Transcript Highlights:

• But when you have a probation violation for a juvenile, the burden is still beyond a reasonable doubt
• And when you have a probation violation, or a juvenile, the burden is still beyond a reasonable doubt
• Obviously, deliberations surrounding juvenile code is something I've been in from this committee.
• There is a robust debate about what's to be done relative to our juveniles and violence.
• First, we treat juveniles differently for a reason.

Committee: House House Consumer & Public Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• An update from the Department of Children and Families regarding juvenile rehabilitation, Jennifer Redman
• I'm the Juvenile Rehabilitation Assistant Secretary from DCYF.
• Hi everyone, my name is Jeff Indermark, and I'm the security classification administrator for Juvenile
• What our population looks like with adult sentences and juvenile sentences.
• So 50% of our population are serving juvenile sentences and 50% are serving adult sentences.

Bills: HB1544 , HB2219 , HB2253

Committee: House Early Learning & Human Services

Keywords: child welfare, risk assessment, investigation, child abuse, neglect, HB 2219, child care licensing, early learning, DCYF, Department of Children Youth and Families, Washington child care, preschool licensing, family child care, child care centers, nature-based child care, outdoor preschool, mixed-age ratios, staff-to-child ratio, group size, zero tolerance

Transcript Highlights:

• But also, you know, in my day job, I actually practice juvenile law.
• </c> practitioner working in the juvenile practitioner working in the juvenile justice<01:09:51.839><
• So, I look juvenile justice systems.
• </c><01:14:51.679><c> Detention</c> the Jefferson County Juvenile Detention the Jefferson County Juvenile
• If it does related to juvenile justice.

Transcript Highlights:

• California made a significant policy shift in closing the Department of Juvenile Justice.
• California made a significant policy shift in closing the Department of Juvenile Justice.
• California made a significant policy shift in closing the Department of Juvenile Justice.
• These are an important piece of the new juvenile justice continuum. We want to see them succeed.
• I've been practicing juvenile delinquency for 21 years.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Court staff are the core of our juvenile courts.
• Court staff are the core of our Juvenile Court Early Intervention Program.
• Juvenile courts and our staff are uniquely positioned in every county across Washington.
• Last year, juvenile court funding was slashed by 70%, wiping out staff and partnerships.
• Since 1995, Programs and allow those dollars to support juvenile court staffing.

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee held a public hearing on proposed substitute House Bill 2289, the House operating budget. Budget staff Mary Monroe gave a detailed overview of the proposal’s near general fund outlook, reserve levels, major revenue assumptions, and major spending and savings items. She highlighted assumed revenue from capital gains and a proposed “millionaires tax,” a transfer from the budget stabilization account, administrative reductions across agencies, and several major policy shifts, including changes affecting Working Connections Child Care, K-12 education, higher education, long-term care, behavioral health, wildfire response, and state employee compensation. Members then asked questions, including about the higher education building account/operating fee swap and its interaction with the capital budget and Climate Commitment Act funds. The committee also announced amendment deadlines for the budget process. The bulk of the meeting was public testimony, with many speakers generally supporting or opposing specific parts of the budget. Supportive testimony praised funding for wildfire prevention, public health, reproductive health, civil legal aid, the Poison Center, some higher education institutions, and certain disability and child welfare services. Many speakers urged restoration or protection of funding for K-12 education, especially transition to kindergarten, local effort assistance, bus depreciation, and Running Start; others opposed cuts to child care, early learning, public defense, long-term care, adult day and home care services, occupational/physical/speech therapy for Medicaid patients, and community and technical colleges. Several local government, health, and nonprofit representatives also asked the committee to preserve public works, homelessness, energy assistance, environmental justice, and recovery/diversion programs, while some business and public safety groups sought continued funding for organized retail crime prevention and related initiatives. No votes were taken during the hearing. The committee recessed briefly and later resumed with virtual testimony, where additional witnesses repeated concerns about education cuts, long-term care, health care access, disability services, dispute resolution, early childhood programs, and the need for ongoing or increased funding in those areas.

Transcript Highlights:

• Judge Clark, we used to have this for juveniles. Why did they quit if it's a good idea?
• I have visited the juvenile centers myself, and I think this would be another asset to that, because
• The juvenile justice board is up and running. They're going fine.
• So, you know, it would probably be great to have one in juvenile too, but, you know, I think that that's
• I had actually only brought up the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board because studies actually show that

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Transcript Highlights:

• We used to have this for juveniles. Why did they quit if it's a good idea?
• I have visited the juvenile centers myself, and I think this would be another asset to that, because
• Just comment: The juvenile justice board is up and running. They're going fine.
• So, you know, it would probably be great to have one in juvenile too, but, you know, I think that that's
• I had actually only brought up the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board because studies actually show that

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Summary: The Committee on Corrections and Public Institutions heard testimony on House Bill 2912, House Bill 2753, and a joint hearing on House Bills 2171 and 3292. HB 2912 would expand the state’s use of master agreements for small projects, raising contract thresholds and adding architects, engineers, and surveyors to standing agreements for work under $100,000. Supporters from the Office of Administration and private engineering/architecture firms said the bill would reduce delays, lower costs, and avoid repeated RFQ/RFP processes for small projects. There were no witnesses in opposition, and the hearing closed after favorable testimony. HB 2753 would create a hospital zone designation, similar to school or work zones, allowing municipalities or counties to establish reduced-speed areas around hospitals when local conditions warrant it. The bill was presented in response to traffic and safety concerns around a rural hospital expansion and a state highway running through the campus area. Hospital representatives, the Missouri Hospital Association, and another hospital system supported the measure, emphasizing pedestrian, staff, ambulance, and visitor safety; committee members questioned the proposed penalties and whether the bill could create a statewide mandate, but supporters stressed it was permissive and locally initiated. No opposition testimony was offered. HB 2171 and HB 3292, identical bills, would direct the Department of Corrections to create a motivational boot camp program for offenders ages 17 to 21 convicted of nonviolent offenses, with the goal of rehabilitation and possible expungement after completion. Sponsors said the program would emphasize discipline, physical activity, and therapy, and could be a cost-saving alternative to prison; they noted a federal issue requiring changes for DWI/CDL cases and discussed a six-year sunset. Committee members raised questions about eligibility, screening, expungement language, program design, and how the proposal would interact with other sentencing bills. No witnesses testified in favor or opposition, and the committee adjourned after the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• In juvenile justice, we amend language requiring a report on the high acuity juvenile mental health treatment
• In<00:21:13.480><c> juvenile</c><00:21:13.840><c> justice,</c><00:21:14.280><c> we</c><00:21:14.400><
• c> amend</c><00:21:14.680><c> language</c> In juvenile justice, we amend language In juvenile justice
• <00:21:17.240><c> mental</c><00:21:17.440><c> health</c><00:21:17.680><c> treatment</c> juvenile mental
• health treatment juvenile mental health treatment facility. facility. facility.

Summary: The Kentucky Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee met with a quorum and first took up House Bill 503, the legislative branch budget, adopting a committee substitute and reporting it favorably. The chair said the Senate version fully funds defined calculations, provides 2% raises in each fiscal year for legislative employees, removes a paragraph on operating expense reductions, and includes $1 million in the first year for a judicial branch salary study. House Bill 504, the judicial branch budget, was then amended and reported favorably; changes included 2% annual raises for judicial employees, revised operating expense language, $1 million each year for county current services, retention of Boyle County fit-up language, reporting requirements for smaller capital projects, full funding for nine judges added in 2022, and removal of furlough prohibitions and certain budget implementation language. Both bills passed the committee unanimously with favorable expressions to the floor. The committee then considered House Bill 500, the executive branch budget, adopting a committee substitute before hearing a lengthy summary of major spending and policy changes. The chair described statewide 2% annual employee raises, agency base reductions with many exemptions, increased school safety and 911 funding, veterans and military funding, local government and severance-related changes, attorney general and auditor funding, pension and retirement system support, education funding changes including SEEK, postsecondary and scholarship provisions, public safety and corrections funding, and multiple capital projects. The chair also highlighted Medicaid-related provisions, including added waiver slots, increased state-directed payments, a 2.5% reduction in managed care vendor payments for plan years 2027 and 2028 with savings redirected to fee-for-service rates, and additional funding for behavioral health and public health programs. The bill was reported favorably after members explained their votes, with several noting they had only recently received the full 228-page bill and wanted more time for detailed review. Finally, the committee adopted a committee substitute for House Bill 900, an appropriation measure for government agencies, and reported it favorably. The chair said the bill remains a work in progress and that one-time funding requests from across the Commonwealth and across party lines would continue to be addressed as the process moves forward. All measures considered during the meeting passed the committee with unanimous or near-unanimous favorable votes, and the meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Department of Juvenile Corrections makes up $59,202,800.
• The Department of Juvenile Corrections...
• The Department of Juvenile Corrections base was reduced by 5%, so that's that 3% plus 2%.
• deals with ratios of staff to juvenile.
• And so I'm really concerned about juvenile corrections as well as the state police.

Transcript Highlights:

• One million dollars one time to the Department of Juvenile Corrections for Youth Assessment Centers.
• One million dollars one time to the Department of Juvenile Corrections for Youth Assessment Centers.
• Health and Welfare for the Idaho Children's Trust Fund, $1 million one time for the Department of Juvenile
• the challenges was that we lost funding for an SRO training officer that was being funded through Juvenile
• the challenges was that we lost funding for an SRO training officer that was being funded through juvenile

Summary: The Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committee considered several FY 2027 budget items, beginning with the Idaho Judicial Branch. The committee approved an additional $3.9007 million from dedicated funds for court operations, including $800,700 from the Senior Magistrate Judge Fund, $700,000 from the Drug Court/Mental Health Court/Family Court Services Fund, $400,000 from the Substance Abuse Treatment Fund, and $2 million ongoing from the Court Technology Fund. Members noted the technology fund had grown enough to sustain the ongoing transfer, while Senator Wintrow remarked that funding for a treatment-court peer support program had not been restored. The motion passed with a do-pass recommendation. The committee then approved a Guardian Ad Litem Division budget increase of $165,300 in general funds, including $77,900 ongoing for the Second Judicial District CASA program and $87,400 to restore a one-time FY 2027 rescission. Supporters described the CASA request as funding a trainer-recruiter position and related office costs, and several members spoke favorably about the role of guardian ad litems. The motion passed, also with a do-pass recommendation. Members next took up the Millennium Income Fund. They approved $9,872,200 from the fund for recommendations including the Idaho Children’s Trust Fund, Youth Assessment Centers, children’s advocacy centers through the Idaho Domestic Violence Council, an additional recovery center in Kamiah, and a statewide drug awareness media campaign. A substitute motion added $30,000 one time to restore funding for statewide training and coordination of school resource officers, which passed after discussion about whether the Millennium Fund committee had been consulted. The committee then adopted maintenance and new language for the Millennium Fund items, including reporting and oversight provisions, and later adopted language for reappropriating unspent state archives move funds for the Idaho State Historical Society. Finally, the committee approved the Idaho State Historical Society budget, adding $486,300 from dedicated funds for archival moving and OITS hardware. Members explained the move would be handled in phases and funded through dedicated sources rather than general funds. The committee also adopted statewide appropriations language making conditions, limitations, and restrictions in budget bills binding law, and adjourned after announcing the next day’s agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• life and the work of James Raymond Bell, a visionary leader and an advocate within the American juvenile
• James worked for two decades at the Youth Law Center in San Francisco, where he worked alongside the Juvenile
• His organization played a significant role in two of the most prominent juvenile justice initiatives
• Casey Foundation's Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, which aimed to reduce the reliance on
• had substantial investments in research on adolescent development and comprehensive reforms in the juvenile

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved procedural motions including suspension of rules for same-day action on certain bills and removal of several measures from the consent calendar. Members also introduced guests and interns from their districts and offices. The chamber then moved through a large number of second- and third-reading items, with many bills deemed read and amendments deemed adopted, and several items passed or retained on file without debate. On the floor, the Assembly concurred in Senate amendments to AB 104, a budget measure making technical and conforming changes to the 2025 Budget Act and extending loan repayment terms for two Imperial County hospitals, and to AB 138, which ratified additional collective bargaining agreements and related addenda. Members also concurred in Senate amendments to AB 1114 on private ambulance toll fee waivers, AB 642 on emergencies, AB 1051 on state highways, AB 1533 appropriating funds for state claims, SB 611 on housing and land-use litigation delays, SB 251 appropriating funds to pay claims against the state, and AB 1459 on hazardous materials regulatory programs. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition; SB 611 and the claims bills were presented as urgency measures and passed unanimously or near-unanimously. The consent calendar was adopted after ABs and SBs on the remaining list were approved, and the Assembly also re-referred SB 104 and SB 138 to the Budget Committee and moved SB 773 to the inactive file. The session concluded with adjournment-in-memory tributes for James Raymond Bell, a juvenile justice reform advocate, and Gail Yolanda McGowan, followed by notice of committee meetings and an announcement that the House would stand in summer recess and reconvene on August 18, 2025, at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Certain fees and costs and restitution may be assessed in juvenile cases.
• This deals with juvenile cases.
• When those funds are paid on a juvenile case, This deals with juvenile cases.
• And they recognize, and I agree, that this is really a policy Payments in juvenile cases.
• This legislation establishes a new section providing the priority of payments in juvenile cases.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section one addresses the juvenile court diversion program.
• Under current law, a juvenile who successfully completes post-charge diversion may seek expungement of
• </c><00:20:56.080><c> court</c> Section one addresses the juvenile court Section one addresses the juvenile
• Under current law, a juvenile<00:20:59.919><c> who</c><00:21:00.159><c> successfully</c><00:21:00.799
• ><c> completes</c> juvenile who successfully completes juvenile who successfully completes post-charge

Transcript Highlights:

• You've overseen the Juvenile Justice Board, and it doesn't become a party issue.
• For those who may not be aware, the entire Juvenile Justice Board was, as we said, switched.
• Not to put you on the spot in a ballpark, but do you know, can you tell us about how many juveniles,
• are in the custody of the Juvenile Justice Department at this point.
• Because of the severity of their offenses, they have been sent to the state, but Juvenile judges across

Committee: Senate Nominations

Transcript Highlights:

• This will and this is for purposes of to obtaining a special immigrant juvenile visa.
• And not just I asked to keep their word chow pursued special immigrant juvenile status, but also any
• She has special immigrant juvenile status.
• Now, if the court determines that the child does not meet the special immigrant justice juvenile status
• I'm a graduate of FSU Law and board certified in juvenile.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a serious juvenile crime problem, but we do not have a juvenile detention center in Louisville
• We have a serious juvenile different.
• </c> juvenile detention center in Louisville. juvenile detention center in Louisville.
• </c> juvenile detention center in Louisville. juvenile detention center in Louisville.
• </c> you have a revolving door with juvenile you have a revolving door with juvenile crime.<01:08:13.920

Summary: The Government Contracts Committee met with a quorum and approved the July 8 minutes. It then deferred several items from the July agenda, including a Kentucky Education Television contract because the vendor was not yet registered with the Secretary of State, and a University of Louisville contract at the university’s request. The committee also deferred a behavioral health memorandum of agreement and later a Department of Community Based Services contract after questions were raised about the scope of services and the need for additional information. The most extensive discussion involved the Seven Counties Services contract with the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental, and Intellectual Disabilities. Committee members questioned why the state continues to contract with Seven Counties despite its bankruptcy and pension-related liabilities, how the funding split was determined, whether the services are statutorily required, and whether the state or another provider could deliver the services more efficiently. Agency representatives said Seven Counties is the sole provider of core community mental health services in its region, serves about 24,500 people, and that service needs and acuity remain high even as the number served has declined. A cabinet attorney said the bankruptcy dispute is ongoing and involves roughly $20 million in contested retirement contributions, though members suggested the amount may be higher. Members also raised broader concerns about whether local governments, especially Metro Louisville, should contribute more toward services tied to social determinants of health, and whether the contract includes services beyond what statute requires. The committee requested additional information on the contract scope and possible offsets or recovery of unfunded liabilities, and then voted to defer the Seven Counties contract to the next meeting. The committee also heard a separate DCBS presentation on the Youth Villages Intercept program, where staff explained it was selected because it is an approved evidence-based Family First prevention service, provides intensive in-home and foster care stabilization services, and is headquartered in Tennessee but operates across Kentucky; members asked for clarification on Medicaid billing and additional funding needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• system, including service as section chief of the juvenile section.
• system, including service as section chief of the juvenile section.
• Juvenile justice is my passion and my life's work.
• And I am happy, I know juvenile law, there is some confidentiality concerns as such.
• Had you, had you, had this been your first time working at the Office of Juvenile Justice?

Summary: The committee first approved the May 20 minutes and then advanced HCR 95, which would create a more uniform tax base for future state and local tax exemptions and credits, requiring a two-thirds vote of both chambers to deviate from that uniformity. HB 648 was deferred by the author. HB 1049, dealing with public meeting procedures and notice requirements, was amended after discussion with the Police Jury Association, school boards, and local government groups; the amendments removed a requirement for a lawyer at every meeting and clarified notice and posting language, and the bill was reported with amendments despite opposition from local government associations and the City of Baker. The committee then heard HB 615, which would expand livestreaming and two-year archiving requirements to more public bodies, including non-elected boards and commissions with taxing or rulemaking authority. Supporters framed it as a transparency measure, while local government and association witnesses argued it would impose an unfunded mandate, especially on small volunteer boards, and raised concerns about costs, staffing, record retention, and reliance on social media platforms. The bill was not advanced. HB 1201, as amended, would provide legislators reimbursement for travel and limited out-of-session expenses, including housing and mileage, beginning with the next term; members discussed the need to make public service more financially feasible and to broaden who can afford to serve. The committee reported HB 1201 with amendments. The committee also considered two constitutional convention-related bills. HB 244 would set guardrails for any future convention by capping delegates at 144, specifying delegate selection, requiring a two-thirds delegate vote to send proposals to voters, and requiring both a majority of voters and approval by three-fourths of the parishes for ratification; after debate over whether the parish threshold was too high, the bill was reported favorably on a roll call vote. HB 4, as amended, was narrowed to require the Senate and House Governmental Affairs committees to meet in the off-season to discuss the mechanics of a possible convention, but members viewed it as more of a study resolution than binding legislation, and the committee voted to keep it in committee. The meeting then moved to confirmation hearings. Courtney Myers, nominated for Deputy Secretary for the Office of Juvenile Justice, and Ernest Jacob Reade Jr., nominated as Assistant Secretary, testified about their backgrounds and priorities, emphasizing juvenile rehabilitation, education and vocational programming, mental health services, credible messengers, family contact, and better communication with legislators and families. Nathan McBride, nominated as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality, testified about his engineering and government affairs background and said he would focus on legislative work, waste tire management, permitting modernization, and constituent service.

Transcript Highlights:

• I oversee the divisions of Protective Services and Juvenile Justice.
• Just a little history of the John Paul Taylor Center: it was opened as a private juvenile detention facility
• We have over 90 staff, and that's from administration through juvenile correction officers; that includes
• In juvenile justice, we embrace the CAMBR model, and that really switches the focus from confinement
• Our juvenile correction and community correction programming is also available.

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Families, Juvenile Rehabilitation Programs.
• Juvenile rehabilitation is administered by the department.
• Juvenile Rehabilitation is administered by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, DCYF.
• Juvenile Rehabilitation serves young people through age 25, and DCYF operates two secure facilities,
• DCYF also delivers services and programs to young people in juvenile rehabilitation.

Summary: At the May 14, 2025 JLARC meeting, members approved the January 9 minutes and adopted the 2025–27 biennial work plan with a minor typo correction. Staff reviewed two new work plan studies: a drug takeback program fee-setting and expenditures review due in December 2025, and a state energy performance standard compliance review due in June 2027. Staff also summarized recent JLARC session activity, noting six committee presentations and five bills enacted related to JLARC work or recommendations. The committee then heard a preliminary cannabis market study. JLARC staff reported that Washington businesses likely produced two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023, but that incomplete and unreliable Liquor and Cannabis Board data limits regulation, tax verification, and diversion tracking. Staff recommended that LCB submit a plan by the end of 2025 describing what resources and funding would be needed to collect accurate data by the end of 2026. Members and agency representatives discussed the 2031 timeline for a new tracking system, data quality problems, and the social equity program; LCB said it is evaluating vendor options and will provide more information on its plan. JLARC also presented a preliminary report on Department of Health oversight of hospital data reporting, inspections, and complaints. Staff concluded DOH is late on many hospital inspections, does not verify third-party inspection standards, does not review adverse health event correction plans, and could make hospital data more accessible. The report included five recommendations to DOH and one to the Legislature. DOH said it would work with JLARC on a strategic management plan and acknowledged the need for improvements. The committee next reviewed a preliminary report on the public records survivor exemption, concluding the exemption is being used but needs clearer guidance. JLARC recommended keeping the exemption and having the Attorney General provide additional implementation guidance. Members then approved a proposed final report on Developmental Disabilities Administration processes and staffing; DDA concurred with the recommendations and described steps it has already taken on metrics, data quality, and workforce planning. Finally, JLARC introduced proposed study questions for its upcoming review of DCYF juvenile rehabilitation programs, focusing on safety and security, access to services, staffing, education, and comparisons to best practices. No votes were taken on the preliminary reports, and the meeting adjourned after the study question presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to take up SB 1734 on juvenile justice by Senator Martin.
• This bill recognizes juvenile probation officers, JPOs, as juvenile detention officers, JDOs, as officers
• This bill establishes the Department of Juvenile Justice as a criminal agency employing agency under
• This bill establishes the Department of Juvenile Justice as a criminal agency, employing agency under
• Justice's Alliance is waiving in support, and also waiving in support from Florida Department of Juvenile

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice met and reported several bills favorably. SB 646, by President Gates, would allow the use of drug testing tools such as test strips and reagent kits to detect dangerous adulterants like fentanyl and xylazine; it was supported by Senator Osgood and others who said it could help prevent overdose deaths, and it passed unanimously. SB 418, by Senator Jones, creates autism-focused law enforcement training and a voluntary Blue Envelope Program for drivers with autism; it drew strong support from Disability Rights Florida, parents, advocates, and committee members, who emphasized safety, communication, and de-escalation, and it also passed unanimously after extensive testimony.\n\nThe committee then considered SB 132, by Senator Polsky, which would require the Florida Commission on Offender Review to maintain a public database to help people determine whether they have completed the requirements for restoration of voting rights. An amendment making the database subject to legislative appropriation was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 1734, by Senator Martin, would recognize juvenile probation and detention officers as officers under state law, extend training and certification standards, and provide officer-level benefits and protections; it passed without opposition.\n\nFinally, the committee took up SB 820, by Senator Bradley, on problem-solving court reports. A strike-all amendment expanded annual reporting requirements for specialty courts, set a January 31 reporting deadline, and phased in the new data collection. After support from the State Courts Administrator and others, the amendment and the bill as amended were adopted and reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.