Transcript Highlights:

• already had access to. already had access to.
• Access promotes statutory mandates.
• access to.
• <01:36:06.880> access<01:36:07.280> to We're going to give access access to We're going
• to give access access to this<01:36:07.760> information<01:36:08.239> that's<01:36:08.560

Bills: HF3901, HF962, HF4428, HF4478, HF1775

Keywords: foster care, ombudsperson, investigative powers, children's rights, complaint process, HF4428, Medical Assistance, Medicaid, community engagement, work requirement, work mandate, employment requirement, community service, 80 hours, half-time student, income threshold, federal minimum wage, eligibility verification, benefit suspension, benefit termination

Transcript Highlights:

• A PORTION OF 7016 ABOUT NON EMERGENT CARE ACCESS PLANS.
• WE DO HAVE 24 AND 12 ARE CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITALS.
• I WILL TALK US THROUGH A BIT ABOUT THE NONEMERGENT CARE ACCESS PLAN.
• AND THE NONEMERGENT CARE ACCESS PLAN.
• PHARMACY TO ENSURE THAT PATIENTS HAVE ACCESS TO PRIMARY CARE SERVICES.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And what it does tell the provider or the EMT, whoever has access to their records, if you're looking
• The form can be revoked at any time, and providers are not liable if they cannot feasibly access the
• <00:02:11.239> the they cannot feasibly access the they cannot feasibly access the patients's
• We have Representative Carroll next. who has access to that health who has access to that health record
• those medical records and able to access those medical records and have<00:15:58.279> access<

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• MY NAME IS -- [AUDIO LOST] TODAY WILL BE GIVING UP DATE ON THE ACCESS ABOUT THE NEXT PROJECT.
• SO FOR THE ACCESS PROJECT IT'S A PROGRAM OVERVIEW.
• WE TARGETED THE MY ACCESS PORTAL AND WE SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCH THAT ON DECEMBER 5 OF 2023.
• WE HAVE THE DATA FROM ACCESS IN THE WAREHOUSE. WE HAVE THOSE TO SYSTEMS TALKING.
• WE ARE CURRENTLY PRIORITIZING BOTH THE ACCESS SYSTEM AND WE REALLY TRY TO WRAP IT UP TO GET ACCESS IN

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• giving them access to firearms. giving them access to firearms.
• we have the most access to information. we have the most access to information.
• want but cannot access.
• to access it. to access it. >> Followup. >> Followup. >> Followup.
• kind of access.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in terms of access and care.
• And I did hear you mention open access, which to me is walk-ins.
• Open access, which to me is walk-ins.
• It's an access line.
• One is around maternal health access.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard budget testimony from Department of Mental Health Commissioner Brooke Doyle, who said DMH serves about 29,000 people and is facing rising demand, higher operating costs, and uncertainty about federal funding. She explained that the FY26 budget prioritizes fully funding the state-operated inpatient system, which is at 100% occupancy and often serves people transferred from Bridgewater State Hospital, while making reductions in other areas to balance the budget. Those reductions include a 50% cut to case managers, a pause on closing the Pocasset unit pending a working group on Cape access, and changes to youth and contracted services such as right-sizing IRTP and CIRT, reducing Youth PACT from seven teams to three, scaling back flex and jail diversion grants as ARPA funds wind down, and preserving the behavioral health helpline and community-based crisis services. Members from Western Massachusetts and the Cape raised concerns about access, staffing, and the impact of cuts, and Doyle said the department would continue operating IRTP services, improve the referral process, and work with stakeholders on the Pocasset review and other access issues. The committee also discussed school-based mental health, 988, loan forgiveness for workforce recruitment, and the role of co-response programs for law enforcement. Secretary Robin Lipson then testified for the Executive Office of Aging and Independence, describing a proposed FY26 budget increase of about 21% to support councils on aging, home care, elder abuse investigations, caregiver support, care transitions, and nutrition programs. She said the agency is managing rising demand, especially from the growing 80-plus population, and noted uncertainty around federal Older Americans Act funding after the federal disbursement agency was disbanded. To control costs, the office will manage intake and caseload growth in a fully state-funded home care program, but current clients will not lose services. Lipson also highlighted a new $1 million line item for local mini-grants to support age-friendly initiatives. In questions, members focused on elder scams, and Lipson said scams are increasing and the agency is working with banks, district attorneys, and public awareness campaigns. The Health Policy Commission’s Executive Director David Seltz presented the agency’s FY26 request and said the biggest challenge is health care affordability, with family premiums near $29,000 annually and many residents delaying care because of cost. He emphasized that recent legislation significantly expands HPC’s role through a new Office of Pharmaceutical Policy and Analysis, which will examine the drug supply chain and pricing, and a new Office of Health Resource Planning, which will support statewide planning around closures and access gaps. The new law also creates task forces on maternal health access and primary care, and adds transparency and oversight for private equity in health care. Members asked about pharmaceutical costs, GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, 340B, and maternal health closures; Seltz said the data show rapid growth in GLP-1 spending and that the new offices will help the state better understand cost drivers and access problems. The Center for Health Information and Analysis then began its testimony, describing its role as the state’s data hub for health care spending, utilization, quality, and affordability analysis.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next up, we have GM 717, Annabelle Stone, Language Access Advisory Council.
• ensuring equitable access to services. ensuring equitable access to services.
• Yes, uh in the Language Access Board.
• <00:09:47.080> Advisory seat at the Language Access Advisory seat at the Language Access Advisory
• John McComas, uh, well he... language access advisory council and we language access advisory council

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services met on April 15 to consider several gubernatorial nominations, with the chair reminding the public that written testimony had been reviewed and testimony time would be limited. The first nominee, James Landgraf (GM 528) for the Board of Certification of Public Water System Operators, was supported by the Department of Health and testified that his water-system experience would help ensure certification standards protect safe drinking water, including on Maui and the other islands. Committee members asked about his background and Maui water issues, and the chair later recommended advise and consent. The committee also heard GM 552 for Pina Lemosu to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, but Lemosu was absent due to illness. Daintry Bartoldus of the council testified in strong support, citing Lemosu’s lived experience, critical thinking, and advocacy on disability and employment issues. The committee deferred decision-making on this nomination until the next day. For GM 717, Annabelle Stone for the Language Access Advisory Council, testimony from Waipahu Safe Haven Immigrant Migrant Resource Center and Aloha Care emphasized her interpreter background, bilingual skills, and commitment to equitable access for limited-English-proficient residents. Stone said her public health and community experience would help the council, and the chair recommended advise and consent. The final nomination, GM 782, was John McComas for the Statewide Health Coordinating Council. Supporters including Jack Lewin and Aloha Care highlighted McComas’s long career in health care, including leadership at Aloha Care and work on expanding community health resources. McComas said he wanted to continue contributing to health care access statewide after retirement. The committee took no objections on the nominations it voted on and adopted the chair’s recommendations to advise and consent for GM 528, GM 717, and GM 782, while GM 552 was deferred.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, simple accessibility. Imagine if you didn't have the accessibility of that button.
• go okay you know simple accessibility go okay you know simple accessibility that<00:51:21.400>
• Incorporating language access to accessible voting systems would greatly ease this transition.
• Incorporating language access to accessible voting systems would greatly ease this transition.
• language incorporating language access language incorporating language access to<00:56:11.280>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Election Law Committee held an orientation and then opened a public hearing on House Bill 67-FN-A, which would make permanent the use of accessible voting machines in local elections and provide funding for additional systems. The chair outlined committee procedures, noting a heavy workload of roughly 70 to 80 bills, mostly Tuesday meetings, likely time limits on testimony, and a default of executive session unless a bill is specifically noticed. Members and staff were introduced, and the Secretary of State’s office described its election-related responsibilities, including voter registration, cybersecurity, ballot-counting equipment, and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) program. Secretary of State David Scanlan and Deputy Secretary Aon Hennessy explained the current pilot program created by last year’s law, which requires accessible voting systems for local elections and allows the state to share machines with municipalities during the first half of 2025. They said the office has made hardware available, but towns have raised concerns about the speed of implementation and the cost of programming each election, especially for towns with multiple ballot questions. Scanlan said the state is also vetting longer-term options, including devices that could remain in polling places year-round, and suggested the committee consider delaying the bill’s effective date to January 1, 2026 to better align with implementation needs. Hennessy said the current state devices are older and complicated to reset for each election, and estimated programming costs could be about $600 for a small single-election ballot and much higher for towns with multiple elections. Supporters of the bill emphasized the importance of accessible voting for people with disabilities. Representative Robert Wy said the measure builds on 2024 law and would move the pilot into a permanent agreement, citing ADA concerns and prior testimony about discriminatory voting experiences. Fred Forier, a legally blind voter from Exeter, testified that accessible voting systems allow him to vote privately and independently and urged support for the bill. Committee members asked about the gap if the pilot ends before a permanent system is in place and about the cost range for programming. No vote was taken during the hearing, and the committee moved on after public testimony began.

Transcript Highlights:

• Employee Florida also communicates with DCF's Access system.
• data from, let's say, the DCS access system, we can only access what they give us permission to do.
• Policies that guide what they have access to are crucial.
• We should be able to instantaneously stop their access to some things or add access to other things based
• And then today, right now, that Floridian can access ReConnect and they can access Florida DOE's VR Aware

Transcript Highlights:

• As this committee well knows, students depend on consistent digital access for virtually every aspect
• Digital access is also critical for key administration tasks like grading, attendance, and financial
• As this committee well knows, students depend on consistent digital access for virtually every aspect
• Digital access is also critical for key administration tasks like grading, attendance, and financial
• price structure if we do not have access price structure if we do not have access to<00:17:56.960

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Zayo Group 00:00:50 Committee Report to LRC 00:18:12, 958, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony from Michael McCurley, president of Zo Education and a senior vice president with Zo Group, about the company’s role in providing broadband and managed network services to Kentucky schools. He said Zo Education serves all Kentucky K-12 public school districts in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Education, offering more bandwidth at lower cost than the prior provider and also providing cybersecurity and network protection. He emphasized that reliable connectivity is essential for instruction, testing, remote coursework, and school administration. McCurley also addressed the ongoing contract dispute involving the Kentucky Communications Network Authority and Open Fiber Silicom, saying Zo Education is not a party to the litigation but is concerned about possible disruption to schools and students. In response to committee questions, he said the company incurred unexpected costs when it had to reroute connections and build alternate network paths, including one school move that cost more than $50,000 to serve a site generating under $2,000 per month. He said outages and incidents are more frequent when Kentucky Wired access is unavailable, and that Zo could not have bid at its current price without access to Kentucky Wired. Committee members discussed the broader implications of the dispute and the state’s broadband structure. Senator Williams said the committee’s priority is avoiding disruption to students and noted concerns about infrastructure purchases and upgrades tied to the network, saying he had not seen clear contractual support for some of the expenditures. He also referenced a future audit and said the committee should preserve options and taxpayer funds. The committee then reviewed its report to LRC, including changes related to infrastructure purchases and water asset management technology, and agreed to submit the report without a committee vote. The chair announced the next meeting would be in January, with no December meeting scheduled, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're committed to champion workplace accessibility and inclusivity for employees with disabilities.
• Accessibility and employment.
• BCH, focusing on accessibility education and improving our accommodation resources that we have.
• It's a barrier to accessibility. We want to try... We want to try. Barrier to accessibility.
• And we want to expose patients and their families to the diversity and accessibility as well.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities subcommittee on Disability Employment approved the prior meeting minutes, welcomed new commission member Victoria Gill, and heard an opening quote on leadership before moving to presentations and planning. The main presentation was from Kristen Grip and Katie McCarthy of Boston Children’s Hospital’s Disability Alliance employee-led group, which described its mission to build an inclusive workplace through education, community-building, and advocacy. They discussed monthly disability-awareness programming, intersectional events, accommodation and accessibility efforts, internal ableism, universal design, and BCH’s recognition in the 2025 Disability Equality Index. They also described their own lived experience and emphasized that employees with disabilities should lead disability-related workplace efforts. Committee members asked how to start a disability employee resource group and what external partnerships might help. The presenters said BCH’s HR diversity team helped launch the group over about a year, and members noted related resources, including a Work Without Limits guide and possible connections with Spalding Rehabilitation and other hospitals. The committee also discussed BCH’s continued support for disability inclusion work despite broader political pressure, and members praised the hospital’s efforts and offered to share additional contacts and resources. The subcommittee then turned to possible collaboration with SEED, the State Exchange on Employment and Disability, on Massachusetts as a model employer and benefit cliff analysis work. Members agreed SEED could help with policy framing, comparative data, stakeholder education, and youth disability employment efforts, and they approved inviting SEED to brief the subcommittee in January or February. The group also discussed possible links to CAPE-Youth, Commonwealth HR and DEI offices, and a future partnership with the Office of the Veterans Advocate. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which was seconded and approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• Three-year-olds have access to universal preschool.
• The workforce is particularly vital to ensure we have access to services.
• to the Equal Access Fund.
• Finally, we oppose the proposed language in the provisional budget restricting access to the Equal Access
• California to help them access clean transportation options.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:31:50.640> issue affordability and accessibility issue affordability and accessibility
• access care issue at that rural critical access hospital. hospital. hospital.
• affiliated with rural critical access affiliated with rural critical access hospitals?
• <02:22:15.600> Sustainable<02:22:16.319> access access hospitals.
• Sustainable access access hospitals.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We set up the health care access fund, and one of the roles of the health care access fund is to help
• You will make it harder for children to access health care when their parents don't have access to that
• Healthcare access is how people access preventative care.
• care access fund is.
• Accessible health care is a right.

Transcript Highlights:

• The moment requires us to revisit these laws to ensure that access to care remains open to all, that
• The moment requires us to revisit these laws to ensure that access to care remains open to all, that
• I'd like to ask you about access to services at risk.
• However, we believe that it is worth it to protect the privacy of folks accessing...
• While hospice care exists in our state, pediatric access is extremely limited.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Keillor's House File 1380 would ensure accessibility.
• Right now, we have over 400 people who are sitting on a waiting list to access services.
• It's like adding lanes to the highway while restricting the access ramps.
• In 1975, IDAA was passed, allowing children with disabilities to access school.
• Without this support, access to care for people like me disappears.

Bills: HF2434

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding

Transcript Highlights:

• Today I'm going to be giving an update on our ACCESS, C-WIST, and BASIN's modernization project.
• I'll start with ACCESS.
• As a program overview, the ACCESS system is the department's integrated eligibility processing system
• So is there going to be funding for the CBCs to have access to that CWA system?
• , so that would give us two years left on ACCESS.

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs received a Department of Children and Families update from CIO Cole Sousa on three major technology modernization efforts: ACCESS, CWIS, and FASMS. For ACCESS, he described the six-year, $205 million project to replace the aging eligibility system used for SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid applications, noting completed releases such as the MyACCESS portal, document management, partner portal, workload management, and client registration modules. He said the system now supports mobile applications, multi-factor authentication, and bot detection, and that the next budget request is $36.625 million to continue moving workers off the mainframe, modernize notices, and complete more worker-portal functions. Members asked about performance data, interoperability with other systems, and the relationship to the FX project and APD; Sousa said API-based real-time exchanges are the goal and that current average case processing time is about 30 days, though he would provide a more exact figure later. The committee then heard about CWIS, a four-year, $75 million child welfare modernization project. Sousa said phase one is complete, including hotline intake, investigations, mandatory reporter, youth, parent, and mobile portals, along with mobile field tools, e-signatures, and customizable dashboards. Current work is focused on case management, assessment and safety planning, licensure, and placement modules, with collaboration from community-based care providers through advisory sessions. For the next fiscal year, DCF is requesting $28 million and expects to finish development by summer and launch in September, while continuing change management and training. Senators pressed on interoperability with ACCESS, FX, and FASMS, the use of a single unique identifier, and whether CBCs would be required to use the statewide system; Sousa said the department’s goal is one statewide system, with licensing costs absorbed by the state and no plan for dual systems after go-live. Finally, Sousa gave a brief update on FASMS, the financial and services accountability system used by managing entities. He said it remains in maintenance mode while DCF prioritizes ACCESS and CWIS, and that modernization of FASMS is still being planned with partner agencies. He estimated current maintenance costs at about $1.3 million and suggested a future modernization could cost roughly $5 million to $7 million, though no firm timeline has been set. The committee expressed support for using data and interoperable systems to improve decision-making, and the meeting adjourned without any votes or formal actions beyond adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• independent repair providers to access independent repair providers to access as<00:04:34.240>
• businesses should be able to just access businesses should be able to just access the<00:09:22.720
• <00:09:34.720> Um, access to that anymore. Um, access to that anymore.
• access to your own own device. access to your own own device. I'm<00:19:46.640> sorry.
• , customer's data was not only accessed, customer's data was not only accessed, but<00:46:25.200>

Bills: SF0052, SF0024

Keywords: wildlife management, environmental restoration, funding, invasive species, aquatic ecosystems, native fish, habitat conservation, lottery, debit card payments, gambling regulations, state revenue, financial transactions, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But they're not all easily accessible.
• And I think that to hear that, that's a but they're not all easily accessible.
• How will that impact equitable access to behavioral health care?
• How do we make sure that kids, all kids, have access equitably to this level of care?
• . ...access those services because of stigma or because of cultural differences.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The hearing focused on youth mental health and treatment access, with the chair framing the issue around California’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), school-based supports, and the need to coordinate education, health, and community systems. The first panel featured PPIC researcher Shalini Mostala, who said teen mental health remains a serious concern but recent California Healthy Kids Survey data show improvement in chronic sadness and suicidal thoughts since the pandemic peak. Youth advocate Ella Cruz described her own struggles, emphasized stigma reduction, peer support, and the importance of youth voices in shaping policy and outreach. Members asked about phone use, cultural stigma, and how to encourage young people to seek help and connect with trusted adults and peers. The second panel, led by CYBHI director Dr. Sohill Sood and DHCS Deputy Director Autumn Boylan, provided implementation updates. Dr. Sood said recent data show more students receiving counseling, lower stigma, and a drop in reported suicidal ideation, while also highlighting growth in certified wellness coaches and the CYBHI fee schedule. He said the program has generated more than 230,000 claims and over $11 million in new revenue for participating entities, though implementation is still early and technical assistance remains important. Fresno County’s Trina Frazier described a multi-tiered system of care with wellness centers, mobile therapy units, and strong outcomes in attendance, suspensions, and academic performance, while Rachel Kroberniski of the James Morehouse Project described a long-running school wellness center and a peer-to-peer model that helps students feel connected and supported. Members pressed witnesses on rural staffing, billing coordination, higher education participation, and how to sustain services after one-time grants expire. In the final panel, WestEd’s Lisa Eisenberg discussed what makes the fee schedule work best, saying schools are most successful when they build on existing staff, relationships with health plans, and data-sharing agreements rather than creating entirely new systems. Across the hearing, witnesses and members repeatedly returned to themes of flexibility, sustainability, youth-led and peer-based supports, and the need to reduce stigma while improving coordination across schools, counties, providers, and colleges. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:27.200> to uh their employment without access to uh their employment without access
• <00:09:05.080> So, work if they didn't have access. So, work if they didn't have access.
• of their lives that they need access to. of their lives that they need access to.
• don't have access to rural transit?
• <00:15:47.160> to to make sure folks there have access to to make sure folks there have access

Keywords: 1187, senate, all