Transcript Highlights:

• long there have been<00:01:07.960><c> spending</c><00:01:08.320><c> priorities</c><00:01:09.040><c> U<
• /c><00:01:09.200><c> placed</c><00:01:09.560><c> in</c> been spending priorities U placed in been spending
• priorities U placed in areas<00:01:10.280><c> that</c><00:01:10.400><c> frankly</c><00:01:10.759><c>
• young woman who was sexually trafficked, is here undocumented, and has special immigrant juvenile status
• people who have applied for legal status, like those under SIJS or asylum.

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee was updated on the status of the December 31st, 2022 delinquent private water and sewer
• The committee was also updated on the status of the December 31st, 2023 delinquent private water and
• The committee was also updated on the status of the December 31st, 2023 delinquent private water and
• The U of A isn't looking at that money at all. Is that accurate?
• at that time, the individuals that were viewing the expenses, are those individuals still with the U

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from the prior meeting and then heard several audit-related reports. The executive committee report noted audit and special reports were scheduled for standing committees and the full Legislative Joint Audit Committee, with one requested report still in progress. The City, County, and Local report covered delinquent private water and sewer audits, reinstatement of turnback funds for entities that filed required reports, and action involving the town of Daisy, which was directed to repay misused street funds at 10% of general fund revenue annually. The education and state agencies reports included higher education audits and state agency findings, with some reports filed and others deferred to the February meeting for additional information or corrective-action details. The committee then took up a special audit of the Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy at UA Little Rock. Legislative Audit reported that the program, funded with $10 million in desegregation money plus a $50,000 grant, awarded $1.87 million in scholarships to 379 students, with 116 graduates, but found numerous eligibility and disbursement problems, including scholarships to ineligible students, excessive awards, improper documentation, and unclear disposition of some assets. Committee members questioned UALR representatives about oversight, staffing, and whether funds were properly used, and also heard from Philander Smith College about its limited role in verifying enrollment. Members expressed concern about the program’s results and the lack of detail on accountability, and the committee voted to table the report until the next meeting for further review and requested additional information, including the federal court order and more detail on expenditures and oversight. Finally, the committee reviewed the annual disposition report on matters referred to prosecutors and the Attorney General for 2024. Staff said 164 matters were referred, with 28 resulting in criminal charges and convictions, 39 still under review, 96 not charged, and others dismissed or pending; 20 convictions produced fines, restitution, and audit-cost orders, and bond trust fund claims were paid in some cases. Prosecutor Coordinator and Attorney General representatives explained that some referrals do not meet criminal standards, may lack intent, or are otherwise not prosecutable, and members asked for more standardized reporting, clearer explanations of why cases are not charged, and more information on restitution efforts. The committee discussed possible templates, training, and better coordination, then voted to file the report and adjourned, with the next meeting set for February 12, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• We were u gave out free haircuts.
• We were u gave out giving out free food. We were u gave out free<00:05:24.039><c> haircuts.
• U<00:20:05.600><c> Mr.
• U, Mr.
• U, Mr. Chair, um, again, I'm account. U, Mr.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:01:16.240><c> to</c><00:01:16.400><c> recognize</c><00:01:17.040><c> my</c><00:01:17.759><c> u<
• &gt;&gt; I would love to recognize my u my intern Kennedy<00:01:20.560><c> Kitri.
• So, uh, the last u a dangerous uh wreck.
• like some sort of to prevent something u like some sort of unlawful<00:34:49.440><c> transaction.
• Um, it does appear that DPA would still represent those on status offenses in family court.

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not u but it's data. formula. It's not u but it's data. formula. It's not u but it's data.
• U but a you food because you're hungry. U but a you food because you're hungry.
• of the individual. status of the individual. status of the individual.
• I stayed with it because I any status. I stayed with it because I any status.
• We can trust them to sell u beer and wine. We can trust to sell u beer and wine.

Bills: HB1535 , HB 123 , HB 111 , HB180 , HB342 , HB 1027 , HB 1178 , HB610 , HB 1277 , HB1615 , HB1620 , HB5342 , HB4885 , HB4751 , HB4689 , HB4530 , HB4488 , HB2149 , HB2041 , HB2071 , HB1813 , HB2282 , HB2248 , HB2243 , HB2522 , HB2310 , HB2513 , HB2300 , HB1902 , HB3719 , HB4284 , HB4327 , HB3743 , HB3778 , HB3801 , HB5153 , HB5147 , HB4877 , HB4850 , HB3158 , HB3261 , HB3005 , HB3033 , HB3138 , HB3099 , HB2849 , HB2967 , HB3488 , HB3477 , HB3466 , HB3396 , HB3469 , HB2594 , HB2776 , HB2564 , HB2298 , HB5331 , HB5646 , HB5247 , HB5323 , HB2015 , HB4384 , HB3896 , HB4014 , HB3627 , HB3594 , HB2524 , HB510 , HB561 , HB5111 , HB5446 , HB 1181 , HB3963 , HB2785 , HB1661 , HB2460 , HB24 , HJR138 , HB3800 , HB42 , HB 129 , HB677 , HB668 , HB2128 , HB2038 , HB2316 , HB3686 , HB2563 , HB 1160 , HB3883 , HB2788 , HB2663 , HB3305 , HB3474 , HB 1105 , HB3490 , HB3597 , HB 1295 , HB3512 , HB3783 , HB2017 , HB3010 , HB3112 , HB4215 , HB3223 , HB3464 , HB3120 , HB4214 , HB4081 , HB4783 , HB4063 , HB2783 , HB5085 , HB2510 , HB3426 , HB4361 , HB 1169 , HB2516 , HB4700 , HB3560 , HB3860 , HB3146 , HB184 , HB198 , HB247 , HB367 , HB449 , HB1778 , HB514 , HB632 , HB2582 , HB766 , HB2715 , HB2712 , HB3069 , HB3505 , HB 1269 , HB4224 , HB5032 , HB2240 , HB5180 , HB3348 , HB4668 , HB4665 , HB3395 , HB3157 , HB4395 , HB4325 , HB4386 , HB4273 , HB2760 , HB2820 , HB1828 , HB1579 , SB2349 , SB1268 , SB610 , SB1577 , SB1369 , SB2032 , SB2034 , SB1057 , SB1044 , SB922 , SB1759 , SB1143 , SB1506 , SB1403 , SB2361 , SB870 , SB372 , SB72 , SB1583 , SB2314 , SB1267 , SB1273 , SB765 , SB552 , HB2145 , HJR112 , HB1804 , HJR110 , HB 1194 , HB1531 , HB5008 , HB3421 , SCR27 , HB5398 , HB1407 , HB426 , HB1535 , HB 123 , HB1773 , HB1871 , HB2035 , HB2448 , HB2492 , HB1411 , HB4753 , HB4666 , HB4529 , HB1499 , HB1610 , HB2028 , HB1506 , HB886 , HB3546 , HB796 , HB223 , HB1475 , HB3556 , HB4638 , HB 111 , HB180 , HB342 , HB 1027 , HB 1178 , HB610 , HB 1277 , HB1615 , HB1620 , HB5342 , HB4885 , HB4751 , HB4689 , HB4530 , HB4488 , HB2149 , HB2041 , HB2071 , HB1813 , HB2282 , HB2248 , HB2243 , HB2522 , HB2310 , HB2513 , HB2300 , HB1902 , HB3719 , HB4284 , HB4327 , HB3743 , HB3778 , HB3801 , HB5153 , HB5147 , HB4877 , HB4850 , HB3158 , HB3261 , HB3005 , HB3033 , HB3138 , HB3099 , HB2849 , HB2967 , HB3488 , HB3477 , HB3466 , HB3396 , HB3469 , HB2594 , HB2776 , HB2564 , HB2298 , HB5331 , HB5646 , HB5247 , HB5323 , HB2015 , HB4384 , HB3896 , HB4014 , HB3627 , HB3594 , HB2524 , HB510 , HB561 , HB5111 , HB5446 , HB 1181 , HB3963 , HB2785 , HB1661 , HB2460 , HCR98 , HCR92 , HCR126

Keywords: Trinity River Authority, river authority, Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Sunset Act, board of directors, governor appointment, public water authority, regional water authority, water resources, local government, natural resources, board training, ethics, open meetings, public information, conflict of interest, complaint procedures, public comment, director removal, governance reform

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> in terms of of locking in the status in terms of of locking in the status quo,<01:31:35.120><c>
• So for hydro power the status quo.
• That maintains that status quo.
• That maintains that status quo.
• If you look u I'm um other factors.

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• /c> in need of an audit as a perspective U in need of an audit as a perspective U um<00:13:10.160><c>
• but we we the products on the market U but we we really<00:13:51.320><c> want</c><00:13:51.480><c> to
• What is the status of suing a contractor? Unfortunately, it is a long, drawn-out process.
• </c> requirement of the bill to have status requirement of the bill to have status conference<00:47:29.680
• </c><00:47:34.040><c> conferences</c> subsequently weekly status conferences subsequently weekly status

Committee: House Health

Summary: The committee first took up SB 1494 on hearing aids. Testimony was generally supportive of expanding hearing-aid coverage, with the Insurance Division raising concern about possible federal defrayment issues, SHPDA supporting the goal of hearing augmentation, DCAB strongly supporting the bill as an important access issue, and health plans and insurers asking for amendments. Kaiser Permanente and the Hawaii Association of Health Plans requested changes to add a medical-necessity standard and clarify annual notice language, while HMSA suggested the proposal should be studied by the auditor. The chair noted concerns about federal preemption and the lack of an audit, and deferred the bill in favor of a related resolution calling for a study. The committee then heard SB 1448, an emergency appropriation for the Hawaii State Hospital. DAGS and the Department of Health supported the measure, with the hospital administrator saying the funding would improve the environment of care, support cleaning, and allow a third-party review of the building. Committee members questioned the size of the request and the status of litigation against the design-builder. Administration witnesses said they were pursuing a comprehensive study involving destructive testing, had made a demand on the design-builder to fund the study, and were using different processes than before. They also said the roof work would be handled through a separate CIP request. No final action was taken in the portion provided. The committee next heard SB 1432, relating to the future responsibilities of the Department of Health and land issues at Kalaupapa after the last patient dies. DOH supported the bill in part but said its long-term role would be limited mainly to environmental cleanup, with operations expected to continue under the National Park Service and land-use decisions left to DHHL and beneficiary consultation. DHHL asked that the measure reflect that any land-use or zoning changes on homeland lands require commission approval and beneficiary consultation. Testifiers from Kalaupapa and Maui County, including Degra Vanderbilt-Papa and Council Member Keani Rollins-Fernandez, supported deferring the bill, saying there had been no meaningful community discussion about provisions affecting Kalaupapa’s future management and possible transfer of responsibilities to Maui County. The committee also read into the record written testimony from Gloria Marks emphasizing that Kalaupapa stakeholders must be included in future discussions. Finally, the committee heard SB 955 on fitness-to-proceed examinations. The Judiciary and the Public Defender’s Office both supported raising pay and standardizing expectations for private examiners, but opposed reducing felony fitness evaluations from three examiners to one and opposed expanding use of expedited reports. They argued that a single examiner would reduce reliability, create a more adversarial process, and likely increase costs and contested hearings, while expedited reports do not contain enough information for a proper fitness determination. The Department of Health also supported the bill’s intent but asked to preserve a three-examiner framework and said the goal was to reduce the number of people sent to the State Hospital, where admissions have reportedly risen about 20% year over year since Act 26. The bill remained under discussion in the excerpt, with no final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• representative the it goes chair U representative the it goes directly<00:32:42.960><c> to</c><00:32:
• /c> is that um the um going above for the U is that um the um going above for the U pathways<00:35:27.680
• Madam chair was also asking for Sabor U Madam chair was also asking for the<00:37:28.200><c> IPS</c><
• Another status that you'll often see is the dependent student status and in the financial aid...
• </c><01:00:04.720><c> that</c> implementation another status that implementation another status that

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, Miss Levit, um, legal status, do you mean the country, a U.S. citizen legal status?
• </c><02:16:08.239><c> U</c><02:16:08.560><c> Mr.
• U, Mr.
• U<02:17:38.880><c> Mr.
• Chair, Senator Lmer, U Mr.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• The um u the stop bars are reflective.
• </c><00:46:11.839><c> U</c> see them listed at the bottom there.
• U see them listed at the bottom there.
• The implementation status of the local assistance road program.
• /c> Well, thank you and u Well, thank you and u no<01:16:13.360><c> more</c><01:16:13.600><c> questions

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation met without a quorum and first received a maintenance update from Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials James Ballinger and John Moore. They described how repeated disasters, including floods, tornadoes, and ice storms, have strained routine road maintenance and forced crews to focus on emergency response, snow and ice removal, pothole patching, ditching, signal repairs, mowing, striping, sign work, and other day-to-day upkeep. They said snow and ice costs have averaged about $60 million to $61 million annually in recent years, disaster response has totaled hundreds of millions of dollars over five years, and the cabinet often must carry those costs until FEMA or FHWA reimbursement arrives. They also said maintenance work is increasingly contracted out because of staffing and resource limits, and that competitive pay is needed to retain employees and contractors for around-the-clock emergency work. Members then discussed traffic roundabouts and other intersection designs. Senator Hickden asked about their cost savings and safety benefits compared with traffic signals, and cabinet staff said they would provide life-cycle cost figures later. They emphasized that roundabouts and related designs reduce serious injuries and fatalities, with serious injuries down roughly 70% to 80% and fatalities over 90% in their experience. Chair Douglas and others asked about roundabout sizing for trucks and farm equipment, and staff explained that designers tailor the inscribed diameter to local traffic needs and context. The committee also briefly discussed red-light running and traffic-light cameras, with members stressing the safety risks of drivers ignoring signals. The committee adopted the minutes from the prior meeting by motion and voice vote. It then heard from Sarah Jackson and Matthew Cole on the Real ID and driver licensing transition. They said the cabinet has expanded from almost no regional offices to 35, grown driver licensing staff from 89 to 400, and now issues about 1.3 million credentials annually. They reported improvements in office capacity, queue management, staffing, and compensation, including added workstations, new or expanded offices in Louisville, Lexington, and Bardstown, and the use of contract staff. They said statewide average wait times have fallen to just under 30 minutes, and Kentucky’s Real ID adoption rate has risen to 42.9%. Members asked follow-up questions about driver testing and CDL scheduling. The presenters said all permit and CDL testing is coordinated through Kentucky State Police, with written tests available in most regional offices and CDL testing at a smaller number of KSP locations. Senator Douglas asked when the driver testing requirements were last updated, and the presenters said that was set by KSP. The discussion ended with additional questions about which regional offices lack KSP testing presence, but no further action was taken before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> other proxy for for low-inccome status. other proxy for for low-inccome status.
• On the Medicaid side low-inccome status.
• And so, a successful repayment status.
• /c> are going to face is that they will be u are going to face is that they will be u attempting<00:42
• </c> you, President Thompson, and u Dr. you, President Thompson, and u Dr.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the previous meeting minutes, and heard a presentation from Austin Reid of the National Conference of State Legislatures on education-related provisions in the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1). Reid said the law is projected to increase the federal deficit over 10 years, with major savings coming from Medicaid, student loan changes, and SNAP. He focused on how those changes could affect schools, including possible effects on free and reduced-price meal certification, state funding formulas that use SNAP as a proxy for low-income status, and Medicaid-funded school services for students with disabilities. Reid also outlined the new federal scholarship tax credit, which gives a dollar-for-dollar credit for donations to qualifying scholarship-granting organizations. He said families up to 300% of area median income may benefit, the program begins in 2027, and states must opt in and designate eligible organizations. He noted unresolved questions about whether states can add their own criteria and said Treasury regulations will be important. He also described the expansion of 529 plans to cover more K-12 and postsecondary expenses. On higher education, Reid explained a new workforce Pell grant option for short-term programs, with states and governors playing a role in determining eligible programs. He said the programs must meet placement, completion, and earnings measures and that implementation is expected to be tight before the July 1, 2026 effective date. He also reviewed student loan changes, including lower institutional loan limits, prorated borrowing for part-time enrollment, new caps on graduate and Parent PLUS loans, and a new earnings-based accountability standard that could make some programs ineligible for student loans if graduates earn too little. No votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• where the governor is a 32 status where the governor is a commander-in-chief<00:09:11.360><c> and</c
• </c><00:21:11.279><c> uh</c><00:21:11.520><c> last</c> duty status uh last duty status uh last summer
• General Mankey continued that the governor is the commander in chief in Title 32 status, and that the
• He added that sometimes Title 32 status is reimbursed with federal funding, citing some COVID-related
• work, but that for the most part they are still in Title 32 status in the state.

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Transcript Highlights:

• U Representative &gt;&gt; Two member questions. U Representative Bakeford. Bakeford. Bakeford.
• Chair, Representative, I I guess I &gt;&gt; u Mr.
• And the first one relates to the J-1 status.
• It's creating a big issue for staffing for what they traditionally... the J1 status.
• And it's my understanding the J1 status.

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:25:16.080><c> hopefully</c> the budget concerns, but u hopefully the budget concerns, but u hopefully
• U we passed that two placement. Yes. U we passed that two years<01:25:13.600><c> ago.
• /c><01:29:38.880><c> between</c> the disconnect u between the disconnect u between I<01:29:40.800><c>
• /c> Judge Vney u Judge Vney u testified<01:37:39.360><c> to</c><01:37:39.840><c> it</c><01:37:40.159>
• /c> and educate the committee on how you u and educate the committee on how you u uh<01:58:43.840><c>

Summary: The Legislative Oversight and Investigation Committee met without a quorum, so no votes were taken. Staff presented a study of the Kentucky Fire Commission focused on firefighter minimum training standards and administrative spending. The presentation explained that Kentucky’s training standards are built from NFPA guidelines, that the commission currently requires 115 hours for volunteer firefighters and 300 hours for paid firefighters, and that those reduced hours were adopted by removing electives and other non-NFPA content. Staff also said the commission’s IFSAC certification testing for firefighter 1 and firefighter 2 aligns with NFPA standards, but the commission cannot require local departments to train or certify firefighters. Staff recommended that the commission formally promulgate regulations establishing the reduced training hours and work with KCTCS to better separate administrative costs for certain programs so compliance with the statute can be demonstrated. The finance portion of the report said the commission is funded by general fund appropriations for State Fire Rescue Training and by an insurance premium surcharge that supports the Firefighter Foundation Program Fund. Staff reported that the commission stayed within the 5% administrative cap tied to the overall surcharge allotment, but could not confirm compliance with a separate 5% cap for specific programs because KCTCS accounting does not break out those costs in enough detail. Staff suggested the General Assembly may want to clarify what counts as administrative cost in statute. Members asked about investment returns, local fire department funding, and whether training documentation is required; staff said some of those topics were outside the study scope and that IFSAC testing relies on chief certification that a candidate is ready to test. Representatives from the Fire Commission then responded, saying they agreed with the report’s recommendations and would work to clarify the 5% issue with legislators and KCTCS. They explained that the reduction in training hours was intended to remove electives, better align with NFPA standards, and address the difficulty volunteer departments have in getting members to complete lengthy training. Commission officials said training is documented through rosters and annual compliance reviews, and that IFSAC-certified firefighter testing is based on demonstrated skills rather than a required number of training hours. They also said the difficulty in tracking the second 5% cap stems from the way KCTCS’s PeopleSoft system records reimbursements as single transactions, making it hard to isolate administrative costs by program.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have the u we have a function.
• Uh, Commission on the Status of Women, created in 2001. Last recorded meeting was in 2015.
• 35.680><c> created</c><00:46:36.000><c> in</c> commissional status of women created in commissional status
• </c><00:53:38.880><c> U</c> sheet here uh in the actual committee.
• U sheet here uh in the actual committee.

Committee: Joint Government Structure

Transcript Highlights:

• That does have an impact on those U of M students as well as all of the students who choose to attend
• /c><00:26:40.960><c> of</c><00:26:41.200><c> M</c><00:26:41.360><c> is</c> basically even if the U of
• /c> cap. that does have a impact on those U cap. that does have a impact on those U ofM<00:26:53.120>
• tuition fees than our u Minnesota state four-year<00:46:22.480><c> universities.
• Minnesota State or Minnesota College is the U of M, and they get $5,600 average.

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> whether that's a truency uh status whether that's a truency uh status offense<00:07:41.680><c> or
• </c> coexisting issues meaning our status coexisting issues meaning our status cases.<00:09:57.920><c
• So that's the current status. that. So that's the current status.
• U similar question to the earlier one.
• U I Mr. Let me let me respond first. U I Mr.

Summary: The committee first approved the May 12 minutes, then deferred item 285 on the routine personal service contract green list for Western Kentucky University to the July 2026 meeting. It also noted that several deferred university contracts had been withdrawn by the institutions, and then approved the remaining agenda items without objection, including personal service contracts, amendments, memoranda of agreement, Kentucky Entertainment incentive agreements, deferred items, and corrections, except for items pulled for further review. The main pulled item was a Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts contract supporting Fayette District Court’s juvenile treatment court through Fayette County Public Schools. Court officials explained that the program, created under Supreme Court rules in 2022, serves court-connected juveniles with mental health and related needs, operates at the courthouse, and uses a school-employed program manager funded through a pass-through arrangement with Fayette County Public Schools and the Urban County Government. They said the program has had over 100 referrals, accepted about half, and had at least 25 successful graduates, with 11 high school graduates among participants. Members asked about who pays for drug screens, family involvement, and what counts as successful completion; the officials said the Urban County Government’s Division of Youth Services pays for drug screens and services, and that parents must participate in classes and support services. The committee then approved the contract review, with some members explaining their votes in support and one member emphasizing the committee’s role in reviewing contracts in the public interest. The committee also reviewed two Auditor of Public Accounts contracts. The auditor’s representative said contract 11, with Vantage Point Solutions, will examine the Kentucky Communications Network Authority/Kentucky Wired network for $700,000, well below the $1.5 million appropriated, and that a report is expected before the 2027 regular session. Contract 12 funds a special examination of investment managers used by Kentucky’s retirement systems, prompted by a Legislative Oversight and Investigations request to assess whether investments tied to ESG factors are consistent with fiduciary duties; the representative said the retirement systems have been cooperative and that findings are expected on a similar timeline, with some flexibility built into the deadline. After questions about the Texas litigation referenced in the explanation, the committee approved both auditor contracts without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:43:17.359><c> It's</c> a new status that says license. It's a new status that says license.
• </c> because we don't have a legal status. because we don't have a legal status.
• We would ask that clarifying in status.
• And that has standing or legal status.
• /c> recalibration and the teacher um the u recalibration and the teacher um the u adjustment<01:44:47.119

Committee: Joint Education

Transcript Highlights:

• So<00:02:08.640><c> u</c><00:02:09.440><c> u</c><00:02:09.679><c> so</c><00:02:10.239><c> before</c><
• u so before I turn it over to uh So u u so before I turn it over to uh Daisy<00:02:12.800><c> to</c><
• Is there a similar what the status is.
• </c><01:02:18.960><c> um</c> children regardless of their status um children regardless of their status
• </c> 87 u internal volunteers on all islands. 87 u internal volunteers on all islands.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm looking at the report from AOC about the increase in status offenses and I'm assuming that is from
• I'm looking at the report from AOC about the increase in status offenses and I'm assuming that is from
• </c> Kentucky uh might be u uh experiencing. Kentucky uh might be u uh experiencing.
• On this slide, it's just highlighting that habitual truancy is a status offense.
• </c><01:24:44.080><c> offense</c> we don't simply process status offense we don't simply process status

Summary: The Juvenile Justice Oversight Council met on October 8, 2025, approved the minutes from the August 29 meeting, and then focused its agenda on truancy and chronic absenteeism. Chad Butler, director of pupil personnel for Meade County and president of the Kentucky Department of Pupil Personnel directors, said chronic absenteeism remains a major problem statewide, citing recent Kentucky rates around 28% to 30% and noting that schools are trying to identify best practices to get students back in class. He said causes appear to include post-COVID social-emotional distress and confusion about when students should stay home, and he described a local effort to use a Healthy Kids Clinic model to keep some students in school when possible. In response to questions, he said chronic absenteeism has only been tracked seriously in the last two to three years and that House Bill 611 appears to have increased the number of youth entering the court system for habitual truancy; AOC said it would provide county-by-county data and outcomes later in the meeting. The council then heard from John Tyson of Alabama, a former Mobile district attorney, who described the Helping Families Initiative as a school-community partnership designed to address truancy and related behavior issues without arrest. Tyson said Alabama defines chronic absence as missing 10% of the school year and emphasized that the program is preventive rather than punitive, using warning letters, family engagement, assessments, individualized intervention plans, and referrals to community services. He said the program has operated since 2003, now includes 20 district attorneys and 44 school systems, and served more than 95,000 students, 73,000 families, and 162,000 parents in the most recent year. Tyson reported that in Mobile County the program was associated with a 3.15% attendance improvement in 2023-24 and a 4% reduction in the issue in 2024-25, along with a 50% reduction in truancy and 58% reduction in chronic absenteeism, and he said the program produced a large return on investment. Tyson also stressed that student absenteeism wastes tax dollars and that better attendance improves educational outcomes and community safety. He described the program’s use of a case-management database, real-time data tracking, and more than 1,000 referral agencies, and said the model is intended to be replicated statewide. He closed with examples of students whose attendance and family circumstances required coordinated support rather than punishment, including a teen mother and a disruptive child, to illustrate his view that schools, courts, and social services should work together to address underlying needs and keep children in school.