Video & Transcript : 'licensure board' :
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UT
Utah 2025 Regular Session
Business and Labor Interim Committee - November 19, 2025
Business and Labor Interim Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- In instances where we do not license or do not have a board, DOPL functions as the board because they're
- the certification, if we keep the name licensure but require that in order to get the licensure they
- It's a unanimous bill and it goes to the board first day.
- or how the licensure works.
- I'm the chair of the State Fire Prevention Board. Thank you.
Committee:
Joint Business and Labor Interim Committee
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- relates to dentistry, amending Section 54-907, Idaho Code, to revise provisions regarding the State Board
- ; repealing Section 54-912, Idaho Code, relating to the powers and duties of the Board of Dentistry;
- , provide for fees, provide for suspension or revocation of licensure, provide for a stay of eligibility
- , provide for fees, provide for suspension or revocation of licensure, provide for a stay of eligibility
- , to provide for fees, to provide for the suspension of revocation of licensure, to provide for a stay
AR
Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session
EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE AND HOUSE Jun 1st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
- Districts had larger percentages of board-certified teachers than charters.
- Next, we'll move into alternative programs, or alternative pathways to licensure.
- That's what should be without licensure exceptions.
- Or has a standard license but is teaching outside their area of standard licensure.
Summary:
The committee first approved the May 18 meeting minutes and then received a Legislative Audit presentation summarizing Arkansas Department of Education grant distributions for fiscal year 2025. Auditors said the department distributed about $4.6 billion in grants overall, including $3.2 billion from the Public School Fund, $1.1 billion in federal funds, and $268 million from other state and miscellaneous sources, across 56 Public School Fund programs, 14 other state programs, and 29 federal programs. Members asked about specific recipients and programs, including ClassWallet, master principal bonuses, Economics Arkansas, and CDC surveillance funding; audit staff and Department of Education representatives explained that the report was only a distribution summary and not a recipient-level audit. Members also questioned why many districts showed lower funding, and staff said the decline was largely due to reduced federal and one-time COVID-related funds. Senators and representatives also discussed whether some incentive programs, such as master principal and national board bonuses, were tied to student outcomes, and whether Economics Arkansas was the sole entity named in special language for financial literacy funding; department staff said they would follow up on several details.
The committee then heard a Bureau of Legislative Research presentation on consumer price index projections from Moody’s Analytics and S&P Global, with discussion of CPI-U and core CPI estimates for future fiscal years. Dr. Carlos Silva explained that the forecasts generally trend toward about 2 percent over time and that recent projections may have understated actual inflation because of recent shocks. Members asked about the accuracy of past projections, and he said he would provide more detail later if needed.
The bulk of the meeting focused on the final adequacy report on teacher recruitment, retention, and salaries. BLR staff reported that Arkansas had about 32,800 teachers and 473,000 students in 2025, with a statewide student-to-teacher ratio of about 14 to 1, average teaching experience of 11.9 years, and a slight increase in National Board Certified teachers. The report found that districts with higher poverty and minority concentrations generally had less experienced teachers, and that teacher shortages remained widespread, especially in special education, math, science, and foreign language. Members asked about licensure exceptions, alternative preparation pathways, incentives for ESL and special education endorsements, and the cost and return on investment of traditional versus alternative routes. Staff said some licensure exceptions are being phased out under Act 304 of 2025 and that they would follow up on several requested details.
The report also found that teacher retention averaged 87 percent statewide in 2025, with districts retaining teachers at higher rates than charters, and that 30 percent of surveyed teachers were considering leaving the profession. Principals and teachers identified school leadership as the strongest positive factor in recruitment and retention, while workload and salary were the strongest negative factors. On salaries, BLR reported a statewide average teacher salary of $60,254 in 2025, with districts averaging $60,458 and charters $55,724. Arkansas ranked 45th nationally on average teacher salary in 2025, though its cost-adjusted ranking improved to 36th; among SREB states it ranked 12th, and among neighboring states it ranked fourth. Members asked about starting salaries, salary compression, district step increases, and whether the report should be shared more broadly with educators and school leaders. Staff said they would provide follow-up information on several questions, and the committee took no formal action beyond receiving the presentations and asking for additional data.
AR
Arkansas 2026 Regular Session
EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE AND HOUSE Jun 1st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- "And the National Board Certified, I understand, I love incentives. I love merit pay.
- And then second, our National Board Certified Teachers.
- Districts had larger percentages of board-certified teachers than charters.
- Next, we'll move into alternative programs, or alternative pathways to licensure.
- And that's what should be without licensure exceptions.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII Feb 25th, 2025
Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII
Transcript Highlights:
- Yes. the board.
- And that's why you see the different levels of licensure a major initiative that the board Over the past
- By moving to a single and common level of licensure, the board hoped to create additional transparency
- Later on that, the expansion of the interstate medical licensure compact where the board is not only
- I can say as a physician practicing in San Antonio. with the Texas Medical Board is during the licensure
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- Karen Carson, Chair of the New Mexico Medical Board. Mr.
- As you know, the New Mexico Medical Board endorses joining the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact.
- No, I'm sorry, the EMT is like the nursing board.
- So it's a good, you know, members of the board.
- We have two vacancies on the board right now. Yeah.
Committee:
Senate Senate Judiciary
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (6-18-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- So we know through the licensure boards who is licensed, but we don't know who is actually practicing
- And so what this bill does is simply allows various professional licensure boards to collect data about
- So we know through the licensure boards who is licensed, but we don't know who is actually practicing
- We know through the licensure boards who is licensed, but we don't know who is actually practicing and
- We know through the licensure boards who is licensed, but we don't know who is actually practicing and
Summary:
The committee first heard a presentation from Northern Kentucky building industry representatives Brian Miller and Matt Mains on housing affordability and construction workforce issues. They argued that regulatory and code requirements add significant cost to new homes, citing an estimate of nearly $94,000 per home nationally and $15,000 to $20,000 per home in Boone County over the past decade. They recommended reforms to building code adoption, architectural design mandates, permit fees and delays, and setback/land dedication rules, saying these changes could reduce costs by $25,000 to $35,000 per home without affecting public safety. They also discussed workforce training efforts through the Enzwe Building Institute, dual-credit programs, apprenticeship incentives, and workforce grants, saying these efforts have helped hold wage growth below regional trends and improve housing affordability.
Committee members asked about the breakdown of regulatory costs, the effect of energy codes, and ways to speed up permitting. The presenters said the costs were roughly split among federal, state, and local requirements, with local regulations adding about $25,000 to $35,000 and some energy-code changes adding about $19,000 per home. They said faster plan review, coordination with the Kentucky Division of Water, and addressing municipal staffing shortages could cut 30 to 45 days from approvals. Members also discussed the difficulty of building starter homes under about $350,000 and the need for more missing-middle housing, with the presenters saying such homes are hard to produce without sacrificing quality.
The committee then took up Representative Kim Moer and Dr. Dale Bertram’s discussion of marriage and family therapist licensing and healthcare workforce data reporting. They explained that the bill would allow Kentucky to recognize out-of-state marriage and family therapists who meet licensure requirements, have no disciplinary history, and have passed the national exam, in order to reduce barriers and address provider shortages, especially in rural areas. They also described a separate workforce data reporting section that would require licensure boards to collect consistent information on where licensees practice and whether they are actively seeing patients, including through telehealth, so the state can better understand its healthcare workforce. Members supported the portability idea, noted that some qualified applicants are currently working in Indiana instead of Kentucky, and asked whether the data collection could be handled administratively; the sponsors said the bill would create consistency across boards. The committee also briefly discussed occupational board updates and the need for stronger communication between legislators and licensing boards, including architecture licensure issues and efforts to recruit more professionals.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Health Policy Feb 4th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- FOR ADVANCED BIRTH CENTERS WE HAD TO ADD THAT TO THE LICENSURE SYSTEM.
- THE TECHNICAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THE NEW LICENSURE PATHWAY.
- THE INTERSTATE MEDICAL LICENSURE COMPACT HAS TAKEN OFF.
- ON THE TOP OF LICENSURE, THESE ARE TWO TOPICS.
- NOVEMBER THE DEPARTMENT ISSUED 22 TO THE BOARD.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee Jan 12th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- This ensures that every aspect of the licensure process is captured.
- licensing by allowing partial payment recovery in instances of licensure lapse.
- We do not do retroactive licensure. We do not give five months of notice.
- And then as far as enforcement, the board still has the right to enforce.
- They're out of licensure beyond the recovery period for 30 days.
Summary:
The Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee heard three bills. SB 849 by Senator Weber Pearson would tighten restrictions on physicians and surgeons who committed specified sexual misconduct against patients by barring license renewal petitions, requiring automatic revocation in certain reinstatement cases, and making the changes retroactive to 2020. Support came from the California Medical Association and the American College of OBGYN; there was no opposition in the room. Members praised the bill as closing a loophole and protecting patients, and it passed 8-0 to the Appropriations Committee, placed on call for absent members.
SB 96 by Senator Umberg would extend California’s ad volume rules to streaming services, podcasts, and similar content so advertisements cannot be louder than surrounding programming. The author said the bill was prompted by a child being awakened by loud streaming ads and was intended to mirror the federal CALM Act’s approach for television. There was no support or opposition testimony in the room. The committee discussed how the rule might work across platforms and states, then passed the bill 9-0 to Appropriations, also on call.
SB 342 by Senator Umberg, the Contractors Licensure Fairness Act, would allow contractors to recover payment for work performed while licensed even if their license lapsed during part of a project, while still denying payment for unlicensed days and preserving penalties for starting work without a license. Supporters included the California Conference of Carpenters, State Building and Construction Trades, and several contractor associations. Committee members raised concerns about consumer protections, burden of proof, and whether the bill could create loopholes, but the author and staff said existing enforcement would remain and the bill would only limit forfeiture to the period of unlicensure. The bill passed 9-0 to Judiciary. At the end of the hearing, the chair announced all three bills were out of committee and thanked staff for their work.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Health & Long-Term Care Feb 20th, 2026 at 08:00 am
Health & Long-Term Care
Transcript Highlights:
- That was the music therapy licensure bill. This is just a trailer bill to that...
- That was the music therapy licensure bill.
- It allows employment while certification and licensure are still finalized.
- that licensure.
- applicants to submit nursing program transcripts to the board.
Committee:
Senate Health & Long-Term Care
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Postsecondary Education & Workforce Jan 21st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- I am a Policy Associate with the Workforce Board.
- I am Policy Associate with the Workforce Board.
- We now have 31 jurisdictions who have passed compact licensure.
- And the core part of the Constitution,... ...past compact licensure.
- As a member of the WIA board, we're very concerned about that.
Summary:
The committee held its first meeting and heard four bills. HB 2286 would create an alternative route to social worker licensure by removing the exam requirement for advanced social workers and allowing enhanced supervision with supervisor attestation in place of the exam for independent clinical social workers. The sponsor and several social workers testified that the exam is a poor measure of clinical competence and can be a barrier to licensure, while opponents warned that removing the exam could affect public protection and Washington’s participation in the social work compact. Members asked follow-up questions about the compact, the exam format, and accreditation requirements, but no action was taken.
HB 2363 would allow music therapy license applicants to practice under supervision for up to six months while waiting for exam verification. The sponsor described it as a technical fix to the new licensure system, and testimony from music therapists, educators, and a patient supported the bill as a way to avoid delays in hiring newly trained therapists while maintaining supervision and patient safety. The bill drew strong support in written testimony and no opposition in the hearing.
HB 2324 would change tuition waiver rules for children of eligible veterans and National Guard members by giving eligible children eight years from the date of a parent’s disability determination to use the waiver when that determination occurs after the child turns 18. The sponsor said the bill is meant to align state law with federal dependency education benefits and prevent families from losing access because disability determinations can take years. The committee asked for clarification on how the new timing would work, and the hearing closed without a vote.
HB 2098 would eliminate the cap on the advanced computing surcharge, expand Washington College Grant eligibility up to 100% of state median family income, and reduce resident undergraduate tuition by 10% for three years starting in 2027-28. Supporters, including students, labor, and advocacy groups, said the bill would improve affordability and access to higher education by asking large tech companies to pay more. Opponents from business and university groups argued the surcharge would be economically harmful, that the state already has substantial WEA funding, and that the bill would reduce tuition revenue without adequately backfilling institutional budgets. The committee heard extensive testimony and members raised questions about the surcharge cap, WEA spending, and the compacted funding structure, but no final action was taken.
AR
Arkansas 2026 Regular Session
EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE AND HOUSE Jun 1st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
- Districts had larger percentages of board certified teachers than charters.
- Next we'll move into alternative programs, or alternative pathways, to licensure.
- And that's what should be without licensure exceptions.
- I have a question, several questions, as far as the teacher licensure plans.
Summary:
The committee first approved the May 18 meeting minutes and then received a presentation from Legislative Audit on Arkansas Department of Education grant distributions. Auditors explained that the fiscal year 2025 report summarizes $4.6 billion in grants from state, federal, and miscellaneous sources, across school districts, charter schools, education cooperatives, and other entities, and that the report only shows amounts distributed, not how recipients ultimately used the money. Members asked about specific recipients and programs, including ClassWallet, Economics Arkansas, and CDC surveillance funding; department staff clarified that the Economics Arkansas grant is written into special language and that the CDC-related funding supports student surveys used by state agencies. Questions also focused on bonus and incentive programs such as master principal and National Board Certified teacher bonuses, with department staff saying the bonuses are generally tied to completion of the program or certification rather than classroom performance, though they would follow up on details.
The committee then heard a Bureau of Legislative Research update on Consumer Price Index projections from Moody’s Analytics and S&P Global. Dr. Carlos Silva explained the difference between CPI-U and core CPI and said the estimates show inflation slowing over the forecast period, with some near-term variation between the two data providers. Members asked about the historical accuracy of prior projections, and he said the forecasts generally tend to move toward about 2 percent over time, though recent shocks have caused earlier estimates to understate actual inflation.
The bulk of the meeting was devoted to the final adequacy report on teacher recruitment, retention, and salaries. BLR staff reviewed Arkansas teacher demographics, shortage areas, educator preparation pipelines, licensure exceptions, survey results from teachers and principals, and teacher support programs. They reported that Arkansas had about 32,800 teachers and 473,000 students in 2025, with an average of 11.9 years of experience and a slight increase in National Board Certified teachers. The report found shortages in multiple subject areas, especially special education, math, science, foreign language, and social studies, and identified 65 districts as high-need geographically. Survey results showed school leadership as the strongest positive factor in recruitment and retention, while workload and salary were the biggest negatives; 30 percent of responding teachers said they were considering leaving the profession. The committee also reviewed teacher salary data showing a statewide average salary of $60,254 in 2025, Arkansas ranking 45th nationally by NEA methodology, and a long-term inflation-adjusted decline in district salaries, though LEARNS Act increases improved the trend. Members asked for additional follow-up information on survey methodology, alternative licensure costs, coursework, incentives for ESL and special education endorsements, exit data, and how salary comparisons are calculated.
AR
Arkansas 2026 Regular Session
ALC-OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE Mar 19th, 2026
ALC-OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE
Transcript Highlights:
- Our authority includes full licensure and what is referred to as limited-scope licensure.
- Limited-scope licensure is licensure for specific areas of the body that do not necessarily require a
- There are certain exceptions for licensure in the statute.
- Lindsay Kinsey, Health Board Director of the Physical Therapy Board.
- Our board licenses physical therapists and physical therapy assistants.
Summary:
The committee met and first recognized a visiting student cohort from Arkansas State University’s Medical Laboratory and Radiation Sciences program. It then suspended the rules and approved a supplemental report, which was reviewed without objection.
Members reviewed the Arkansas Fire Protection and Licensing Board’s occupational report. Department of Labor and Licensing counsel Lacey Kirchner answered questions and confirmed there were no fee increases. The report was then accepted as reviewed.
The committee next heard from the Arkansas Department of Health’s Radiation Control Section. Officials Craig Smith, Charles Thompson, and Shane David explained the radiologic technologist licensing program, including full and limited-scope licensure, unchanged fees since 1999, and a current deficit covered through cost allocation from other programs. They also noted compliance with automatic licensure provisions for service members and said apprenticeship provisions already exist in the rules if such programs become available. The report was accepted as reviewed.
Finally, the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy presented its report. Staff described the board’s structure, licensing and complaint functions, compact participation, and growth in licensees. Members asked about the board’s $200,000 scholarship program, which provides awards to 10 recipients per year, and about low fees and a $1.1 million balance. Officials said recent fee reductions and the scholarship program are intended to return funds to licensees. The report was also accepted as reviewed, and the committee moved to other business.
AR
Arkansas 2026 Regular Session
ALC-OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE Mar 19th, 2026
ALC-OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE
Transcript Highlights:
- Our authority regard includes full licensure and what is referred to as limited scope licensure.
- And limited scope licensure is licensure for specific areas of the body that do not necessarily require
- There are certain exceptions for licensure in the statute.
- Lindsay Kinsey, Health Board Director of the Physical Therapy Board.
- Our board licenses physical therapists and physical therapy assistants.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Courts, Corrections and Justice Nov 7th, 2025
Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- And we're going to move on to access to medical licensure. Medical licensure is the topic.
- , where a board can have a reciprocity agreement.
- And territory is automatically approved for expedited licensure unless the board takes action to adopt
- Licensure, not practice.
- Everybody on the board, everybody that's staffing the Board, we all live here and we all see healthcare
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
February 19, 2025 - 09:30 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- That have been terminated by the board over the last five years.
- There are two types: pre-licensure PN, or practical nursing, and pre-licensure RN, registered nursing
- I would like to defer to the Board of Nursing and my Department of Health colleagues because that licensure
- I have post-licensure RN-to-BSN.
- Accreditation, licensure—I represent the for-profit sector.
Summary:
The subcommittee met to examine Florida’s nursing education pipeline and the state’s persistently low NCLEX passage rates. Chair Tuck opened by noting the projected nurse shortage and Florida’s ranking near the bottom nationally for first-time NCLEX pass rates. The Department of Health explained the Board of Nursing’s approval process for nursing programs, including application requirements, probation standards, and termination for programs that repeatedly fail passage-rate benchmarks. The Florida Center for Nursing then presented statewide data showing Florida has more test takers than most states, but still trails the national average; the gap has narrowed in recent years, though Florida remains below average. Members focused heavily on why the state continues to underperform, with discussion of faculty shortages, clinical placement constraints, accreditation, student preparedness, and the large share of newer private for-profit programs among those placed on probation.
Committee members asked about how probation works, what happens when programs improve, and whether the board requires corrective plans. They also questioned the relationship between program type and outcomes, the effect of Operation Nightingale, and how many students fail and retest. The Florida Center for Nursing said first-attempt pass rates are the standard measure and that students who fail are expected to remediate and retest, though costs vary. The center also said Florida’s data shows accredited programs outperform approved or probationary ones, and that the state’s nursing workforce challenges are tied to broader issues such as faculty vacancies, clinical site competition, and student demographics, including many students balancing work, family, and language barriers.
A panel of nursing school leaders from public, private nonprofit, and private for-profit institutions then described strategies used to improve outcomes. These included transparent recruitment, early orientation, tutoring, success coaching, stronger faculty development, curriculum mapping to NCLEX standards, higher course benchmarks, mandatory remediation, simulation labs, and commercial NCLEX prep tools such as ATI, Kaplan, and HESI. Several panelists said their programs had improved after probation or had very high passage rates, and they emphasized that student success depends on academic preparation, clinical experience, and support services. Members also asked about tuition, program length, translation into other languages, and faculty recruitment; panelists said costs vary widely, faculty hiring is difficult because hospitals pay more, and some schools are considering medical Spanish and immersion options rather than full curriculum translation.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee Jan 12th, 2026
Business, Professions and Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- This ensures that every aspect of the licensure process is captured.
- We do not do retroactive licensure. We do not give five months of... ...do retroactive licensure.
- Happy to take comments from the board. So I saw... ...those are my concerns.
- And then as far as enforcement, the board still has the right to enforce.
- They're out of licensure beyond the recovery period for 30 days.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- I am a board member of the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board. otherwise known as PELSB
- programs. 800 teacher licensure programs.
- It also supports essential pathways to licensure, such as licensure via portfolio and the Heritage Language
- In addition to being a PELSB Board member, I am also a teacher who obtained professional licensure through
- To support all licensure via portfolio in Minnesota.
Committee:
House Education Finance
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- board meetings and board licensed at the board meetings and board meetings<00:18:37.120><c> a</c><00
- </c> to the Board of Optometry. to the Board of Optometry.
- Board. Board.
- </c> Board.
- GM752, Olivia Uchima to the Board Board.
Committee:
Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection
Summary:
The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee heard and considered a series of gubernatorial nominations to boards and commissions. Early nominees included Falleno Vital for the Boxing Commission, Rebecca Moore for the Board of Nursing, and Alexander Smith and Zachary Johnson for the Board of Public Accountancy. DCCA and board representatives testified in support of each, and the nominees who were present briefly described their qualifications and willingness to serve. The chair noted the unusually large volume of written testimony in support of the boxing nominee and emphasized that these are voluntary positions and nominees had already been vetted through questionnaires and resumes.
The committee then heard several nominations to the Hawaii Board of Optometry, the Motor Vehicle Repair Industry Board, and the Hawaii Medical Board. Ashley Porter and Katherine Mao spoke in support of their optometry nominations, Nathan Konishi supported his motor vehicle repair board nomination, and Gary Belchure discussed his reappointment to the medical board. A substantial portion of the discussion on the medical board focused on physician shortages, especially on the neighbor islands, and efforts to address them through the Interstate Medical Compact and pending legislation such as SB 1365. Board staff also discussed possible pathways for foreign medical graduates and the need for criminal background checks to fully participate in the compact.
The latter part of the hearing shifted to real estate commission nominations, including Audrey Abbe and Denise Lacosta. Testimony and member questions focused heavily on condominium governance, deferred maintenance, reserve studies, insurance costs, and the need for better education and oversight of volunteer board members and property managers. Both nominees said older buildings, rising insurance premiums, and lack of expertise among volunteer boards are major challenges, and they suggested more training, clearer guidance, stronger enforcement against unlicensed property management, and better access to qualified consultants and financing. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee heard testimony and moved through the agenda nominee by nominee.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
January 14, 2025 - 03:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- Lastly, the Board of Governors is established by the Constitution as a 17-member board whose function
- The CIE grants three different types of licensure: provisional licensure, annual licensure, or licensure
- A provisional licensure is your first level of licensure that you can obtain as an applicant in the state
- Annual licensure is your second level of licensure.
- The last level of licensure is licensure by means of accreditation.
Summary:
The Higher Education Budget Subcommittee met for an introductory overview of the higher education programs under its jurisdiction. After roll call and member introductions, Chair Busatta outlined that the subcommittee oversees programs in the Department of Education and the State University System, including vocational rehabilitation, blind services, private postsecondary licensure, student financial aid, career and adult education, the Florida College System, and the Board of Governors. The chair and staff also noted that these areas represent roughly $9 billion in current-year funding.
Officials from the Department of Education presented on several programs. Vocational Rehabilitation Director Kelly Rogers described services for adults and youth with disabilities, including pre-employment transition services, job coaching, assistive technology, and employer support; she said the program served more than 55,000 people last year, has no wait list, and reported a return of $7.61 to the economy for every $1 invested. Division of Blind Services Director Robert Doyle explained services from birth through older adulthood, including early intervention, school-age support, vocational rehabilitation, independent living, the Business Enterprise Program for blind vendors, and the Braille and Talking Book Library; he said the division serves about 12,000 people annually and also has no wait list, though some community rehab providers may have one. Tiffany Hurst of the Commission for Independent Education described licensure and consumer protection for independent postsecondary institutions, reporting oversight of about 1,100 institutions and 721 non-degree schools, along with enforcement actions against unlicensed operators.
Sean Haskin of Student Financial Assistance reviewed 22 scholarship and grant programs totaling about $1 billion for more than 200,000 students, including Bright Futures, Benacquisto, need-based grants, EASE, EASE Plus, veterans’ scholarships, dual enrollment reimbursement, first responder scholarships, and the Ocoee and Rosewood scholarships. Members asked about surplus funds, marketing, Bright Futures eligibility requirements, and whether EASE awards had changed; Haskin said any unused funds are reverted to the Legislature, that the department markets through schools and the Florida Lottery, and that EASE remained at $3,500 per FTE for the last two fiscal years. Several members raised concerns that students and parents may not learn about aid programs early enough, especially in economically disadvantaged communities.
Chancellor Kevin O’Farrell then presented on Career and Adult Education, highlighting record participation in career and technical education, adult education, and apprenticeship. He said about 800,000 secondary students and 480,000 postsecondary students are in CTE, adult education serves about 183,000 learners, and apprenticeship/pre-apprenticeship programs include more than 22,000 participants. He also described the workforce development fund, Perkins, WIOA Title II, the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant, workforce capitalization grants, CAPE performance funding, and the Pipeline nursing initiative, noting strong NCLEX outcomes and expanded outreach through the Get There, Your Way, Future of Work Florida, and Zello platforms. Kathy Hebda began the Florida College System presentation by emphasizing open access, workforce preparation, statewide reach, and strong enrollment and completion growth, including more than 672,000 students, over 131,000 degrees and certificates, and significant dual enrollment savings for students and families.