Transcript Highlights:

• Uh Randy Geese, Inspector General, DCYF. DCYF. DCYF.
• I know that criminal investigation unit has moved out of DCYF.
• DCYF. DCYF.
• Some of those team members may have transferred over to DCYF.
• Some of those team members may have transferred over to DCYF.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• DCYF DCYF U<00:14:29.920> collaboration<00:14:30.720> and<00:14:31.120> find<00
• inspector general at DCYF. inspector general at DCYF.
• > with<00:38:16.640> our DCYF also meets regularly with our DCYF also meets regularly with
• process and DCYF continued the outreach. process and DCYF continued the outreach.
• This current draft from DCYF is much improved from the first two.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a budget overview for DCYF.
• This is a budget overview for DCYF.
• This is a budget overview for DCYF.
• So DCYF is tasked with Sure.
• So not department of from DCYF.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This slide shows the breakdown of DCYF claims.
• It looks like DCYF is most of this.
• It looks like DCYF is most of this.
• It looks like DCYF is most of this.
• Sad to see DCYF up there. I do have a question, though.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held a work session covering the state revenue outlook, caseload forecasts, wildfire costs, budget balance, tort liability, water supply, and pension policy. The Economic and Revenue Forecast Council reported modest near-term U.S. growth, no near-term Washington employment growth in 2026, continued personal income growth, and elevated inflation, with tariffs and federal policy cited as major risks. Revenue forecasts were slightly improved for the current biennium by about $105 million but down about $185 million for the next biennium. Members asked about income inequality and housing permits; staff said personal income is an aggregate measure and housing production remains below long-term needs. The Caseload Forecast Council then reported that most forecasts were unchanged or only slightly changed, but several programs increased, including Washington College Grant, Working Connections, aged/blind/disabled cash grants, nursing homes, home and community services, and developmental disabilities personal care. The largest policy-driven change was in Medicaid low-income adult caseloads, where federal H.R. 1 was projected to reduce coverage substantially through narrower eligibility, community engagement requirements, and shorter eligibility periods. The committee also heard a wildfire funding update and a 2025 fire season review. Staff explained that the state budgets $93 million annually for suppression and uses supplemental appropriations for costs above that level, with an estimated state supplemental need of about $139 million for the current year. Department of Natural Resources officials said 2025 fire activity remained below the 10-year average in acres burned, but fires were more complex and closer to communities, contributing to higher residence loss. They described expanded use of aircraft, firefighters from other states, corrections crews, and the Arcadia 20 hand crew, and said the state did not need National Guard ground support this year. A budget preview then showed that the near general fund outlook had worsened after vetoes, lapses, and forecast changes, and that maintenance-level costs alone would leave a projected negative balance by fiscal year 2027 and about $4.3 billion by fiscal year 2029, before any policy decisions. Jason Seams, the state risk manager, reported a sharp rise in tort claim costs, with indemnity expenses nearly doubling from fiscal year 2023 to 2025 and DCYF accounting for most of the increase. He said the state self-insurance liability account has run deficits for four straight biennia and is now facing nearly $600 million in deficits, driven largely by a surge in DCYF claims, especially juvenile rehabilitation and long-running sex abuse cases. Members asked about the role of old claims, comparisons with other states, excess insurance, and whether more Attorney General staff could reduce special assistant attorney general costs. The committee then shifted to water policy, hearing from tribal leaders, Ecology, and the Washington Water Trust. Tribal witnesses emphasized overappropriation, declining flows, climate impacts, and the need for legislative oversight and tribal participation in water policy. Ecology described major projects in the Odessa sub-area, Yakima Basin, and Dungeness, along with the need for storage, recharge, conservation, and policy changes to support water supply development. The Washington Water Trust argued that climate change is reducing summer flows and that the state needs more funding, enforcement, and long-term commitment to restore instream flows. The final item was a pension update on LEOFF 1 surplus assets; staff reviewed two 2025 bills that would have merged or restructured the plan and used surplus assets, but neither passed, and instead the budget directed the Select Committee on Pension Policy to study the issue and report back.

Transcript Highlights:

• George, who just prior to joining DCYF served as the legal and policy counsel for the Mille Lacs Band
• George, who just prior to joining DCYF served as the legal and policy counsel for the Mille Lacs Band
• George, who just prior to joining DCYF served as the legal and policy counsel for the Mille Lacs Band
• DCYF leadership maintains spending and priorities.
• When all programs have fully transitioned, DCYF will have about 900 to 1,000 FTE.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• , being on the special committee on DCYF, being on the special committee on DCYF, um,<00:41:41.599
• DCYF, thank you, is they could choose not to attend.
• DCYF, thank you, is they could choose not to attend.
• DCYF, thank you, is they could choose not to attend.
• Um, adding DCYF in for the olive branch.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up several Senate messages on House bills. It recommended non-concurrence and a committee conference on HB 428 after Representative Pearson raised a constitutional concern about a retroactive provision in the building code bill. It also recommended non-concurrence on HB 156, which had been rewritten by the Senate to create a permanent subcommittee related to food/procurement; members said they did not want to create a permanent subcommittee and preferred to let the issue return next year if needed. On HB 85, concerning temporary student licenses for respiratory therapists, the committee concurred with a Senate rewrite that added restrictions but preserved the bill’s main purpose. On HB 82, a cleanup bill for occupational licensing, the committee concurred with a Senate amendment explicitly allowing the electricians board to create subcommittees, with members noting they did not think the authority was necessary but that it would not do harm. The committee then considered SB 178 on laboratory water testing. Representative Leyon offered amendment 2025-1743H to clarify how fees would be deposited and to direct a portion of certain fees and grants into a non-lapsing lab equipment and replacement fund rather than the general fund. Members said the amendment made the bill’s fiscal flow easier to understand. The amendment passed unanimously, and the committee then voted ought to pass as amended on SB 178, also unanimously, and placed it on consent. For SB 180, dealing with Coos County distressed-area designation, the committee adopted amendment 1748H to remove a provision requiring commissioners to give extra consideration to Coos County and to add a 20-year sunset on the designation. The amendment passed 14-2, and the committee then voted ought to pass as amended 15-1; Representative Schmidt said he would file a minority report because he viewed the provision as unenforceable rather than objectionable. The committee also voted to retain SB 185, which concerned OPLC-related issues, so the agency could continue working on a policy and report back later; that motion passed 16-0. Finally, the committee voted inexpedient to legislate on SB 198, establishing New Hampshire Service Dog Week, after debate over whether the recognition should be statutory or left to a gubernatorial proclamation. Supporters argued the bill would raise awareness and help promote service dogs, while opponents said the effort could continue without a statute and that special-day statutes often lose attention once enacted. The committee also voted inexpedient to legislate on SB 182 after extensive discussion of proposed changes to the maternal mortality review process. Opponents argued the bill would broaden access to personally identifiable information, change panel structure, and affect data comparability; supporters said it was a housekeeping update requested by DHS that would add DCYF and Corrections and improve review of maternal deaths. The ITL motion passed 10-6, and Representative Long said he would file a minority report and explain the committee’s reasoning to the bill’s sponsor.

Transcript Highlights:

• , of the budget away from DCYF, of the budget away from DCYF, uh<00:09:40.160> we'll<00:09
• commissioner<00:14:53.839> to This allows the DCYF commissioner to This allows the DCYF commissioner
• from um a section that belongs to DCYF from um a section that belongs to DCYF to<00:21:03.760>
• This is the DCYF licensing and six.
• The DCYF staff worked diligently to craft policy proposals.

Bills: HF2436

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• determined by DCYF. determined by DCYF.
• Uh<00:18:11.960> DCYF Uh DCYF Uh DCYF um<00:18:13.600> must<00:18:13.800> establish<
• You could Shana Morris from DCYF.
• <01:40:20.520> um Um, but uh no, this is a DCYF um Um, but uh no, this is a DCYF um bill.<
• <01:41:11.880> covering legislative director of DCYF covering legislative director of DCYF

Bills: HF2136, HF4195, HF4548, HF4432, HF4174, HF3024, HF4389, HF3773

Keywords: youth intervention, grants, community support, early intervention services, nonprofit, Minnesota human services, forecast adjustment, budget forecast, appropriations, Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, Health Care Access Fund, general fund, behavioral health, housing support, General Assistance, Minnesota Supplemental Aid, MFIP, DWP, child care assistance

Transcript Highlights:

• Berg to talk about the DCYF to Mr. Berg to talk about the DCYF changes<00:13:25.360> track.
• increased capacity in the DCYF increased capacity in the DCYF compliance<00:14:48.920> team.
• It says partial changes for DCYF.
• Um at the end of the sheet out of DCYF.
• These are from the DCYF policy bill.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The mandate included a review of access to the programs and services DCYF offers to young people, how
• 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 is responsible for safety and security of young people and staff at its 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 the new work plan studies, including a drug take-back program fee/expenditure review due in December 2025 and a state energy performance standard compliance review due in June 2027, and noted JLARC’s recent session activity, including several bills passed related to JLARC work and recommendations. The committee then heard a preliminary cannabis market study showing Washington businesses likely produced two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023. Staff and RAND said LCB’s data systems are incomplete and unreliable, limiting regulation, tax verification, and diversion tracking; they recommended that LCB submit a plan by year-end for collecting accurate data by the end of 2026. Members and LCB discussed the long timeline for a new traceability system, the causes of missing sales and weight data, overproduction, diversion, and the social equity program’s effect on producer licenses. JLARC also presented a preliminary hospital oversight report concluding that the Department of Health 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 committee discussed fee funding, language access, and inspection timing, and DOH said it would work on a strategic plan and continue coordinating with JLARC. Members also heard a preliminary report on the public records survivor exemption, which found agencies are using it but need more guidance; JLARC recommended keeping the exemption and having the Attorney General provide additional training. Finally, the committee approved the DDA processes and staffing final report for distribution, which recommended performance metrics, stronger data quality controls, and workforce planning; DDA concurred. JLARC also introduced proposed study questions for a future DCYF juvenile rehabilitation review focused on safety, security, programs, staffing, education, and contraband, and the meeting adjourned after members asked about scope and facility conditions.

Transcript Highlights:

• I might ask if suggestion of DCYF.
• ,<00:58:55.240> specifically Services, now it's DCYF, specifically Services, now it's DCYF
• In court, DCYF recommendation.
• It was about compliance with DCYF.
• <01:12:39.000> represented the DCYF disproportionately represented the DCYF disproportionately

Bills: HF3665, HF3002, HF4217, HF4125, HF4174

Keywords: foster care, early childhood education, child care programs, placement plan, social services, extended foster care, kinship care, relative custody, permanent legal and physical custody, Northstar kinship assistance, independent living plan, transition services, youth aging out of care, medical assistance, Medicaid, child welfare, children youth and families, out-of-home placement, case plan, relative placement

Transcript Highlights:

• rectangle regarding dcyf rectangle regarding dcyf Workforce<00:11:05.680> uh<00:11:05.839
• We want less families being called into DCYF and getting into this deep end of the system.
• We want less families being called into DCYF and getting into this deep end of the system.
• prioritized need relative to dcyf prioritized need relative to dcyf attorneys<02:20:45.319> five
• c> those attorneys five dcyf attorneys but those attorneys five dcyf attorneys but those attorneys

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Division 3 House Finance Committee opened a work session and announced scheduling updates, including a second Medicaid work session on March 5 at 9:00 a.m. and a reminder that recommendations or budget amendments must be moved to the full finance committee by the end of March. Members were told no motions, roll calls, or votes would be taken, and the chair also reviewed upcoming meeting dates and weather-related cancellation procedures. The day’s presentation was a budget work session on the Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), with officials Marie Nunan and Nathan White introducing the agency’s budget materials and mission. DCYF’s presentation focused on its core mandates and recent operational changes. Officials described child protective services, juvenile justice services, and the Sununu Youth Services Center, then highlighted workforce improvements, including reduced vacancy rates for assessment caseworkers, juvenile justice officers, and youth counselors. They attributed the staffing gains to legislative pay raises, mass recruitment posting changes, a more stable and trauma-informed model at SYC, and broader flexibility after prior budget cuts and hiring freezes. Members asked about full-time versus part-time staffing, and DCYF said most positions discussed were full-time, with some harder-to-fill part-time youth counselor roles at SYC. The committee also discussed DCYF’s emphasis on serving families earlier through its Community Navigator hotline referrals and community-based voluntary services, which are intended to connect families to supports before abuse or neglect escalates. Officials said the Community Navigator program had received 807 referrals since August 2023. On juvenile justice, DCYF described its assessment and diversion process and said it had reduced juvenile probation involvement by 30% from 2019 to 2023; members were directed to slide 17 for 2024 data, and officials said the trend continued toward fewer in-home juvenile justice cases. The agency also reported progress in kinship care, saying initial out-of-home placements with kin now occur 74% of the time and that kinship placements are associated with more reunification. Officials said kinship caregivers are being licensed and paid similarly to foster parents, and that the legislature’s kinship law has helped. Finally, DCYF outlined transition-age youth supports, including the HOPE program, Youth Villages LifeSet, and housing vouchers. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have FTE built into many of DCYF.
• Reisnauer said DCYF has a little over 900 FTE.
• Reisnauer replied that DCYF has a little over 900 FTE.
• Reisnauer said DCYF has about a little over 900 FTE.
• <00:55:49.440> programs dedicated study on the DCYF programs dedicated study on the DCYF programs

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Assistant Secretary of Juvenile Rehabilitation, DCYF.
• DCYF, we have passed-through dollars for the block grant. I’ve mentioned that.
• For the record, I'm Nicole Rose, Assistant Secretary of Early Learning at DCYF.
• And DCYF has been really thoughtful about some of the ways that they're approaching it as well.
• DCYF has put together a really comprehensive plan.

Summary: The committee began with a work session on juvenile rehabilitation institution capacity, services, and staffing. DCYF Assistant Secretary Jennifer Redmond described overcrowding at Green Hill School and Echo Glen, driven by longer adult-style sentences extending past age 25, limited community placements, and small facility sizes. She said Green Hill remains above safe operating capacity, but staffing, injuries, large-scale aggression, and use-of-force incidents have improved over the past year. She also discussed Harbor Heights, a new 46-bed flex facility that had opened with 22 youth and would expand once a medical trailer arrives, as well as community transition services, vocational programming, behavior management reforms, and a request for more resources for mental health-focused facilities and staffing. Members asked about success metrics, developmental disability screening and supports, college access at Echo Glen, Mission Creek planning, and gender-responsive programming; Redmond said JR uses assessments, family involvement, and specialized living units, and that some requested funding had already been secured for returning a girls’ program at Echo Glen. The committee then heard from Team Child and the Youth Action Coalition. Greta Schultz said youth perspectives should guide system reforms and identified key concerns: overuse of sentence extensions, underuse of community transition services, continued criminal referrals from Green Hill to Lewis County, limited family contact, inadequate mental health access, and unequal education opportunities, especially for young women at Echo Glen. Justella Gonzalez, a former system-involved youth, said her time in county and state facilities was harmful, with staff mistreatment, poor education, limited therapy access, and humiliating restraint practices; she also said girls at Echo Glen lacked the same college opportunities as boys at Green Hill. Committee members asked for follow-up on county versus state experiences and on telehealth mental health services. The next presentation covered county-level services for youth involved or at risk of involvement with the justice system, led by juvenile court administrators Christine Simon-Smeyer and Judge Rachel Anderson. They outlined the juvenile court continuum from prevention and truancy work through diversion, detention alternatives, community supervision, and disposition alternatives, emphasizing evidence-based, trauma-informed, and restorative practices. Clark County was used as an example of a court that partners closely with schools and community providers, uses risk assessments and wraparound behavioral health probation, and offers detention alternatives without electronic home monitoring. They said most courts do not use detention for status offenses, but instead use court involvement to connect youth to services. They also described funding, noting that courts rely on a mix of state block grant and local dollars, and that recent cuts to early intervention funding reduced programming and staff hours. Members asked about detention for truancy, developmental disability identification, restorative justice practices, and the juvenile block grant. Finally, DCYF Assistant Secretary Nicole Rose and Katie Warren of the Washington State Association of Head Start and ECAP discussed child care and early learning impacts from recent policy and budget changes. Rose said Fair Start for Kids investments had increased child care access, provider participation, and kindergarten readiness, with more than 60,000 children in Working Connections care and rising ECAP enrollment and provider capacity. She said recent reductions will raise most family copays in 2026, delay eligibility expansions, eliminate some expanded eligibility categories, reduce ECAP slots by about 3,000, delay entitlement timelines, and cut provider supports such as rate increases for centers, complex-needs grants, trauma-informed and dual-language incentives, and infant/early childhood mental health consultation. Warren emphasized ECAP’s role in family stability, workforce participation, and reducing poverty, and noted its two-generation approach to supporting both children and parents.

Transcript Highlights:

• I do know DCYF That's all I'm aware of.
• the cost to DCYF is coming from. the cost to DCYF is coming from. Uh<00:15:25.080> Ms.
• Chair, DCYF in the fiscal note Mr.
• Chair, DCYF in the fiscal note has<00:15:31.440> several<00:15:31.760> assumptions.
• ,<00:24:26.920> but<00:24:27.680> um to speak for DCYF, but um to speak for DCYF, but

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The committee discussed a higher education attainment-goals bill and several related amendments. Members first reached agreement on funding changes: one amendment redirected money for fraud-prevention software for MnSCU and $5,000 for trees in Bemidji, and another moved $570,000 for workforce development-related funding. Members noted the use of general fund dollars to cover a FIG shortfall and expressed support for addressing fraud prevention while also saying MnSCU should be made whole in the next biennium. Both amendments were adopted. The main policy debate centered on an amendment updating the statewide attainment goal and related P-20 partnership language. Senator Um Ruebain proposed returning the attainment goal from 75 percent to 70 percent, and members discussed whether the bill’s expanded reporting and coordination duties would create costs for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). Nonpartisan staff and Commissioner Olsen said the Office of Higher Education and the P-20 partnership expected no costs, while DCYF’s fiscal note assumed reporting and staffing costs. After discussion, DCYF indicated it would absorb the costs, but some members still objected to expanding the partnership and creating additional bureaucracy. Members also debated whether early childhood and K-12 subgoals should be included as part of the attainment-goals framework. Supporters said aligning early childhood, K-12, and higher education goals is necessary to improve postsecondary attainment, while opponents argued the committee should focus on existing higher education goals and basic K-12 achievement. The committee ultimately adopted the Senate language on the attainment-goals section as amended, including the change back to 70 percent and revisions directed by staff to ensure the correct references were updated. The A12 amendment on pregnant and parenting students was also adopted earlier in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• uh the rest of our DCYF presentation. uh the rest of our DCYF presentation.
• Um uh but not our oldest system at DCYF.
• think slide 30 in the um DCYF think slide 30 in the um DCYF presentation.<01:36:27.920> Commissioner
• <01:37:51.360> with<01:37:51.520> the DCYF will also be collaborating with the DCYF
• My question is for, I think, DCYF actually.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• DCYF will always seek bill changes that.
• If DCYF has to remove a child from home, it will seek the best placement for that child.
• The bill does nothing to tell DCYF where to place a child.
• tell DCYF where to place<03:24:26.720> a<03:24:26.960> child.
• My question is whether or not DCYF in New Hampshire was involved in your process.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I'm the Assistant Commissioner for DCYF.
• So, first, I'd like to acknowledge DCYF.
• ,<00:58:31.840> or county, whether they go to D DCYF, or county, whether they go to D DCYF
• did pose this question directly to DCYF did pose this question directly to DCYF previously<01:01
• notification for where it requires DCYF notification for where it requires DCYF to<01:15:09.720>

Bills: HF4277, HF3819, HF3489, HF4408, HF3901, HF4316

Keywords: child care, child care center, day care, licensed child care, video security cameras, surveillance, security cameras, maltreatment, child abuse, child safety, public and shared areas, camera mandate, child care assistance program, CCAP, Great Start Compensation Support, early learning scholarships, licensed provider, Minnesota Statutes 142B.68, Harvey's Law, privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• below, while being supervised by a juvenile probation parole officer, otherwise known as a JPO with DCYF
• For the record, I am DCYF general counsel and legislative liaison.
• Marie Nunan, DCYF director. As Senator Long explained, this bill has two parts.
• Marie Nunan, DCYF director. As Senator Long explained, this bill has two parts.
• And so I’m not quite sure I understand the timely permanency argument that DCYF puts forward.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I would hope that the DCYF folks.
• I'm the family child care licensing manager at DCYF.
• Um, childcare licensing manager at DCYF.
• DCYF is amazing. Best agency in the state. I'll just say it.
• DCYF is information and a great contact.

Keywords: 1183, house