Transcript Highlights:

• makes sure that if the child or the parent consent, that case managers can complete a functional assessment
• makes sure that if the child or the parent consent, that case managers can complete a functional assessment
• makes sure that if the child or the parent consent, that case managers can complete a functional assessment
• It struggles to complete assessments or authorize the services that Minnesotans deserve.
• or authorize the to complete assessments or authorize the services<00:37:35.280> that<00:37:35.480

Bills: HF1662, HF2115, HF2159, HF1095, HF2160

Keywords: veterans, veterans affairs, State Soldiers Assistance Program, Veterans Stable Housing Initiative, MAXIS, human services data, data sharing, eligibility verification, informed consent, private data, benefits coordination, veteran housing, veteran assistance, Department of Human Services, Children Youth and Families, state benefits, federal benefits, privacy, public assistance, human services

Transcript Highlights:

• So there are, within the foster care system, a wide variety of ways that we are assessing outcomes and
• Since the tiered rate structure, the tier is designated by the child's CANS assessment, so making sure
• Making sure that, based upon the CANS assessment, those who are going to need more robust services will
• With respect to the CANS assessment, we urge all parties to ensure collaboration between CDSS and DHCS
• to minimize over assessment of children and youth.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held an informational hearing on child welfare, foster care, child support, and related prevention efforts. The chair opened by emphasizing mandated reporting reform, foster care system improvements, and community-based prevention, and noted that no votes would be taken. Public testimony focused first on mandated reporting, where a lived-experience advocate and several organizations argued that the current system overreports families, especially Black, Native, and Latino families, causes trauma, and should be reformed through standardized training, clearer thresholds, and stronger community supports rather than more hotline referrals. Casey Family Programs cited data showing nearly 90% of reports are unsubstantiated, while CDSS said it is already forming a Mandated Reporting Advisory Committee, updating training, and exploring community pathways and possible changes to the list of mandated reporters. CWDA and SEIU supported training and alternative response concepts but stressed child safety, county capacity, funding, and the need for careful implementation and accountability. The committee then discussed a proposal to create a foster care multi-agency office within the California Health and Human Services Agency, led by a chief foster youth advocate with authority to coordinate across departments. Advocates said foster youth often need services from education, health, housing, and behavioral health systems that do not coordinate well, and argued that a central office with real authority could improve placement stability and access to services. CDSS responded that existing structures already provide coordination, including AB 2083 interagency teams, the Child Welfare Council, complex care steering committees, and the foster care ombudsperson, but said it was open to technical assistance. Members raised concerns about whether the new office would have enough authority and funding to avoid becoming another layer of bureaucracy, and the chair emphasized the need for real “teeth” and better interagency action. The final major topic was the continuation and expansion of Promise Neighborhoods. A community leader described strong early results from the state-funded neighborhoods, including improved kindergarten readiness, reduced chronic absenteeism, higher graduation rates, food access, housing supports, and mental health services, but warned that current funding sunsets in June 2025 and that a fiscal cliff could jeopardize staff and services. CDSS said the four funded neighborhoods have reported positive outcomes and valuable flexibility, but also noted challenges with one-time funding, student mental health, and long-term planning. Assemblymember Mia Bonta urged continued investment, saying the place-based model is difficult to rebuild once lost, and the chair asked LAO to help identify the minimum funding needed to preserve the existing infrastructure while evaluation results are still pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a focus on whether or not this needs to be investigated versus assessed.
• Um, because we are doing assessments every time we go out.
• We're assessing whether that individual has decisional capacity.
• Um, because we are doing assessments every time we go out, we're assessing whether that individual has
• We're here to assess investigate you.

Keywords: 1. Call to Order and Roll Call – 00:00:24 2. Discussion of The Center for Courageous Kids – 00:02:46 3. Discussion of Adult Protective Services and State Guardianship Programs – 00:25:22 4. Discussion of Annual Report of the External Child Fatality and Near Fatality Review Panel – 01:00:34 5. Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations – 01:33:41 6. Adjournment – 01:42:07, 958, all

Summary: The committee’s first interim meeting opened with roll call and a reminder that Kentucky had 8,641 children in out-of-home care with active placements as of June 1, 2025. The first presentation was from the Center for Courageous Kids (CCK), a donor-funded camp in Scottsville that serves children with lifelong illnesses and disabilities at no charge. Representatives described the camp’s history, its year-round family retreats and summer sessions, its medical and accessibility supports, and its impact on campers’ confidence and independence. They said CCK has served more than 43,000 campers from 46 states and 13 countries, including 22,000 from Kentucky, and noted plans to reach all 120 Kentucky counties. CCK also outlined future capital needs: a new art barn and a medical lodge. The organization said the art barn project would cost $2.5 million, with a legislative request of $1.5 million, and the medical lodge would cost $2.875 million, with a legislative request of $1.75 million. Members responded very positively, with several praising the camp’s work and one member asking about operational challenges. CCK said its main challenges are awareness, staff and volunteer recruitment, and expanding medical and housing capacity; it also said it is accredited by the American Camp Association and receives health and safety visits and audits. The committee then moved to a presentation on adult protective services and state guardianship programs from Jessica Wayne and Cliff Bryant of DCBS. They explained the legal framework for guardianship, the difference between full and limited guardianship/conservatorship, emergency appointments, and the state’s role as a last-resort guardian when no family member or private entity is available. They reported 4,464 individuals under state guardianship as of June 1, with most cases involving dementia, developmental disability, intellectual disability, nursing home or long-term care placement, severe mental illness, or brain injury. They also said the division has 89 field workers across 14 regional offices, with an average caseload of 52 and a goal of reducing that into the mid-40s through additional hiring.

Transcript Highlights:

• We conduct needs assessments on a regular basis; in fact, ours conducts one every single year, and we
• on a regular basis in fact assessments on a regular basis in fact ours<00:36:04.119> conducts
• needs assessments we develop and<00:36:18.200> submit<00:36:18.560> a<00:36:18.720>
• <00:36:51.119> we offer based on our needs assessment we offer based on our needs assessment
• Our council offers also services that come out in our needs assessment, and one of those things that

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:21:56.400> and<01:21:56.480> collection all assessment and collection all assessment
• <01:32:26.040> of<01:32:26.120> an investigation and assessment of an investigation
• and assessment of an officer-involved<01:32:26.920> shooting<01:32:27.840> such<01:32:
• They perform an assessment referral, funding and resources, and community engagement.
• The use of waist shackles on children 13 years of age or older shall be assessed and determined to be

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• big was what if a hurricane happens, does it have enough capital on hand to avoid triggering an assessment
• takeout, it's very important that we're mindful that over-depopulation could actually trigger the assessment
• big was what if a hurricane happens, does it have enough capital on hand to avoid triggering an assessment
• over depop could actually important that we're mindful that over depop could actually trigger the assessment

Summary: The Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance convened with a quorum present, and Commissioner Michael Yaworsky of the Office of Insurance Regulation delivered a broad update on Florida’s property insurance market. He outlined the division of responsibilities between OIR and the Department of Financial Services, then reported market indicators including 7.61 million residential policies in force, an average premium of $2,755, 1.5 million Citizens takeout approvals, and recent negative trends in homeowners rate requests. He credited recent legislative reforms, especially tort reform and the Insurer Accountability Act, with improving market stability, increasing competition, and allowing the office to conduct more examinations and investigations, recover consumer restitution, and fine insurers for misconduct tied to recent hurricanes. Yaworsky emphasized that Citizens Property Insurance has been rapidly depopulating from its 2022 peak and may fall below 300,000 policies, while cautioning that over-depopulation could create residual-market risks and assessments if a major storm hits. He also discussed the distinction between admitted and surplus lines markets, the role of reinsurance in Florida pricing, and the effect of inflation on total insured values and premiums. He said Florida has seen comparatively modest property rate increases relative to other states and noted that recent hurricanes did not produce the kind of rate spikes seen in prior years, which he attributed to a more stable market and reduced fraud and litigation pressure. In response to a question from Senator Martin, Yaworsky explained that California’s wildfire crisis and regulatory structure are not a direct one-to-one comparison for Florida, but that California’s market problems can affect global reinsurance capacity and serve as a cautionary example of regulatory missteps. He also highlighted a recent Progressive auto insurance excess-profits refund of about $1 billion to policyholders, discussed possible federal changes to the National Flood Insurance Program, and urged greater home resiliency and code-plus adoption. The commissioner closed by calling for clearer consumer disclosures and responsible oversight of AI use in insurance filings. No bills were considered and no votes were taken; Senator Hooper moved to adjourn, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of those scores are going to have to do with how they assessed the proposals we gave them and their
• :15.759> they are going to have to do with how they are going to have to do with how they assessed
• 05:17.280> we<00:05:17.919> uh<00:05:18.080> gave<00:05:18.320> them assessed
• the proposals we uh gave them assessed the proposals we uh gave them and<00:05:19.440> their<

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board met on November 12, 2025, approved the October 22 minutes, and heard an update from Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Steven Stack and Public Health Commissioner John Langfeld on Kentucky’s application for the federal rural health transformation grant. The presenters described the grant as a $50 billion, five-year program with annual CMS scoring and rescorings, no state appeal rights, and a December 31 deadline for CMS to announce awards. They said Kentucky submitted its application on November 3 and had gathered stakeholder comments earlier in the process. The testimony emphasized that the grant is intended to support new models of rural care rather than replace existing funding or pay for clinical services or lost hospital revenue. Officials said the state had to address at least three of five federal strategic goals, including prevention and chronic disease, sustainable access, workforce development, and care/technology innovation. They also reviewed restrictions such as no new building construction, no payment for monthly broadband costs, and a cap of 5% for electronic medical record-related spending. The presenters said CMS has been clear that funding should focus on innovation in care delivery, rural access, and related policy goals, and that the state’s award could vary year to year based on performance milestones. The meeting was interrupted by a building fire alarm and evacuation announcement before the presentation was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Help assess the floor.
• medications and not aware of any, however, we do one of the things we do it at least a behavioral threat assessment
• We have a specific focus on behavioral threat assessment and management in terms of behavior.
• specifically when it comes to individuals that commit acts of mass violence and behavioral threat assessment

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They are registered with EPA, requiring human health and environmental assessments to demonstrate safety
• there's no basis for creating an entirely separate regulatory regime, including registration and fee assessments
• And its ongoing data gathering and assessment efforts are precisely what needs to happen to comprehensively
• assess risk, the impacts, or any impacts of public health.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ORIGINALLY THREE YEARS IN THE STATUTE AND IF YOU DIDN'T REBUILD WITHIN THE THREE YEARS YOU LOST YOUR ASSESSMENT
• STATUTE SO THEY HAVE THREE YEARS TO BEGIN RESTORATION OF A PROPERTY WITHOUT LOSING THE CAP ON THE ASSESSMENT
• THIS PROVIDES CONTINUED ASSESSMENT RELIEF TO AGRICULTURE OWNERS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• funds for um but basically assess funds for um but anything<00:27:15.279> uh<00:27:15.360>
• <00:32:48.080> PL to essentially put the assessment PL to essentially put the assessment PL
• are we over collecting enough assessment are we over collecting um<00:34:09.320> month-to<00:
• So the charges aren't assessed to the provider.
• to the provider the the aren't assessed to the provider the the revenue<00:43:47.960> that<00

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on House Bill 233, which would impose transparency and reporting requirements on the New Hampshire Vaccine Association. The prime sponsor, Representative Comto, said the bill and a proposed amendment were intended to increase public access by requiring a physical meeting location, making meetings available online, and publishing a complete list of vaccines and pharmaceutical products purchased. She argued the association should be more transparent because it is involved in vaccine purchasing and public trust is important, especially given controversy around vaccines. Committee members questioned the sponsor about the association’s legal status, who sets vaccine requirements, whether other private entities would be covered, and whether the proposal should instead apply more broadly to all meetings or include recordings. The sponsor said the association was created by the legislature, that childhood vaccine requirements come from DHHS and CDC-related processes, and that she would be open to broader recording requirements. Some members raised concerns about misinformation and whether requiring answers to public questions could be problematic in a contentious policy area. Patrick Miller, executive director of the Vaccine Association, and attorney Mark McHugh testified in opposition. They described the association as a not-for-profit voluntary corporation created by statute in 2002 to serve as a funding mechanism for the state’s universal childhood vaccine purchase program, with no policymaking role and no public funding. They said the association already posts notices, agendas, minutes, and allows public webinar access and comments, while also providing annual audits and reports and other statutory reporting. They argued HB 233 would impose unnecessary administrative costs on a private entity, interfere with its limited charitable purpose, and ultimately increase costs borne by insurers, employers, and consumers. No vote or final action was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• One example of that was what got passed last session, which was a pre-enrollment risk assessment for
• programs in statute, like the department should have the authority to assess risk and say, hey, you
• We have to assess risk. We have to prioritize.
• We have to assess risk. we have triage.
• We have to assess risk. we have to<01:04:44.400> prioritize.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• , and assessments conducted by Eastern Kentucky University.
• and maintenance projects to be assessed with maintenance pool funds.
• These youth are required to be assessed by a mental health professional.
• projects to be assessed with maintenance pool<01:32:25.840> funds.
• assessed by mental health professional. assessed by mental health professional.

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call- 00:00:03 Approve Minutes from July 10, 2025- 00:02:41 Statewide Emergency Responder Voice System Testimony- 00:03:38 Investment of State Funds- 00:46:13 Department of Juvenile Justice Update- 1:11:34 Adjournment- 1:54:08, 958, all

Summary: The committee opened with roll call, welcomed a new member, approved the July meeting minutes, and then took up testimony on the statewide emergency responder voice system, also described as the state police radio system replacement project. John Hicks, secretary of the governor’s executive cabinet and state budget director, testified that the project is unusually complex because it combines multiple IT replacements, land acquisition, and tower construction. He said the existing system dates to the early 1970s and that the administration is treating the project as a priority, with work proceeding in phases and weekly coordination among the Justice Cabinet, Kentucky State Police, and Finance and Administration Cabinet. Hicks said the project has already spent about $110 million, with nearly 1,900 portable radios acquired, microwave replacement completed at 56 sites and underway at 76 more, and routers, switches, and network upgrades addressed. He explained that because the State Police are not set up to handle real property work, the administration brought in outside real property consulting vendors through an RFP, and three vendors are now qualified to help identify and negotiate sites. He said the goal is to speed up land acquisition and tower construction while the State Police continue the technology work, and he emphasized that the project is intended to close coverage gaps for state police first and later benefit local governments and other first responders. Members of the committee expressed concern about the project’s cost and pace. Representative Petri noted that about $218.8 million has been authorized since 2018 and questioned whether the project could stretch into 2030 or later, asking what more the General Assembly could do to help. Representative Blandon also raised concerns about the long timeline and the risk of the project becoming another costly, delayed infrastructure effort, while asking when the vendor RFP was completed and whether any sites had been acquired since then. Representative Sharp asked whether there was a detailed plan and timeline, and Hicks responded that the technology side is well defined but the property acquisition side must proceed site by site because each location depends on ownership, access, power, and other factors. Hicks said the west-to-east phasing has been a smart approach and that the executive branch should improve performance to beat the current timeline expectations.

Transcript Highlights:

• fraud that we can assess up to, you<00:12:22.200> know,<00:12:22.640> assess<00:12:22.960
• <00:12:24.360> So,<00:12:24.640> a you know, assess a 100% penalty.
• So, a you know, assess a 100% penalty.
• That wouldn't take, you know, we'd be able to see it and we'd assess it right away.
• With the penalty, assess it right away.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The first is expanding our behavioral threat assessment and management team.
• Big focus on safety education, behavioral threat assessment management teams.
• comes to behavioral threat assessment comes to behavioral threat assessment management,<00:34:54.800
• threat assessment unit, looks at<00:36:28.880> how<00:36:29.040> we<00:36:29.400> how
• It includes work on behavioral threat assessment management systems.

Bills: HF4446, HF4066, HF1082

Keywords: public safety officer, survivor benefits, line of duty death, occupational cancer, firefighter, police officer, paramedic, EMT, correctional officer, first responder, workers' compensation, death benefits, occupational exposure, carcinogen, cancer presumption, mesothelioma, leukemia, lung cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD

Transcript Highlights:

• So states may need to assess data.
• And I think that's a fair assessment.
• <01:03:36.720> county through local needs assessment county through local needs assessment
• <01:36:56.000> And the Kentucky Summit of Assessment.
• And the Kentucky Summit of Assessment.

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call – 0:00:00 Workforce Pell Grant Update – 0:03:30 Extension Office Update – 0:33:25 Kentucky Academic Standards for Social Studies – 1:07:08 Early Literacy Outcomes – 1:32:20 Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations – 1:58:30 Adjournment 2:13:13, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and exam, pharmacists are trained on physical assessment.
• <00:39:18.160> and addressing the physical assessment and addressing the physical assessment
• I actually created physical assessment.
• So that would still be assessed even with the amendment to remove the jurisprudence exam.
• :51:50.160> with<00:51:50.400> the still be assessed even with the still be assessed even

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• alternate assessment which is around<01:43:43.080> 1%<01:43:44.080> of<01:43:44.159>
• so that's just important assessment so that's just important context<01:43:52.239> conversely
• But we know that for children with disabilities who take alternative assessments aligned to alternate
• But we know that for children with disabilities who take alternative assessments aligned to alternate
• and mde supports retaining assessments and mde supports retaining those<01:55:48.920> benchmarks<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It has them setting up the assessments to determine how our children are doing.
• And I always have to point out, people think assessment, it's a test, it's going to take time out of
• This bill does require PED to adopt a reading assessment for K-3 students... ...to measure the progress
• They need assessments that are quick and easy to administer.
• Need assessments that are quick and easy to administer, that direct their teaching in the next lesson

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So as we're assessing and moving the person and getting them to the hospital, that's another part of
• We've assessed them. We've written the petition. Now we're looking for that facility placement.
• We stayed next to her until the DCR arrived to do her assessment. We move on.
• We stayed next to her until the DCR arrived to do her assessment. We move on.
• A sister program to that is our mobile crisis assessment and triage team.

Summary: The Community Safety Committee held an interim work session on crisis response, with members and witnesses discussing how Washington can better integrate 911, 988, mobile crisis, co-response, and alternative response models for behavioral health crises in public spaces. Travis Parker opened with an overview of the Sequential Intercept Model and the crisis care continuum, emphasizing early intervention, 988 access, regional coordination, navigators and peer support, and the need for sustainable braided funding. Several Washington witnesses then described current programs and system gaps, including the growth of co-response teams, the importance of integrating 911 and 988 rather than treating them as competing systems, and the need to reduce unnecessary emergency room use and improve first responder wellness and training. City, fire, and crisis-system representatives described local challenges and reforms. Kim Hendrickson of Poulsbo said most crisis calls still come through 911 and urged better coordination among field-based teams, more behavioral health training for fire/EMS, and more alternatives to ER transport. Laura Pippen, a designated crisis responder, described a strained involuntary treatment system, fewer DCRs statewide, difficulty getting law enforcement support for transports, and limited facility capacity, especially for substance use disorder. Jennifer Stuber and South County Fire’s Keith Sharp highlighted workforce training, a crisis responder certificate program, and first responder wellness efforts. Research witnesses Evan Lauder and James Pine said the evidence is still developing but generally supports on-scene resolution, reduced ED transport and detention in some models, and the importance of clear dispatch protocols, coordination, and ongoing evaluation. Dispatch and program operators then gave examples of how systems are working in practice. Katie Myers of Washington APCO/NENA said 911 remains essential, but needs evidence-based triage protocols, liability protections, and additional funding if it is expected to take on more crisis-response responsibilities. Whatcom County described embedding a “community connector” in the 911 center to coordinate alternative response, while ValleyCom reported that its 988 diversion pilot transferred 2,165 calls with 98% resolved through 988/211 without returning to 911. National examples included Denver’s STAR program, Albuquerque’s Community Safety Department, and Atlanta’s PAD initiative, each showing different ways to route low-acuity or behavioral-health-related calls away from police and toward clinicians, peers, or civilian responders. The session ended with Washington examples continuing, including Whatcom County’s alternative response team, underscoring the committee’s interest in refining and expanding integrated crisis response systems in the next session.