Video & Transcript Research : 'M.J. Foster Promise Program'

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MD

Maryland 2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session, 3/23/2026 #1

Maryland House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • programs.
  • to support our child care program to support our child care programs.<00:04:01.040> And<00:04
  • And I want to thank the Ways programs.
  • <00:05:32.520> assisting for home energy programs assisting for home energy programs assisting
  • programs. Please move the amendments. programs. Please move the amendments.
Summary: The House took up the Appropriations Committee’s report on the fiscal 2027 budget, including Senate Bill 282, the budget bill, and Senate Bill 284, the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act. The floor leader described a balanced budget with a $282 million cash surplus, $2 billion in rainy day reserves, and no new fees or taxes, while highlighting funding for child care scholarships and credentials, behavioral health services in schools, Medicaid and SNAP-related outreach, DDA services, domestic violence and rape crisis services, energy assistance, local government disparity grants, and private-sector investment. Both budget measures were special ordered until Wednesday, March 25, and the House adopted the committee’s motion in each case without objection. The chamber also considered several committee reports from Economic Matters, Government, Labor, and Elections, and Health. Among the measures advanced were House Bill 1529 on a Baltimore County local commission on common ownership communities; House Bills 571, 892, 893, 994, 1120, 1166, 1351, 1362, and 883; and health-related bills including House Bills 446, 658, 698, 1015, and 1048. Most bills were amended and then given favorable reports, with the House adopting the amendments and ordering the bills printed for third reading. Several bills drew brief floor questions. House Bill 994 would create a $300 annual registration fee for travel services providers, but the sponsor said it would not add new penalties beyond existing consumer protection laws. House Bill 1166 on front license plate display clarified that a signed statement can shift responsibility to the driver when a front plate cannot be installed, while the existing $500 fine for noncompliance remained current law. House Bill 1351, dealing with disaster mitigation services and MHIC licensing, was explained as bringing those providers under home improvement licensing rules after a transition period, and was special ordered until the end of the session at a delegate’s request. House Bill 1048 on sodium and added sugar warning icons was amended to include a QR code and remove some reporting and education provisions; members also clarified that the bill still uses a 25-gram threshold and that restaurant groups did not support the bill, though it had been worked through with them.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Agriculture & Livestock Mar 11th, 2025

Agriculture & Livestock

Transcript Highlights:
  • And Programs Director, John Foster. On behalf of the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board.
  • I will turn to John Foster, who is our programs director, to dive deeper into each program, and then
  • Foster. We have you registered.
  • I'm John Foster, Programs Officer for the State Soil and Water Conservation Board.
  • Major program administered by the agency is the flood control dam program, which is separated into two
Bills: HB294, HB405, HB519, HB294
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - 03/05/25

Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:19:42.720> against we don't want to pit programs against we don't want to pit programs
  • <00:32:21.919> administrator am currently the program administrator am currently the program
  • from detaining non- delinquent foster from detaining non- delinquent foster care<01:38:03.320>
  • So thanks for this bill to get a voice. foster kids they're they're my foster kids they're they're my
  • security Grant Grant programs security Grant Grant programs Minnesota's Minnesota's Minnesota's
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Finance (Part II) Jan 28th, 2025

Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • There's other vocational programs that Windham is doing and educational programs.
  • There's other vocational programs that Windham is doing and educational programs.
  • to move that program into a permanently funded program.
  • to move that program into a permanently funded program.
  • programming.
Bills: SB1
Summary: The committee heard a Legislative Budget Board presentation and then testimony from the Department of Public Safety on the Article 5 public safety budget. LBB said DPS’s 2026-27 recommendation totals $3.7 billion, down from the prior base, while FTEs rise by 856.7. Major items included increased funding for driver license services and customer support, new trooper funding and recruit schools, crime lab operations, border security, and reductions tied to one-time facility, vehicle, and aircraft spending. The committee also discussed new riders, including one to lapse unused trooper funds and require reporting after recruit schools. Members focused heavily on driver license operations, questioning why prior staffing increases and a prior efficiency study had not solved long wait times, high call abandonment, and appointment delays. DPS and LBB said the agency receives about 22,000 calls per day, answers only about 9 percent, and is seeking more staff plus technology upgrades such as automation, kiosks, and better online processing. Senators also raised concerns about rural access, REAL ID document requirements, and whether the department should rethink its processes rather than simply add employees. DPS leadership then described needs for the Williamson County training academy, additional troopers, Capitol and Alamo security, border operations, aircraft and vehicle replacement, and regional headquarters in El Paso and San Antonio. Members asked about Operation Lone Star costs, overtime, pursuit safety, border crime, oilfield theft, and sexual assault kit and toxicology backlogs. DPS said border deployments remain focused on criminal threats, that overtime is partly driven by deployments and staffing shortages, and that the sexual assault kit backlog is down to 118 cases with a goal of zero by April. The committee later recessed and began the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission budget presentation, where LBB outlined a $115.1 million recommendation and noted ongoing costs for the AIMS technology project.
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

House Standing Committee on Families and Children. (3-5-26)

Families & Children

Transcript Highlights:
  • Um, another question that I have is understanding program uh that the cabinet will have program uh that
  • .<00:19:49.120> It program.
  • It'll be dedicated funding not only for this program but other positive youth development programs in
  • It'll be dedicated funding not only for this program but other positive youth development programs in
  • It'll be dedicated funding not only for this program but other positive youth development programs in
Summary: The House Standing Committee on Families and Children met and first adopted a House committee substitute for House Bill 669, which would protect federal benefits belonging to children in out-of-home care. The sponsor explained the bill is intended to prevent the state from using a child’s Social Security survivor, disability, or death benefits to offset care costs, instead requiring those funds to be preserved in an account for the child and made available at certain milestones or when the child leaves care. Members asked about who would oversee the funds, how annual eligibility reviews would work, and when the child could access the money; the sponsor said the cabinet would set the review process by rule and that the funds would remain available for the child. The committee approved HB 669 15-0 with favorable expression. The committee then considered House Concurrent Resolution 36, as amended by committee substitute, which creates a child welfare and family court reform task force. The substitute changed the reporting structure to send the task force’s report to the interim joint committee on families and children and the judiciary committee, rather than a now-defunct Health and Human Services committee. Supporters said the task force should review child abuse and neglect, foster care, and family court processes, and gather input from experts and people with lived experience. Members discussed whether the work should be divided into separate family court and child welfare task forces, but the resolution moved forward and passed 15-0 with favorable expression. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 686, which would establish a Kentucky Positive Youth Development Commission and a dedicated trust and agency account to support community-based youth programming up to age 25. The sponsor and witnesses said the bill responds to rising youth mental health concerns, self-harm, and suicide, and would coordinate statewide efforts, support evidence-based out-of-school programming, and provide technical assistance to local partners. Testimony emphasized the importance of connectedness, trusted adults, community-based responses, and using settlement funds from social media-related harms to youth to support the trust. Members asked about how the bill compares with other states and how the “dose-response” language relates to adverse and positive childhood experiences. HB 686 also passed 15-0 with favorable expression. The committee announced its next meeting for Thursday, March 12 at 9:00 a.m. and then adjourned.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Judiciary Committee Jul 1st, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • Sadly, petitions have been dismissed because enrollment in an ACT program alone has been equated with
  • This person is already enrolled in an ACT program.
  • So the hope of the CARE Act program was to hold counties accountable for treating those with the most
  • I think it's an important program.
  • And that is part of the CARE Court program. As you point out, it can be as long as two years.
Summary: The committee met as a subcommittee without quorum at first, then later established quorum and continued hearing several bills. SB 27, the annual CARE Court cleanup bill, would require courts to consider CARE referral for certain misdemeanor defendants found incompetent to stand trial, combine some hearings, allow limited data sharing among licensed medical professionals, and expand eligibility to include mood disorders with psychotic features. Supporters said it would clarify the meaning of “clinically stabilized,” streamline the process, and help more severely ill people receive treatment; opponents argued it would expand CARE Court too broadly, strain county resources, and divert attention from housing and voluntary services. The bill passed to the Health Committee on a roll call vote and was placed on call. SB 82, dealing with so-called “infinite arbitration clauses,” would limit consumer contract arbitration provisions to disputes arising from the product or service actually purchased. The author and supporters said the bill would stop companies from forcing arbitration in unrelated claims and would not ban arbitration itself. Opponents from business and banking groups argued the language was too restrictive, could create litigation over related transactions, and should be clarified as prospective only. The committee approved the bill and placed it on call after a roll call vote. The committee then heard two reparations-related bills. SB 437 would direct CSU to develop a genealogical methodology and framework for verifying descendants of enslaved people, with oversight, reporting, and guardrails tied to recently allocated state funding. Supporters said the bill would create a fair, evidence-based process; opponents, including professional genealogists and reparations advocates, argued the work is already well understood, the bill is unnecessary, and it could delay action. SB 518 would create a Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery within state government, with divisions for genealogy, property reclamation, outreach, and legal affairs. Supporters framed it as needed infrastructure to implement reparations recommendations; opponents objected to locating it in the Department of Justice, warned about data privacy and law enforcement control, and criticized the inclusion of broader communities. Both bills were moved to Appropriations and placed on call. The committee also heard SB 52, the End AI Rent Hikes Act, which would prohibit the use of algorithms to collude on and artificially inflate rental prices; the author and supporters described it as a response to AI-assisted rent fixing in California’s housing market.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships May 5th, 2025

S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships

Transcript Highlights:
  • related to family violence or child abuse without clear evidence of the effectiveness. safety of the programs
  • Many of these court-mandated programs are criticized for lacking scientific basis, as there is limited
  • Children in foster care experience mental illness at a rate of close to 30% greater than the overall
  • As you all know, I am a former foster child, so it is my honor to bring forward this legislation.
  • Restrict their ability to claim property tax exemptions, qualify for a local home repair program, programs
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee 1/21/25

Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • and then Northstar Care for Children, which is a forecasted program that deals with foster care, kinship
  • The first program I'll talk about is the MFIP program.
  • The first program I'll talk about is the MFIP program.
  • <00:32:34.399> that program is a federal program that program is a federal program that distributes
  • /c> sovereignty program is a program to sovereignty program is a program to improve<00:32:54.039>
Keywords: 1183, house
Summary: The committee met for an introductory overview of its jurisdiction and budget, with the chair emphasizing the committee’s role over a large portfolio of children, youth, and family programs and the new Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). House Research and House Fiscal staff explained their roles and described the 2023-24 reorganization that transferred many programs from DHS, DPS, MDH, and MDE to DCYF, along with a statute recodification and a crosswalk resource for members. Doug Berg then walked through the committee’s budget structure, explaining the difference between all-funds and general fund views, the major funding sources, and how forecasted programs and grant bases roll forward. He highlighted that the committee’s general fund base is a little over $2.1 billion for the biennium, with large federal components such as SNAP and TANF, and noted smaller accounts including child protection-related opioid funds and federal reimbursement offsets (FFP) for administrative costs. Members asked several questions about federal financial participation, TANF, and the effect of the repeal of the Diversionary Work Program (DWP). Staff explained that FFP generally applies to administrative costs for federally related programs and usually does not change much unless program activity changes, while TANF is a block grant that has been stable for years. On DWP, staff said the program was sunsetted effective March 1, 2026, and that the associated funding and administrative costs were being reworked rather than simply removed. A member also asked about federal funding fluctuations; staff said no changes were currently factored in, though SNAP or other federal policy changes could alter future numbers. Danielle Penelli then presented on economic assistance and employment supports transferred to DCYF, focusing first on MFIP, Minnesota’s state-supervised, county-administered welfare program jointly funded by state and federal dollars. She explained that MFIP provides cash and food assistance, employment and training services, and related supports, with a 60-month time limit and certain exemptions for illness, incapacity, or other barriers to employment. She also described the program’s income and asset standards, including a $10,000 asset limit with exclusions for homesteads and one vehicle per assistance unit member age 16 or older. Members asked clarifying questions about how the time limit applies and what assets count, and staff responded that the limit applies to the caregiver and does not restart with additional children. Penelli also introduced support services grants, which fund employment services for MFIP, DWP, and SNAP participants through workforce centers, counties, tribes, and community agencies, and help cover some county and tribal administrative costs. She began outlining nutrition programs under DCYF, including SNAP, the Minnesota Food Assistance Program, the Minnesota Food Shelf Program, the Emergency Food Assistance Program, and the American Indian Food Sovereignty Program. No formal votes or bill actions were taken during this meeting; it was primarily an informational staff briefing and question-and-answer session.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • That may offset some of the savings in general of the program. Sorry.
  • care program.
  • care population into its own RFP rather than having one RFP for ...that foster care population into
  • the development of the MCO for a foster the development of the MCO for a foster care care care program
  • We selected one MCO specifically for foster care, given that their medical, fragile...
Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 61, relating to swimming pools, but initially had no representative from the governor’s office or cabinet available to explain the fiscal estimate. Senators questioned why the executive branch’s estimate was $4.25 million to $8.5 million while the committee’s internal fiscal note showed little or no impact. When Department for Public Health staff later joined, they explained their estimate was based on a roughly $85,000 cost for a large outbreak investigation, using a 2014 outbreak as a benchmark, and said the bill could increase workload and outside laboratory costs if private swimming pools became more common as rental properties. They reported 822 waterborne cases in 2024, with 8 tied to private swimming pools, and later corrected an earlier figure to 14 private-pool-related investigations over five years. Senators pressed on the discrepancy between those numbers and the projected 50 to 100 incidents, and staff said the higher figure was a ballpark estimate. The discussion also clarified that private pools are generally excluded by definition, while pools held out for rent may be treated as public pools under current definitions. No vote on SB 61 was taken in the portion provided. The committee then heard Senate Bill 13, concerning the reprocurement of managed care organizations for Medicaid. Department for Medicaid Services officials said the bill would require work on a new RFP, system changes, and oversight improvements, and estimated the cost at $2.8 million based on prior procurement spending of about $2.5 million in 2018-2019, with a 10% growth adjustment. They explained that the work is administrative and therefore matched at 50/50 federal-state funding, not the 80/20 rate used for benefits, and said the expense would be incurred whether the bill passed or not if the state proceeded with an RFP. Senators discussed possible savings from reducing the number of MCOs from five to three, but agency staff said those savings were hard to quantify and that provider and member disruption could create offsetting costs. The committee later moved on to Senate Joint Resolution 25, which would ask the Revenue Department to report on the cost of issuing farmers a wallet-sized tax-exempt card instead of a paper certificate. The resolution was adopted by roll call, with all members present voting aye, and it was reported favorably to the floor.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • But them foster parents wanted to adopt all these children.
  • <00:38:05.800> parents brings closure to the foster parents brings closure to the foster parents
  • One of the programs that we have is a P.E.K.
  • We get a lot of foster kids that come into that program, where foster parents have taken those kids in
  • We get a lot of foster kids that come into that program, where foster parents have taken those kids in
Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Families and Children heard Senate Bill 181, which would require school districts to use only traceable forms of communication for staff, coaches, and volunteers when contacting students, require reporting of known private direct communication, notify parents, protect minors’ anonymity in EPSB investigations, and extend the investigation period for sexual misconduct cases to 120 days. Senator Lindsay Tichenor said the bill is meant to restore safeguards for children and families and address inappropriate private communications between school personnel and students. The committee also heard testimony from Stacy and Brad Brisco, who described allegations that an Anderson County guidance counselor had communicated privately with their daughter, encouraged her to pursue emancipation and CPS involvement, and used school channels to facilitate contact; they said the resulting abuse report was unsubstantiated and that the school system and EPSB had not acted promptly. Ashley Nation also testified in support as a survivor of educator sexual abuse, arguing that traceable communication policies are needed to prevent grooming and misconduct and that the bill does not stop communication, only makes it transparent and accountable. Members asked questions about what counts as traceable communication and whether schools already have policies. Tichenor said traceable communication could include paper notes, email, and apps such as ClassDojo or Google Classroom, and said the bill requires a trail parents can access. She also said some districts have ethical standards but they are not consistently followed, and that state-level action is needed. Senator Denine suggested the bill should allow districts more flexibility to choose among trackable platforms, noting that some systems already use tools like Dojo and Remind; Tichenor said a floor amendment would address that concern. Senators Williams, Meredith, Mills, Wise, and others voiced support, emphasizing child safety and the need for timely EPSB action. The committee then voted 9-0 to pass SB 181 with a favorable recommendation to the Senate floor. Afterward, the committee took up House Bill 242, sponsored by Representative Samara Heavrin, which would increase transparency in the child welfare system by making Kentucky child welfare data available to researchers while preserving privacy protections. With no questions, the committee approved HB 242 as well, also by a favorable vote, and members briefly noted support for the bill and the need for better data to inform child welfare policy.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Appropriations - S/C on Article II Mar 13th, 2025

Appropriations - S/C on Article II

Transcript Highlights:
  • This would be for extended foster care.
  • This would create a new testing program, $5 million in each fiscal year to develop a comprehensive program
  • The whole blood pilot program, this would appropriate $10 million for a whole blood pilot program and
  • This is not a current program at the agency. That's Article 11.
  • Page 119 home visiting program is Representative Ross.
AR

Arkansas 2026 Regular Session

JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE Mar 5th, 2026

JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:
  • Those programs are provided in group settings, so they're not individual education programs.
  • the farmers market program.
  • That is for Our Kids B program. It is for our CHIP program, Children's Health Insurance.
  • So this is actually diversion programs that juvenile programs...
  • Nuclear One program.
Keywords: 1204, all
AR

Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session

JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE Mar 5th, 2026

JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:
  • Those programs are provided in group settings, so they're not individual education programs.
  • the farmers' market program.
  • So the Our Kids B program, 897, that’s for operational expenses administering the program?”
  • That is for our Our Kids B program. It is for our CHIP program, Children’s Health Insurance.”
  • That is for our Our Kids B program. It is for our CHIP program, Children’s Health Insurance.
Summary: The committee heard a series of Arkansas Department of Human Services budget presentations and questions, beginning with the Secretary’s Office and then the Division of Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services. Staff described the divisions’ appropriations, funding sources, and major programs, including senior centers, Meals on Wheels, mental health grants, substance abuse treatment, community alcohol safety, the Medicaid tobacco settlement program, and crisis stabilization units. Members raised concerns about flat or limited funding for senior services, the use and tracing of federal block grants, the lack of a funding source for the veterans’ mental health grant, and the mechanics of the community alcohol safety and treatment programs. The committee also discussed patient benefits funds at state facilities, transportation for senior center clients, and whether some special-language appropriations or fund balances should be revisited. Executive recommendations were adopted for the divisions considered. The committee then reviewed the Division of Children and Family Services and the Division of County Operations. Questions focused on foster care growth, adoption subsidies, professional fees tied to staff training and onboarding, vacancies, the Children’s Trust Fund, and TANF subgrants. Members asked about the reduction or elimination of TANF funding to child advocacy centers and other subgrantees, and DHS explained that prior reserves had been spent down and that the department was now trying to live within the annual TANF block grant and rebuild reserves. County operations questions also covered summer EBT, SNAP employment and training, the farmers’ market program, and the expected impact of a federal SNAP administrative match change, which DHS estimated would increase state costs by about $24 million annually, with roughly $18 million affecting the current year because the change begins October 1. Executive recommendations were again adopted. Finally, the committee heard from the Division of Developmental Disability Services and the Division of Medical Services. DDS testimony covered vacancies, staffing shortages, human development center construction and repairs, the reopening of the Boonville work training program, and funding for infant infirmary and child/family life programs. Medical Services testimony covered the Medicaid program, the current FMAP rate, the Our Kids B CHIP program, Medicaid payments to schools, nursing home distress funding, and large appropriation lines used to provide flexibility for claims and potential facility closures. Members asked for more detail on school Medicaid payments, reserve balances, and why some appropriations were much larger than actual spending. In each division, the committee moved and adopted Executive REC after questions concluded.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Environment and Agriculture (03/31/2026)

Environment and Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:
  • of foster home. of foster home.
  • always been foster homes. always been foster homes.
  • Foster—My understanding of fostering...
  • would foster an animal? would foster an animal?
  • Um, foster homes actually they foster the animals.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • The cap-and-trade. trade program is a tax and spend program.
  • was that California Lifeline program were provided services to foster youth.
  • CRC program.
  • TURCIP program and the LCTOP program.
  • Thank you. program.
Keywords: 988, house, all
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V Feb 24th, 2025

Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V

Transcript Highlights:
  • It's an incredible program.
  • So it's a grant program, it's a Texas... while it's about film, I'd characterize it as a Texas jobs program
  • more than a film program.
  • and mass casualty programs.
  • Charles Smith: Fiscal programs. Moving on to the comptroller fiscal programs.
WV

West Virginia 2026 Regular Session

Senate in Session Mar 10th, 2026 at 05:02 pm

West Virginia Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • , sites program, and, Is every member voted?
  • Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 546, relating to an abuse prevention program.
  • Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 546, relating to an abuse prevention program.
  • Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 546, relating to an abuse prevention program.
  • Engrossed House Bill 5382, relating to the Neighborhood Investment Program.
Keywords: 994, senate, all
Summary: The Senate first took up Senate Bill 155 on adjunct teaching permits. After adopting a Senate amendment to the House amendment, the chamber concurred in the House amendment as amended and passed the bill 33-0, with one member absent and not voting. The amendment was described as creating an exception so a criminal history check would not be required every year, and the bill was presented as a tool to help county boards fill vacancies, especially in shortage areas. The chamber then received a large number of committee reports and advanced several House bills on first reading. These included measures on creating the Team West Virginia Corporation, establishing the West Virginia Collaboratory, the Foster Youth Post-Secondary Transition Awareness Act, business-ready site programs, volunteer fire company allowances, extending qualified opportunity zones, natural resource police retirement, PEIA treatment flexibility, PANS/PANDAS, ALS care services, abuse prevention, the respiratory care interstate compact, peer support services, tax lien sales, the Neighborhood Investment Program, bonds for the Science and Culture Center, and a comprehensive energy development policy and plan. Several bills were reported as amended by committees, and one energy bill was referred to the Rules Committee. Additional committee action included reports on a bill to repeal the school-transfer eligibility protection, a load forecast accountability bill, oil and gas well plugging provisions, a TANF drug-screening extension, and a bill authorizing the Supreme Court of Appeals to create child protection commissioners. Most of these were advanced on first reading after unanimous consent. The Senate then moved to adjourn until the next day, with announcements of upcoming committee meetings before the chamber adjourned.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House higher education panel questions U of M representatives about award 1/23/25

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • One such award program is the Outstanding Community Service Awards, started in 1999 by then President
  • Over the last 25 years of this awards program, community partners from across the state of Minnesota
  • One such award program is the Outstanding Community Service Awards, started in 1999 by then President
  • <00:26:45.120> um community engagement award program um community engagement award program
  • Something about affecting society in positive ways that foster long-term change.
Keywords: 1183, house
Summary: The committee heard testimony from Amber Cameron of the University of Minnesota’s Office for Public Engagement about the University’s Outstanding Community Service Awards and, specifically, the community partner award given to Communities United Against Police Brutality in 2021 and 2024. Cameron explained that the awards program recognizes faculty, staff, students, and community partners, that nominations are reviewed by University selection committees using criteria such as positive societal impact, innovation, extraordinary results, and overall impression, and that the committee evaluates only the application materials. She said the nomination for Communities United Against Police Brutality described a long-standing partnership with the University through student learning, including work through the Center for Community-Engaged Learning and a student white paper connected to the passage of Travis’s Law. Committee members raised concerns about the organization’s history, its public messaging, and whether it was appropriate for the University to honor it. One member argued that the group’s IRS records showed it was formally organized in 2020, questioned claims that it had existed for 25 years, and objected to the organization’s letterhead and activism. Cameron responded that the award does not require formal tax status and that the selection process relies on the nomination packet rather than outside information. She also said the award nomination documented work with 130 course offerings across 17 academic departments and about 1,000 students over 24 years. Cameron further said the award program was being phased out and retooled into a new internal Engaged Scholar Awards program focused on community-engaged scholarship rather than volunteer service. No vote or formal action was taken during the exchange, and the discussion ended with questions about the nomination materials and how the University defines the organization’s work with students and faculty.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

House of Representatives May 31st, 2026

Louisiana House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • House Resolution 386 by Representative Jordan created a task force on the Dream Starter program.
  • funding, mental health evaluations, and outcomes associated with the 18th Judicial District Drug Court Program
  • Jackson: The amendment basically asks DOTD to consider this as part of the flood mitigation program they
  • The bill provides relative to incarceration Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office's pilot program.
  • The bill provides relative to incarceration Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office's Pilot Program.