Transcript Highlights:

• A licensed independent clinical social worker may complete enhanced supervision with an attestation to
• This bill also preserves education, supervision, and oversight.
• That ultimately happens with clinical supervision.
• Therapists would be required to work under the supervision.
• Therapists would be required to work under the supervision of a licensed music therapist during that

Bills: HB2286 , HB2324 , HB2363 , HB2098

Committee: House Postsecondary Education & Workforce

Keywords: social work, licensure, alternative routes, education requirements, professional regulation, tuition waivers, veterans, education, children of veterans, higher education, military families, music therapy, temporary exemptions, healthcare, therapy practice, funding, tuition, financial aid, state budget

Transcript Highlights:

• As amended in the Senate, the bill reinserts direct supervision being required by a radiologist when
• Additionally, guidelines for general supervision have been added to allow for a radiologist assistant
• The Senate adopted a strike-everything amendment that creates a supervised work route for a veterinary
• work hours within six years and outlines requirements for the supervised work.
• and outlines requirements for the supervised work.

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of Senate and House bills, many of them on consent or with strike-everything amendments. Topics included advanced air mobility for border security (SB 1457), raising the off-highway vehicle weight limit to 3,500 pounds while striking a proposed law enforcement fund (SB 1519), school property leases and a trampoline court safety citation change (HB 2383), electronic monitoring in health care facilities (SB 1041), dental school complaint handling and board jurisdiction limits (SB 1168), pharmacist-authorized testing and HIV prevention guidance (SB 1713), school district insurance/self-insurance requirements (SB 1497), reporting-requirement cleanup for education statutes (HB 2203), historic neighborhood housing zoning (SB 1118), construction contract payment protections in revitalization districts (SB 1189), timeshare salesperson licensing (SB 1274), workers’ compensation notice and recordkeeping (SB 1428), property tax disability exemption clarifications (HB 2120), insurance modeling/data organization requirements (HB 2174), HOA rules on chickens and pet breed restrictions (SB 1582), first responder death benefits for law enforcement pilots (SB 1503), and changes to virtual veterinary prescribing periods (SB 1286). Members generally asked clarifying questions, and several sponsors were said to intend to concur or refuse amendments, with HB 2010 headed to conference because the sponsor would not accept the Senate’s five-year refund window. On the second calendar, the committee heard HB 2176 on health facility complaint investigations, allowing DHS to investigate older complaints involving alleged abuse; HB 2050 on radiologic technologists and radiologist assistants, restoring direct supervision requirements with limited general-supervision exceptions; HB 2010 on digital goods, where the Senate reduced a refund window from 10 years to five and the sponsor planned to refuse; HB 2875 on unmanned aircraft, expanding airport drone-delivery buffer rules from one mile to two and a half miles and requiring airport consultation; HB 2428 on county certification of emission reduction credits, clarifying participation is voluntary and limiting new credits if fleet participation becomes mandatory; and HB 2877, which was struck and replaced with a veterinary technician certification pathway requiring 4,000 supervised work hours and allowing nonprofit curriculum evidence. Several members noted support or opposition based on prior votes or policy concerns, but no roll-call votes were taken in the caucus itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Arizona Constitution grants the Supreme Court administrative supervision over all courts, and that
• It does not interfere with judicial discipline, case adjudication, or constitutional supervision.
• I did get one thing done right away under their supervision for three years.
• So when there is What it does establish is a clear path forward, so when supervision is imposed, there
• In my own court, administrative supervision In my own court, administrative supervision was imposed over

Committee: House House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first took up HB 2663, which expands military leave protections by aligning state law language with federal military orders and clarifying that state and non-state employees called to service or training are covered. Representative Pena said the bill was intended to remove confusion and had no material impact on benefits. After brief supportive discussion, the committee voted 7-0 to give HB 2663 a do pass recommendation. The committee then heard HB 2976, a bill establishing due process requirements before state or county entities can alter a justice of the peace’s statutory authority and clarifying the limits of administrative control over justice courts. Representative Hernandez and two Pima County justices of the peace testified in support, describing administrative orders that had removed local control without notice, findings, or a clear path to restoration. Leanna Garcia of the Arizona Supreme Court opposed the bill, arguing it conflicted with the Constitution’s grant of administrative supervision to the Supreme Court and that the court already uses complaint-driven oversight, education, and intervention when needed. After extensive debate over constitutional authority, due process, and the role of elected JPs, the committee voted 6-1 to recommend HB 2976 do pass. Next, the committee considered HB 2406, which directs the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services to study veterans’ awareness of available state, local, and federal benefits and report recommendations to improve outreach. Supporters said many veterans do not know the full range of benefits and that the study could identify gaps in awareness and help guide future outreach. Members questioned what exactly would be studied and whether a study was necessary, but several said the testimony clarified the bill’s purpose. The committee approved HB 2406 with a 5-1-1 vote. Finally, the committee heard HB 2226, which requires courts at initial appearance to ask whether a defendant is a veteran so eligible cases can be referred to veterans programs or treatment/diversion options. Testimony in support said the inquiry would help identify veterans early and connect them to services at no cost. A member raised a Fifth Amendment concern that veteran status could be incriminating in some cases; the bill’s supporter agreed to an amendment clarifying that the answer could not be used against the defendant in later proceedings. The transcript ends during discussion of that proposed amendment, before a final committee vote on HB 2226 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Arizona Constitution grants the Supreme Court administrative supervision over all courts, and that
• It does not interfere with judicial discipline, case adjudication, or constitutional supervision.
• Now, I will say this: I did get one thing done right away under their supervision for three years.
• Now, I will say this: I did get one thing done right away under their supervision for three years.
• What it does establish is a clear path forward, so when supervision is imposed, there are expectations

Bills: HB2226 , HB2406 , HB2663 , HB2695 , HB2805 , HB2976

Committee: House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• . misdemeanor community supervision placements, state incarceration, and parole supervision.
• , state residential, and parole supervision.
• Page 9 shows the final... population juvenile parole supervision.
• , and an increase of $0.1 million in general revenue. new for parole supervision.
• and parole supervision.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I don't know that directly supervises the word.
• They have not arrived at supervision hours yet. This is an internship within the master's program.
• How many of the interns in these programs go on to do supervision and get licensed? Is that okay?
• It's outdated, really, supervision at this point.
• . ...in their facility, they would remain under a doctor's supervision.

Bills: HB3287 , HB2947 , HB3784 , HB3901 , HB4275

Committee: House Public Health

Summary: The Public Health Committee met for its first session and laid over House Bills 3884 and 4410. The committee then heard and advanced several bills. HB 3287 would require hospitals to post discreet notices in areas like X-ray, CAT scan, MRI, or bathrooms telling victims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, or human trafficking how to alert staff and ensuring they are not discharged before appropriate reporting occurs; members discussed whether to include a phone number, and the bill passed 5-0. HB 2947 would allow clinics to bill Medicaid for services provided by master’s-level mental health interns working under supervision in accredited programs, with supporters saying it could help address rural workforce shortages; questions focused on supervision, liability, whether it would be limited to Medicaid, fiscal impact, and how many interns might participate, and it passed 5-0. The committee also considered HB 3784, as amended by a PCS, which would let permanent makeup artists come out from under physician oversight after three years of experience, while preserving supervision if they use prescription medications such as topical anesthetics; after clarification about the PCS, it passed 5-0. HB 3901 would create a psychological autopsy position in the Department of Health to review suicides and overdoses through voluntary family interviews and records review to improve prevention efforts; members raised questions about cost, whether the work should be housed elsewhere, the pilot nature of the proposal, and what data are currently collected, and it passed 5-0. Finally, HB 4275 would allow case managers and peer support specialists to be employed by cities and counties while keeping their certification, and it also passed 5-0. The meeting ended with adjournment and a notice that the committee would meet again the following Wednesday morning at 9:00.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is just for those people out on probation and parole, for them to be able to pay the monthly supervision
• <00:01:01.199><c> um</c><00:01:01.280><c> the</c><00:01:01.440><c> monthly</c><00:01:01.840><c> supervision
• </c> able to pay um the monthly supervision able to pay um the monthly supervision um<00:01:03.039><c
• And if you look at line 17, starting at 17, the probation, postrelease supervision, or suspension may
• And if you look at line 17, starting at 17, the probation, postrelease supervision, or suspension may

Committee: Joint Corrections

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:35.000><c> and</c> client documentation supervision and client documentation supervision and
• Uh, our current data shows that we have 809 qualified supervising professionals.
• </c><00:43:09.560><c> professionals,</c> uh supervising professionals, uh supervising professionals,
• at some of these autism supervision at some of these autism centers. centers. centers.
• </c> the risk and the kinds of AI supervision the risk and the kinds of AI supervision AI<01:10:15.160

Bills: HF3542

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• than direct supervision and defines the term.
• So this was going from direct supervision to supervision, and it says the supervision means supervision
• So is the supervision then becoming more lax?
• ...supervision, so this was going from direct supervision to supervision, and it says the supervision
• So is the supervision then becoming more lax?

Committee: House House Health & Human Services Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee began with two radiology-related bills focused on rural access and workforce shortages. HB 2049 would allow particle accelerators for cancer treatment in critical access hospitals and counties under 400,000 population under general supervision, with rural providers testifying that the change would let patients receive care closer to home while maintaining safety protocols. The bill passed on an 11-0 vote. HB 2050 updated outdated radiologic technologist statutes, revised school accreditation and clinical-hour standards, and allowed radiologist assistants to work under supervision rather than direct supervision; an amendment also added registered nurses to the list of professionals not needing an additional license to use diagnostic X-ray machines. Testimony centered on staffing shortages, national standards, and whether the change would preserve oversight. The committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill 10-2, with some members citing the need for more vetting and concern about oversight of dangerous equipment. The committee then heard HB 2082, which creates a Childhood Cancer and Rare Childhood Disease Research Commission to award grants for phase-one pediatric cancer and rare disease trials using existing license-plate funds and other sources. Parents and patients gave emotional testimony about pediatric brain cancer diagnoses, the lack of effective treatments, and the need for Arizona to support local research; the bill passed unanimously 12-0. HB 2015 required Access to cover breastfeeding and lactation services, and an amendment made the coverage subject to CMS approval. Supporters described breastfeeding as preventive care with benefits for infants and mothers, while Access said it was neutral but appreciated the amendment’s fiscal safeguard. The bill passed 12-0 as amended. Next, HB 2177 directed Access to seek CMS waivers to restore Medicaid payments for certain services provided to American Indian and Alaska Native members by IHS and tribal facilities, including dental, diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive services. The sponsor and a Sage Memorial Hospital witness said the bill would help tribal facilities draw down federal funds and keep services local; it passed 12-0 as amended. HB 2178 required state agency chief medical officers to hold an active medical or osteopathic license and passed without opposition. HB 2179 clarified statutory definitions separating air ambulance from ground ambulance regulation, with industry testimony saying it was a cleanup measure that would avoid unintended consequences; it also passed 12-0. Finally, HB 2183 created an 11-member emergency medicine study committee to examine EMS system sustainability, rural and urban capacity, workforce burnout, and uncompensated care. Firefighters, health care advocates, and an emergency nurse practitioner supported the study as a way to gather data and make recommendations; it passed 12-0. The committee then returned to HB 2072, which establishes an optional state certification for lactation care providers under ADHS, along with rulemaking, fees, discipline, and an advisory committee; the sponsor said the credential was needed so Access could reimburse the service, and the bill was introduced for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• than direct supervision and defines the term.
• So this was going from direct supervision to supervision, and it says the supervision means supervision
• So is the supervision then becoming more lax? ...supervision.
• So this was going from direct supervision to supervision, and it says the supervision means supervision
• So is the supervision then becoming more lax?

Bills: HB2049 , HB2050 , HB2051 , HB2072 , HB2082 , HB2085 , HB2177 , HB2178 , HB2179 , HB2183 , HB2195

Committee: House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I don't know that directly supervises the word.
• Which requires a preceptor and supervision to be able to bill Medicaid, which I believe is the other
• They have not arrived at supervision hours yet. This is an internship. Within the master's program.
• It's an outdated form of supervision at this point.
• They would still require supervision, correct? That is correct.

Bills: HB3287 , HB2947 , HB3784 , HB3901 , HB4275

Committee: House Public Health

Transcript Highlights:

• It is supervised. Will they do that?
• So I had my social worker was supervised by my school counselor for their hours as they transitioned
• And they are supervised. ...in the department to do that limited-scope licensing, and they are supervised
• Yes, the students who are working with their site supervisors are supervised.
• , but also receiving support where needed toward the end of their supervision hours.

Committee: Assembly Education

Transcript Highlights:

• may not have one-to-one contact with a resident or access their personal belongings without the supervision
• It takes time, and during that time they can work, but they're working under the supervision of a person
• So they're not going into somebody's shower or bedroom or private areas unless they're being supervised
• We just kind of reworked it, and we want to make sure that people are supervised while they're with people
• But since I'm on the phone with you, you're supervised. Go ahead and do it.” Mr.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not sure what kind of agreement they have with the supervising physician.
• If we don't have supervision anymore, then an APRN would not be in place.
• It was her supervising physician. Thank you. Thank you.
• That's basically the extent of your supervision from the doctor.
• They think they already are, but we think that they're getting supervision.

Bills: HB46 , HB35 , HB4490 , HB4454 , HB2188 , HB3078 , HB4743 , HB2556 , HB46 , HB5342 , HB4783 , HB3785 , HB5278 , HB1639 , HB2581 , HB4224 , HB4070 , HB4099 , HB4882 , HB3794

Committee: House Public Health

Transcript Highlights:

• Oftentimes, parolees become homeless throughout the period of parole supervision, and then we're working
• That means more individuals are under community supervision.
• That means more individuals are under community supervision, but yet we continue to be tasked to do more
• And if you're requiring the individuals that we supervise to travel to Woburn or Dorchester, it's not
• I would, I would hate to continue. ...or have supervised, I would hate to continue to invite others in

Summary: The Special Commission on Correctional Consolidation and Collaboration met on June 15 with Senators Brownsberger and Representative Hunt co-chairing. After deciding not to approve prior meeting notes at this session, the commission heard testimony from the Massachusetts Parole Officers Association (MPOA), represented by Brian Lucier and Shauna Hawksley. MPOA described its role across field offices, correctional facilities, and specialized units, and emphasized that parole officers provide community-based case management and reentry support by connecting people to housing, mental health, substance use treatment, employment, education, and public benefits. They argued that parole officers develop local expertise and relationships that improve referrals, and said there is room for better coordination with DOC and House of Correction reentry staff, especially because referrals are sometimes duplicated or need to be changed after release. They also noted the loss of reentry navigator positions in 2025 and said those functions would be more effective if positioned in the community rather than in custody. The MPOA also urged consideration of restoring regional reentry centers, which they said previously improved information sharing, reduced duplication, and strengthened reentry services. They contrasted those centers with Community Justice Support Centers, saying CJSCs can be hard to access because of location, transportation, and work-schedule conflicts, while parole’s former regional centers were referral-based and did not require regular attendance. Commission members asked about parole training, arrest authority, POST/MPTC participation, and revocations. MPOA said new officers receive about 500 hours of parole-specific academy training plus firearms, defensive tactics, and first-responder instruction, but parole is not currently tied into MPTC because it is not POST-certified. They also said they do not have data on what proportion of revocations are driven by public-safety threats versus barriers like housing or employment, but anecdotally revocations are now less often for first-time technical or treatment-related issues and more often for conduct posing a community risk. In the discussion of next steps, members talked about extending the commission’s reporting deadline from September 30 to November 30 through the pending budget, finishing remaining DOC facility visits in the fall, and holding additional meetings on mental health and other unresolved issues. Several members said the commission should continue trying to engage the judiciary and district attorneys, while recognizing that participation may be difficult to secure. The meeting ended with agreement to adjourn and continue the work later in the year.

Transcript Highlights:

• Oftentimes, parolees become homeless throughout the period of parole supervision, and then we're working
• That means more individuals are under community supervision. Likely at an all-time low.
• That means more individuals are under community supervision, but yet we are continued to be tasked to
• And if you're requiring the individuals that we supervise to travel to Woburn or Dorchester, it's not
• I would, I would hate to continue. ...or have supervised, I would hate to continue to invite others in

Summary: The Special Commission on Correctional Consolidation and Collaboration met on June 15, with co-chairs Senator Will Brownsberger and Representative Dan Hunt. The commission approved delaying action on prior meeting summary/minutes until the next meeting, and the chair noted the statutory reporting deadline is being extended from September 30 to November 30 through the pending general appropriations budget. Members also discussed future work, including remaining Department of Correction facility visits, possible fall meetings, and whether to invite additional stakeholders such as the judiciary, district attorneys, and the Department of Mental Health. The main testimony came from the Massachusetts Parole Officers Association, represented by Brian Lucier and Shauna Hawksley. They described parole officers’ role in community supervision and reentry case management, including referrals for housing, mental health, substance use treatment, employment, education, and public benefits. They argued for stronger collaboration between parole, DOC, and county facilities, and said parole officers develop local expertise that can improve referrals after release. They also said the former reentry navigator positions, which were lost in 2025, were valuable and should be restored or better positioned in the community. The MPOA also urged consideration of recreating regional reentry centers, which they said previously improved information sharing, reduced duplication, and supported people released without supervision. Members and witnesses discussed barriers such as funding, staffing, transportation, and location of community justice support centers, as well as the need for better coordination so referrals made inside facilities match community resources. Commission members asked about training, arrest authority, POST certification, revocations tied to public safety versus social-service needs, and the role of sheriffs and DOC reentry teams; the witnesses said parole officers receive specialized academy and in-service training but are not currently tied into MPTC because they are not post-certified. The meeting ended with agreement to continue work over the summer and reconvene in the fall.

Transcript Highlights:

• Wouldn't we want them to be able to be supervised?
• Currently, they are supervised as... ...probation?
• Wouldn't we want them to be able to be supervised?
• Currently, they are supervised as being on probation.
• We did not see any supervision.

Summary: The Senate Judiciary and Elections Committee heard a full slate of bills, beginning with HB 2749, which would allow certain nonviolent class 4, 5, or 6 felonies to be redesignated as misdemeanors after completion of sentence and a waiting period. The committee adopted a chair’s amendment narrowing eligibility and excluding some offenses, then passed the bill 6-0 with one not voting. Supporters described it as a redemption and reintegration measure for people who have completed their obligations. The committee then considered HB 2870, a constituent-driven bill restricting level 2 and level 3 sex offenders from living together in the same single-family dwelling unless they are related or in certain supervised facilities. The sponsor and neighborhood witnesses described a Chandler/Ocotillo situation involving multiple offenders in one house and argued the bill would protect families; opponents warned it could push offenders into homelessness and make supervision harder. After debate and testimony from both sides, the bill passed 3-2 with two not voting. HB 2862, which enhances penalties for offenses committed while wearing a mask to conceal identity, also passed 3-2 with two not voting after the Scottsdale city attorney testified in support and the ACLU argued it would chill protected protest and anonymity. HB 2364, which creates criminal penalties for mailing or delivering abortion-inducing drugs and for ordering them by mail, drew strong support from anti-abortion witnesses and strong opposition from lawmakers who said it conflicts with Proposition 139 and constitutional protections for abortion access. The bill passed 4-3. HB 2244, supported by Phoenix Vice Mayor Keisha Hodge Washington, would require landlords to respond to motions to satisfy eviction judgments and allow sealing of eviction records when tenants have paid; it passed unanimously 7-0. HB 2573, which removes a 45-day waiting period before some DUI offenders can apply for an ignition interlock restricted license, passed 7-0. The committee also advanced HB 4117, a strike-everything amendment creating penalties for interfering with religious services by obstructing access or engaging in disorderly conduct intended to disrupt worship. The ADL and Jewish community advocates supported it as a protection for worshippers, while the ACLU argued it could criminalize protected protest and speech; it passed 4-3. Finally, HCR 2004, a mirror resolution on photo enforcement systems that would require voter approval for continued operation and periodic reauthorization, passed 4-3 after testimony from the League of Cities and Towns and a discussion of traffic safety versus civil-liberties concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> have been compliant with supervision have been compliant with supervision um um um be<00:26:19.600
• Mandatory reporters as to if somebody's been convicted of a crime or placed on supervision.
• </c> another mechanism like supervised another mechanism like supervised release,<00:40:18.320><c> um
• They could be on supervised release status. &gt;&gt; I can't speak to that.
• They could be on supervised status. They could be on supervised release<00:44:41.280><c> status.

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety held an informational briefing on findings from the deportation data project and possible policy responses to increased federal immigration enforcement in Hawaii. In opening remarks, the chair said the committee was concerned about changing federal executive orders, policies, and enforcement actions, and framed the issue as one involving due process and public safety. The chair and presenters described reports of ICE activity on multiple islands, including raids, courthouse presence, and fear in immigrant communities, and said the committee was considering whether state policies should be advanced more quickly. Mandy Fernandez of the ACLU of Hawaii presented updated deportation data and argued that increased immigration enforcement is creating fear, reducing crime reporting, and potentially making state and local agencies extensions of the federal immigration agenda if they accept federal funding with conditions. She said the deportation data project, housed at UC Berkeley Law with UCLA’s Center for Immigration Law and Policy, uses FOIA requests and its latest data runs through late July 2025. She reported 153 ICE arrests in Hawaii from January through July 2025, up from 41 in the same period in 2024; 96 removals, up from 15; a federal detention center average daily population of 91 in June 2025 versus 31 in June 2024; and 111 ICE detainers issued in Hawaii from September 2023 through July 2025, with 49 issued in 2025. She also cited an immigration court backlog of 1,144 pending cases as of August 2025 and noted that about one in five Hawaii residents were born outside the United States. Haley Chang of the Office of the Public Defender said her office is seeing a marked increase in ICE presence around courthouses and more ICE contacts with clients, including reports of people being detained after court appearances or while on supervision. She emphasized that the office is not an immigration law office and that much of its information is anecdotal, but said the pattern appears new compared with prior years. In response to committee questions, she explained that ICE detainers are requests, not judicial warrants, and said local law enforcement is generally not required to honor them unless accompanied by a judicial warrant or other legal authority. She also said the public defender’s office had not yet seen new criminal charges arise solely from an ICE detention or failure to appear tied to immigration enforcement, though cases could be affected if defendants are removed from the criminal process.

Transcript Highlights:

• So as the youth classification reduces, the obligation for staff supervision of the youth becomes more
• They cannot obviously already be released and on DOC community supervision.
• And that would be after continued engagement with supervising staff in the community, not fully adhering
• The bill allows the department to terminate a license to receive children for supervision.
• The bill allows the department to terminate a license to receive children for supervision or care when

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 1544, which would require DCYF to study and improve the risk assessment tool used in child abuse and neglect investigations, including better identifying family strengths and needs, substance use-related risk, and service needs, and to certify the tool every three years. Staff explained the bill and noted it had passed the committee unanimously in substitute form last year. The prime sponsor, Representative Rule, said the tool would help reduce bias and support better decisions about child safety. Members raised questions about whether the bill would require new data systems or create a fiscal impact, and DCYF testified that the recertification process would focus on evidence-based literature and fidelity to the tool, though the agency acknowledged limitations in its data system. Support testimony from Partners for Our Children and DCYF emphasized that the current tool is not evidence-based and that the department is piloting the North Carolina Family Assessment Scale. The hearing on HB 1544 was then closed. The committee then received a lengthy work session from DCYF on juvenile rehabilitation. Juvenile Rehabilitation Assistant Secretary Jennifer Redman and security classification administrator Jeff Endermark described a growing JR population that is older, serving more adult-sentence youth, and projected to rise to about 481 by 2031. They said Green Hill School remains crowded, Harbor Heights is being brought online as a short-term option, and Echo Glen is near safe operational capacity. They explained JR’s classification system, behavior management process, and the role of multidisciplinary teams in placement decisions, as well as the expansion of community transition services (CTS), which uses electronic home monitoring for eligible youth. Staff described CTS eligibility, supervision expectations, and examples of successful placements, but also said the program needs more after-hours staffing and community supports. Members questioned the validity and equity of the risk tools, the availability of community resources, the impact of behavior policies and escapes, the use of single bunking, and broader concerns about lawsuits and sexual abuse in the system. JR reported an escape rate increase from 1.78 per 100 youth in 2001 to 3.92 in 2025 and said additional capacity and staffing are still needed. The committee then heard House Bill 2219, which would allow child care centers more flexibility in mixed-age grouping during parts of the day and waive repeated DCYF pre-service orientation for people who have already completed it. The prime sponsor, Representative Ortiz-Self, said the bill is meant to ease burdens on small providers. Testifiers from SEIU 925, a family child care provider, the Washington Child Care Centers Association, a child care center director, and the Children’s Campaign Fund supported the bill as a practical way to improve staffing flexibility and reduce duplicative licensing requirements, though one association asked that the bill’s daily time caps on mixed-age grouping be revised or removed. The committee then heard House Bill 2253, an agency-request technical corrections bill for DCYF licensing. Staff said it would allow child-specific licenses for certain relatives under interstate placements, exempt kinship caregivers from blood-borne pathogen training, remove licensing exemptions for physicians and lawyers, allow termination of inactive licenses, revise crisis residential center staffing ratios, and eliminate state monitoring requirements for the Washington School for the Deaf residential program. Members asked about how inactivity would be defined and whether the School for the Deaf inspections had historically produced savings. DCYF said the bill would help right-size licensing workloads after budget cuts and would let the agency work with stakeholders to define inactivity in rule. Testimony from DCYF, Community Youth Services, and Partners for Our Children supported the bill, especially the staffing ratio fix for crisis residential centers and the child-specific licensing changes for relatives.

Transcript Highlights:

• By the way, to let you know, we provide treatment, we provide supervision.
• Those we use on our supervision end of things.
• We continue with the very rigorous supervision we have.
• It's a very intensive supervision program, probably the most intensive supervision program that exists
• If asked to do it, we will supervise it.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit Committee held an oversight hearing on the state auditor’s October 2024 report on California’s Forensic Conditional Release Program (CONREP) for sexually violent predators. Members and witnesses discussed public safety, the long delays in finding community housing, the role of local housing committees, and the Department of State Hospitals’ oversight of Liberty Healthcare, which operates much of the program. Several legislators from rural and high-desert districts said their communities have been disproportionately affected by placements and questioned why many placements end up in remote areas. State Auditor Grant Parks said the audit found that CONREP participants were convicted of new offenses less often than sexually violent predators who were unconditionally released, but that 18 of 56 participants had been revoked and returned to state hospitals for noncompliance. He said it took an average of 17 months to place current participants in the community, with 20 additional people awaiting placement for an average of 20 months, and that the program incurred significant pre-placement costs. Parks also said local officials were often unclear about their role, DSH had not given clear guidance at the time of the audit, and California lacks a transitional housing option used in some other states. He reported that DSH had implemented four of the five audit recommendations, while declining the recommendation to explore state-owned transitional housing. DSH Director Stephanie Clendendon and Liberty representative Ken Carabello defended the program as a court-ordered, highly supervised treatment model intended to reduce reoffending and support reintegration. They said DSH is actively involved in placement review, that Liberty searches countywide under statutory restrictions, and that community feedback and court approval are part of the process. DSH said it has now implemented guidance for housing committee designees, formal program reviews, an outcome tracker, and an analysis of whether to separate some Liberty services into different contracts. DSH continued to oppose transitional housing, arguing it would not solve the core siting and statutory problems and would add cost. Several members remained critical, arguing the program is broken, costly, and unfairly concentrated in certain communities, and some called for major statutory changes or suspension of the program.