-to-school laws and helpful for measuring progress toward the goal. The committee then took up House Bill 293, which would exempt certain DOE purchases of local edible produce and packaged food products from electronic procurement rules and allow written-quote purchasing thresholds, including a lower quote requirement for some rural schools. DOE, the Department of Agriculture, the State Procurement Office, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau all supported the measure, describing it as a tool to help the department test and add local products and meet the 30% goal. However, members pressed DOE on the bill’s purpose and mechanics, questioning why the department could not simply add products to vendor lists or use existing procurement flexibility. DOE explained it was trying to test new local products, including products not yet on the USDA-approved list, and said the bill would allow limited pilot purchases while it works through USDA approval and vendor-list updates. Members also raised concerns about whether the bill was being used to bypass procurement and whether small farmers or aggregators could realistically supply the needed volume. House Bill 1069, which would add two voting members representing DOE and the Board of Education to the School Facilities Authority, also drew support from DOE and the Board of Education. Supporters said the change would improve accountability, strategic input, and communication on school facilities matters. SFA testified that it has already increased coordination with DOE through regular meetings and that recent discussions have been more robust. Committee members questioned whether voting seats were necessary given that DOE and BOE could already attend meetings and receive updates, and they raised concerns about how a voting representative would report back and whether the measure would actually solve communication problems. No votes or final actions were taken on the measures during the portion of the meeting provided.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • courses either in their high schools, on our campuses, or online.
  • But again, we're present in every high school in the state.
  • Here's the programs and schools that offer those programs.
  • what's at your what's at your school what's at your school<00:57:25.240> now<00:57:25.640>
  • the system well three schools and um it the system well three schools and um it was<01:04:33.279>
Keywords: 1189, house, all
Summary: The Public Higher Education Study Committee held an organizational meeting and received an update from the university and community college systems on implementation of recommendations from the governor’s higher education task force. The systems said the task force report contained about 40 recommendations, and they have focused first on operational items while continuing to work on larger policy issues, including better alignment of public higher education with workforce and economic development needs. The committee also discussed reporting requirements under the amended law and whether quarterly reports are required or whether annual updates are sufficient unless the committee requests more. A major topic was expanding Early College and dual-enrollment opportunities. The chancellors reported strong growth in Early College participation, significant student and family savings, and state scholarship support that they described as producing a strong return on investment. They said the goal is to build clearer pathways so students can earn college credit, reduce debt, and stay in New Hampshire for postsecondary education. They also noted ongoing work to simplify admissions and transfer processes, including about 100 transfer pathways between the systems, direct-admit efforts for community college and university students, and continued development of transfer equivalency tools. Members pressed the systems and the Department of Education on direct outreach to high school students, especially juniors, so students would know they are eligible for direct admission and other opportunities. The main obstacle discussed was access to student contact information, with officials saying the issue may involve contract limits with the College Board and possibly statutory constraints on sharing data. Department of Education staff said they are meeting with the systems and vendors to determine what changes are needed. Committee members urged faster action so students and families can receive letters or other notices about in-state options, affordability programs such as Granite Guarantee, and pathways to community college and university enrollment.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:18:25.200> students to bring more choice to school students to bring more choice to school
  • And uh lunch school lunch providers.
  • for students and uh and school for students and uh and school districts.<00:19:59.840> Now,
  • And so there doesn't school districts.
  • school school students uh offered to our school school students uh so<00:23:14.159> they<00:23
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Ways and Means Education Committee Apr 2nd, 2025

Ways and Means Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • We are in our fifth school year right now.
  • We're in schools all over the state; we're in over 40 schools this year, and that program is going to
  • school.
  • We are now known as a specialty school.
  • We're the number one ranked STEM school in Alabama and the 34th ranked school in the whole country out
Bills: SB1, HB176, HB86, SB1, HB176, HB86
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • He went to Cornerstone Christian School. Cornerstone Christian School.
  • The majority of the data I will share today come from a survey of school districts and charter schools
  • So we had 12% of spots in the 2022–23 school year open at the beginning of the school year, and that
  • As a former school board trustee in a relatively large unified school district, this is a...
  • And we have Head Start schools at our school district, so UPK as well. We had it all.
Summary: The joint hearing focused on California’s child care, preschool, and transitional kindergarten oversight, with chairs emphasizing the state’s Master Plan for Early Learning and Care and the need to break down silos between programs. CDSS and CDE reported progress toward the plan’s goals, including universal access to TK for all four-year-olds next school year, expanded access for low-income three-year-olds, and more children with disabilities being served in state preschool. They also noted ongoing work on quality rating/review reform, funding structure changes, and the need to address rates, workforce shortages, and federal uncertainty around Head Start. Testimony from advocacy groups and providers largely supported expanding access while simplifying the system. Children Now, Every Child California, and the California Budget and Policy Center argued that California still has uneven access, especially for infants, toddlers, and three-year-olds, and urged investments in mixed delivery, inclusion, full-day options, and a cost-of-care rate methodology. Every Child California recommended consolidating part-day and full-day contracts, streamlining eligibility priorities, making the two-year-old option permanent, and funding staffing incentives. Parent testimony highlighted how child care gaps and county-to-county transfer delays can disrupt work, safety, and children’s stability, and providers described low reimbursement rates, the need for health and retirement benefits, and support for delinking subsidy rates from private pay. The second panel addressed universal transitional kindergarten. The Learning Policy Institute reported rapid TK expansion, with most districts now offering TK, but said access still depends on facilities, staffing, and whether programs are available at all school sites. The Department of Finance said the governor’s budget would fully implement TK by adding funding for all eligible four-year-olds and lowering the adult-to-child ratio from 12:1 to 10:1. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the administration’s enrollment and cost assumptions were optimistic and estimated lower TK enrollment growth and lower costs for the ratio change. CDE supported the expansion and urged continued funding for UPK coordinators, teacher development, and mixed-delivery planning grants. Members questioned facilities shortages, staffing competition, and how to ensure TK expansion does not displace CSPP or Head Start classrooms. No formal votes or actions were taken in the hearing.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Additional toolkits for school psychologists, school social workers, and others are on the way.
  • of education, school districts, and charter schools.
  • , school districts, charter schools.
  • Very spotty responses from my school districts on these. I spoke with school board members.
  • Having school social workers in schools has been a huge improvement.
Keywords: 988, house, all
Summary: The hearing focused first on behavioral health, especially hard-to-treat serious mental illness through the lens of anosognosia, and the impact of potential federal Medi-Cal reductions under H.R. 1. A family member, Dawn Marie Anderson, described her son’s long cycle of psychosis, homelessness, arrests, jail-based stabilization, and repeated relapse when treatment ended, arguing that anosognosia is a symptom of illness rather than refusal of care. She and other witnesses urged more consistent, long-term treatment, family involvement, medication support, and stronger county and state coordination. County and provider representatives said the current system still relies too heavily on crisis response and leaves people with serious mental illness falling through gaps between managed care, county specialty care, housing, and justice systems. Testimony from the California Behavioral Health Association, Santa Barbara County Behavioral Health, and the County Behavioral Health Directors Association emphasized that people with anosognosia often cannot self-navigate care, making a “no wrong door” system essential. They said H.R. 1 could destabilize coverage and shift costs to counties, while existing private insurance coverage is inadequate for early psychosis and related services. Witnesses highlighted CalAIM, jail in-reach, assertive community treatment, mobile crisis, supportive housing, and LEAP-style family training as promising tools, but said counties still need more resources and that the state should strengthen both Medi-Cal and private insurance behavioral health coverage. A public commenter from Lake County said private insurers denied most claims, especially for unlicensed staff providing case management and mobile crisis services. The committee then heard an update on the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, including the virtual services platforms BrightLife Kids and Soluna and the CYBHI fee schedule program. DHCS reported strong growth in app registrations, coaching sessions, referrals, and positive user outcomes, and said the platforms are serving children and youth statewide, including many who had never previously accessed care. For the fee schedule, DHCS said 72% of school districts and 50 of 58 county offices of education are participating across six cohorts, with $9.6 million reimbursed to date and 41,556 students represented in claims. Members pressed the department on the program’s roughly $69.3 million administrative cost, the slow pace of reimbursement relative to the investment, and the late delivery of requested data. DHCS responded that many claims are still being submitted, most denials are correctable, and local implementation is still scaling up through technical assistance and capacity grants.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • to an appeal hearing must have that hearing conducted by the school board.
  • California School Employees Association, a union representing more than 250,000 classified public school
  • Angelina Kanoi, on behalf of the Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools, Dr.
  • And if we want strong schools, we need to invest in the people who make them work.
  • Navit Purrier on behalf of the California School Employees Association, in support.
Summary: The Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement heard several retirement and school employment measures. SB 301 by Sen. Grayson would prevent CERL-covered cities and districts from amending retirement contracts to exclude certain employee groups, closing a loophole similar to one previously addressed for CalPERS. The bill was supported by California Professional Firefighters and received no opposition. SB 443 by Sen. Rubio would clarify that employees transferring into a joint powers authority can retain CalPERS classic status even when the JPA expands later; the city of La Verne, a flood management agency, and AFSCME supported the bill, and it also drew no opposition. Both bills were moved out of committee on unanimous votes and sent to Appropriations, with the consent calendar items SB 521, SB 581, and SB 853 also approved. The committee then heard SB 494 by Sen. Cortese, which would give classified school employees the right to have disciplinary appeals heard by an administrative law judge rather than by the school board. Supporters, including CSEA, AFSCME, and CFT, argued the bill would create parity with teachers and community college faculty and provide a fairer appeal process. Opponents, including the California School Boards Association, county superintendents, school business officials, and community college groups, argued it would remove local control, impose a one-size-fits-all process, and shift costs to districts. The bill was passed out of committee and referred to the Committee on Higher Education. The committee also considered SJR 2 by Sen. Cortese, a resolution urging Congress and the President to enact federal protections for classified school employees, including better wages, benefits, safety, and workplace rights. Support came from CFT, CSEA, and other labor groups, with no opposition. The resolution was adopted and moved forward. At the end of the hearing, the committee reopened the roll to add votes, and all listed measures ultimately passed unanimously or near-unanimously before the meeting adjourned.