Video & Transcript Research : 'efficiency audit'

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CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Budget Committee Jun 29th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • As I understand it, it looks like the intent now is to audit the progress that has been made.
  • As I understand it, it looks like the intent now is to audit the progress that has been made.
  • auditor will come in and do an audit of the previous work that was done.
  • their audit authority as needed.
  • their audit authority as needed.
Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee met to consider the final three-party agreement for the 2026-27 state budget and 19 implementing bills, including two budget bill juniors and 17 trailer bills. Committee leadership and administration officials described the budget as a balanced plan that reduces out-year structural deficits, maintains large reserves, and makes major investments in health care, education, housing, child care, public safety, and other core services while also responding to expected federal cuts and fiscal uncertainty. The Department of Finance outlined the package’s major components, including Medi-Cal adjustments, education funding increases, higher education changes, child care and human services updates, housing and homelessness funding, energy and transportation provisions, and tax and general government changes. Members asked questions about several provisions, including CSU enrollment targets and turnaround plans, the Prop. 98 settle-up mechanism, the plastics market development payment program, housing accountability measures, NextGen 9-1-1 implementation, and veteran services. Staff and administration witnesses explained that the higher education language is intended to improve campus-by-campus reporting and oversight, that Prop. 98 settle-up would be finalized later through the statutory certification process, and that NextGen 9-1-1 now includes one-time funding, quarterly reporting, an independent technical review, and a state audit. Members also discussed the HAP homelessness funding increase to $900 million and the balance between accountability and timely distribution of funds. The most extended exchange centered on comparisons between funding for veterans and Medi-Cal/immigrant health coverage. Republican members argued the budget spends far more on undocumented immigrant services than on veterans, while Democratic members and Finance staff responded that the comparison was misleading because many veterans’ services are federally funded and the state budget also includes dedicated veteran support. The chair and other members emphasized that the budget reflects difficult tradeoffs and that the package protects vulnerable populations, preserves health care access, and advances affordability. No final vote was described in the excerpt, but members indicated support for the overall package and said they would support it on the floor.
FL

Florida 2026 4th Special Session

January 21, 2026 - 04:00 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • each employee at the department plays a critical role, which is how Florida is able to keep such an efficient
  • them to, we needed to make sure that there was someone else in that role that could do so more efficiently
  • That's in our amended LBR, which would help shift that to the Law Enforcement Bureau from either auditing
  • Audit went from a 25.8% vacancy last year down to 13.2%.
  • That's a program by which a taxpayer has had an audit with us and is disputing it.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

Senate - Finance Feb 4th, 2025

Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • If they have to have an audit finding to learn their lesson as they move forward, maybe each agency is
  • Otherwise, we leave them with an audit. Finding, which in some cases may be a good thing.
  • that are making deficiencies in efficiency appropriations requests.
  • Have requested deficiency appropriations, and we will expand our annual financial compliance audit to
  • One of the issues, to be brief, is that we have an independence required as an audit firm.
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions, May 22, 2026 - AM

Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Transcript Highlights:
  • handc count audits of election results. handc count audits of election results.
  • it effective and efficient it is. it effective and efficient it is.
  • >> audits. Random handc count audits. >> audits. Random handc count audits.
  • Chairman, >> audits. >> audits. >> audits.
  • That again was a management audit bill. That again was a management audit bill.
Keywords: 916, all
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education Apr 15th, 2025

Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • I know you all care about efficiency for our schools. However, this bill does not seem fair to me.
  • and grant... ...requiring charter schools to meet audit and grant deadlines that are earlier than their
  • Many districts currently require charter school audits to be submitted by August 1st, just 30 days after
  • But I think we could all agree that if charter staff are asking for, say, an audited financial statement
  • If I was a charter school and I'm being asked for those audited financials 30 days after we know we do
Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met with a quorum and took up several education bills. SB 1150, by Senator Calatayud, was presented as a measure to help school districts retain school social workers by removing an exam requirement unrelated to the profession. With no questions or debate, the committee voted the bill favorably. The committee then moved to SB 1514, by Senator Smith, on anaphylaxis response in public schools. After adopting a delete-all amendment and a late-filed amendment clarifying FDA-approved epinephrine devices and weight-based dosing, the committee heard support from Orange County Public Schools and reported the bill favorably. The most extensive discussion centered on SB 1708, also by Senator Calatayud, which would expand Schools of Hope by broadening the definition of low-performing schools from those in the bottom 10% in both math and reading to those in the bottom 10% in either subject, and would authorize co-location of Schools of Hope in underused public school facilities. Senators questioned how co-location would work, who could enroll, how liability and contracts would be handled, and whether the bill would help the specific students most in need. Many public speakers opposed the bill, arguing it would strain already underfunded public schools, reduce space and resources, and unfairly favor charter operators. The sponsor said the bill would not reduce classroom space in use, would require contracts to address safety and liability, and would provide a net positive to districts through a $600-per-student facility payment plus associated funding. After debate from both supporters and skeptics, the committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also considered CS for SB 822, by Senator Rodriguez, which would give charter schools more autonomy over governance and operations, including deadlines, enrollment caps, student conduct policies, and data sharing. The Florida Charter School Alliance supported the bill, arguing it would create parity and reduce burdens on charter schools, while committee members pressed the witness on claims of district “harassment” and the basis for those concerns. The bill was reported favorably after a roll call vote. At the end of the meeting, members recorded votes on prior tabs, thanked staff, and adjourned.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement - 03/18/25

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • As an organization, we spend roughly 6 months out of 12 in an audit status, from August to December.
  • We're very pleased to report that for the most recent fiscal year we received a clean audit from the
  • slide annually we are subject to audit slide annually we are subject to audit by<00:07:30.080>
  • out of 12 in an audit status from August<00:07:40.440> to<00:07:40.879> December<00:07
  • fiscal year we received a clean audit fiscal year we received a clean audit from<00:07:48.639>
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

Committee on Labor - 01/21/25

Labor

Transcript Highlights:
  • it in the most effective and efficient it in the most effective and efficient manner<00:49:04.119
  • I'll say it was a very successful first-of-its-kind program that really efficiently delivered timely
  • During the 16-month audit, the OLA was able to identify only 140 applications with fraud indicators.
  • Since the time that the audit was released, we have looked more in depth into those 140 applications
  • ><01:13:18.800> the<01:13:18.960> OA<01:13:19.760> was um during the 16-month audit
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
Summary: The committee met under a new Senate power-sharing arrangement with co-chairs, began with member and staff introductions, and then received a jurisdiction overview from Senate counsel. The overview explained that the Labor Committee’s jurisdiction has not changed from the previous biennium and covers fair labor standards, minimum wage, workers’ compensation, occupational safety and health, and related agencies and boards such as the Department of Labor and Industry, Bureau of Mediation Services, PERB, and the Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals. It also noted that some topics, including paid leave, fall under other committees, while earned sick and safe time remains within Labor and Industry jurisdiction. Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach and Josiah Moore then gave a detailed Department of Labor and Industry presentation. They reviewed the department’s funding sources, emphasizing that workers’ compensation funds and construction codes/licensing revenues make up most of the budget, while the general fund is a small share. They described the department’s major divisions, including workers’ compensation, construction codes and licensing, labor standards, nursing home workforce standards, and OSHA consultation and compliance, and highlighted practical examples of their work. Examples included return-to-work assistance for an injured worker, compliance training that reduced penalties for self-insurers and claim administrators, and use of the Special Compensation Fund when an employer lacked workers’ compensation insurance. The labor standards section highlighted enforcement actions involving unpaid overtime, pregnancy and parental leave retaliation, wage deductions, and child labor violations, along with totals for 2024 collections and inquiries. The presentation also noted the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board’s adopted rules, the expansion of construction licensing exams statewide, and OSHA consultation programs such as Min-SHARP and MINSTAR, including a Minnesota employer that recently achieved MINSTAR status. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee 3/11/25

Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Our external auditors present the results of our previous fiscal year's audited financial statements,
  • Our external auditors present the results of our previous fiscal year's audited financial statements,
  • Our external auditors present the results of our previous fiscal year's audited financial statements,
  • <01:20:17.199> of 20th percentile of our efficiencies of 20th percentile of our efficiencies
  • <01:26:36.119> they enrollment um other efficiencies they enrollment um other efficiencies
Keywords: 1183, house
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Senate May 28th, 2026

Louisiana Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • committee or advisory group to study methods to improve the efficiency, transparency, and fairness of
  • committee or advisory group to study methods to improve the efficiency, transparency, and fairness of
  • committee or advisory group to study methods to improve the efficiency, transparency, and fairness of
  • The audit itself cannot remove someone from Medicaid or SNAP.
  • Do we do this in any other arena where individuals are randomly chosen for them to run an audit on?
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations and Budget Health Subcommittee Jan 22nd, 2026 at 09:30 am

A&B Health Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:
  • Savings and efficiency in previous years, I've come and talked to you about our group purchasing and
  • We did find some efficiencies.
  • Savings and efficiencies, we are. an agency that's committed to continuous process improvement.
  • Please write in an auditability requirement.
  • And so there aren't really savings or efficiencies to report there.
Keywords: 914, all
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs (02/12/2025)

Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • <02:11:53.520> um your testimony was around um audit um your testimony was around um audit
  • I've reviewed that audit, so they are audited yearly, but that is simply, did we provide the money to
  • What it does not do is audit that.
  • <02:40:43.960> in which is a savings and efficient in which is a savings and efficient in
  • efficiencies with within establishes efficiencies with within that<02:40:47.160> provider<02:
Keywords: 1189, house, all
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Legislative Evaluation & Accountability Program Jun 18th, 2025

Legislative Evaluation & Accountability Program

Transcript Highlights:
  • So with that, So with that, I think, Kevin, maybe we could go to the LEAP audit and have you report on
  • The Office of the State Auditor just recently completed their audit of LEAP, examining the following
  • So I'm happy to announce that LEAP was given a clean audit with no findings.
  • So once the audit has been published to the State Auditor site, I'll be sure to send out an email link
  • Anyone have any questions regarding the audit? Sounds good. All right.
Summary: The LEAP committee met on June 18, 2025, with introductions from members and staff, then received a clean audit report from the State Auditor covering 2020–2024. The audit reviewed accounts payable, general disbursements, theft-sensitive assets, and data backup/recovery, and found no findings. Staff also outlined the interim work plan, including a full rewrite of the capital budget application (Build Sum), updates to the transportation bond model and operating budget tools, website improvements, and continued research into secure, responsible AI use. Members asked about AI safeguards, keyword search improvements, and making the website more user-friendly, especially on mobile devices. The committee approved the July 8, 2024 minutes after a quorum was reached. It then considered and unanimously approved several budget format changes: the Department of Corrections moved chemical dependency and sex offender treatment into its health care program and renamed Program 700 from “Offender Change” to “Reentry Services”; the Department of Revenue moved the AMP program into its tax analysis and technology support program; and the Department of Transportation changed a toll program title and added new sub-programs for State Route 509 and State Route 167 toll operations to reflect new facilities and more accurate reporting. Kevin Feltis also provided staffing updates, noting the retirements of longtime LEAP staff, the hiring of three new associate consultants in October 2024, and an upcoming December 2025 retirement for Sherry Randage after decades of state service. The new staff members briefly introduced themselves and expressed enthusiasm for their work. The meeting ended with thanks to members and staff and adjournment after the committee completed its business.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Housing and Homelessness Prevention - 03/04/25

Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Transcript Highlights:
  • We conduct file audits on 10% of closed loans for program compliance, review all closed loan files for
  • on 10% of closed conduct file audits on 10% of closed loans<00:08:52.800> for<00:08:53.080>
  • It provides flexibility, efficiency, and ability to quickly respond to market conditions.
  • It provides flexibility, efficiency, and ability to quickly respond to market conditions.
  • It provides flexibility, efficiency, and ability to quickly respond to market conditions.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House State Government Finance and Policy Committee 1/16/25

State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Audit Division.
  • audit division you know you hear audit audit division you know you hear audit you<00:37:54.880><
  • controls audits, and we do some IT audits.
  • audit.
  • Audits, the legislature has a couple ways of producing audits.
Keywords: 1183, house
Summary: The committee met on January 16, 2025, for an organizational and informational session. Members and staff introduced themselves, and Chair Jim Nash reviewed committee expectations, including that nonpartisan staff are to be used for factual information rather than political arguments. He also noted the committee rules were a blend of prior chairs’ rules and would be posted without a vote. Helen Roberts of House Fiscal gave a high-level overview of the committee’s jurisdiction and budget structure. She explained that the State Government Finance Committee oversees funding for major administrative agencies, the legislature, constitutional offices, and several boards, councils, and commissions. She emphasized that the committee’s general fund base for fiscal years 2026-27 is about $1.31 billion, less than 2% of the state general fund, and that the largest pieces are the Department of Revenue, the legislature, and pension aids. She also described how all-funds presentations differ from general fund views, highlighting internal service funds such as Minnesota IT Services, Department of Administration services, and other chargeback or reimbursement arrangements. Members asked questions about House and Senate budgets, debt service related to the Capitol Area building project and move costs, and how Minnesota IT Services is funded through fee-for-service chargebacks. Colby Sullivan of House Research then summarized a memo in the packet that outlines the entities within the committee’s jurisdiction and the constitutional and statutory provisions governing them. He pointed members to the memo as a reference and noted that the committee also has jurisdiction over the Legislative Coordinating Commission, the legislative auditor, the legislative reference library, the reviser of statutes, the Secretary of State’s budget and certain duties, and three gambling-related agencies, though gambling policy itself is generally handled by another committee. He offered to help members with bill drafting and amendments and to provide a linked electronic version of the memo. The Office of the Legislative Auditor then began an overview of its work. Legislative Auditor Judy Randall explained that the office is nonpartisan, serves all 201 legislators, and provides oversight through financial audits, program evaluations, and special reviews focused on state funds. She distinguished the Legislative Auditor from the State Auditor, noting that the State Auditor is an elected constitutional officer who focuses on county and local government funds. Randall said the office would also present a deep dive into its November performance audit of the Minnesota State Lottery. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Local Government Jun 11th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • It also eliminated a definition of efficiency dwelling unit, so it allowed it to really clean up that
  • And ideally, existing cities grow... ...services can be efficiently provided.
  • The federal emergency management agency FEMA audits local government compliance of the flood insurance
  • And if they find Audits local government compliance with the flood insurance program.
  • And short of finding a way around that, we have to be as efficient as possible.
Summary: The committee held a work session on local government issues, beginning with an update from the State Building Code Council on four legislatively mandated code amendments now in CR-102 rulemaking: temporary emergency shelters, reduced minimum dwelling unit size, multiplex housing up to three stories and six units, and single-exit apartment buildings up to six stories. Council staff also described a separate embodied-carbon appendix proposal that remains under public review, with testimony both supporting and opposing it. Members asked about the rationale for some of the code limits, including the restriction on connecting multiplex buildings. The committee then heard a panel on annexations from MRSC, Pierce County, and the Association of Washington Cities. Witnesses reviewed annexation methods, including petition, election, and interlocal agreement approaches, and said larger annexations are increasingly using interlocal agreements because they can address infrastructure, revenue sharing, and public process concerns. They described barriers such as inconsistent local standards, the cost of infrastructure, referendum risk, census requirements, and the difficulty of persuading residents and local officials to support annexation. Members asked about the five-year restriction on residential zoning changes in one annexation method and whether a hearing examiner could reduce political pressure on local decision-makers. A second panel discussed subdivision reform. The Master Builders Association urged raising the short-plat threshold within urban growth areas to 30 lots as a simpler first step, citing permitting delays and added housing costs. The City of Spokane described implementation problems with recent housing laws, including uncertainty about how to review plats under HB 1110, lot-splitting administration, and added notice requirements for unit lot subdivisions. AWC said there was broad agreement that subdivision decisions should be more administrative, but public hearings remained a point of disagreement. The committee also heard from FutureWise, the Washington State Association of Counties, and Lewis County on county development regulation and enforcement, with witnesses emphasizing underfunded code enforcement, inconsistent standards between counties and cities, and the need for better coordination, incentives, and possibly stronger enforcement tools. No votes were taken; the chair said the committee would continue working on possible solutions in future sessions.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
  • The last rule we have on the agenda today is a rule to allow us to be exempt from the recovery audit
  • I don't have a problem with this rule, but can you expand a little bit on what a recovery audit contractor
  • So we were not able to secure a recovery audit contractor using a traditional form of payment.
  • They also look for things we could do in our payment policy to make things a little more efficient and
Keywords: 1204, all
Summary: The committee met briefly, approved the January 7 minutes, and heard several Department of Human Services rules. DHS explained a rule allowing rehabilitative hospitals to open psychiatric units, provide acute psychiatric services, and receive Medicaid reimbursement, noting the service is needed and already being provided in Jefferson County. Members also reviewed a rule allowing DHS to participate in the CMS cell and gene therapy model for value-based payment agreements to treat sickle cell disorder with CGT therapy. A third DHS rule would exempt the state from the CMS recovery audit contractor requirement. DHS said recovery audit contractors typically work on contingency to identify fraud, waste, abuse, or overpayments, but Arkansas law prevents contingency arrangements, so the state uses other program-integrity layers instead. Those layers include internal retrospective reviews, an external payment integrity office, the Office of Medicaid Inspector General, and the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Members asked for clarification on the contractor role, and DHS responded that the exemption has no cost and was approved by CMS. During new business, Representative Pilkington asked about a reported increase in uninsured postpartum cases in a DHS quarterly report. DHS representatives said they were not prepared to answer at the meeting and would follow up offline. Representative Johnson also asked about a handout related to program integrity and Arkansas Medicaid. With no further business, the committee adjourned.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • I think based on kind of it was a federal audit on claims.
  • And so we have the audits of the claims and the claims.
  • Based on kind of, it was a federal audit on claims, and so we have the audits of the claims and the claim
  • operational improvement and efficiencies.
  • And a lot of the efficiencies that are proposed here... ...this new model of care, and a lot of the efficiencies
Keywords: 987, senate, all
Summary: The subcommittee first heard May Revision items for child support, child care, and related human services. The Department of Child Support Services described two technical adjustments, which the LAO said raised no concerns. The Department of Social Services then walked through child care proposals, including a shift in how federal and Proposition 64 funding reductions would be absorbed, a 2.01% COLA, disaster-related child care infrastructure grants, an increase in in-contract administrative support costs for alternative payment agencies, reversion of prospective-pay implementation funding after a federal rule change, a one-time allocation to cover the first quarter of Cost of Care Plus payments in the next fiscal year, reappropriation for existing infrastructure grant closeout work, and estimates of unspent child care funds. The department also outlined trailer bill language on a single rate structure, site safety and emergency procedures, CalWORKs child care data sharing, and child care oversight. The LAO recommended that the Legislature seek more justification for shifting reductions from General Child Care to the Alternative Payment Program, noting that CAP reductions affect more slots and that General Child Care has had significant unspent funds. It supported removing prospective-pay funding, but recommended rejecting the administrative cost shift to a percentage-based rate because it could create future General Fund pressure. It also suggested the Legislature review alignment between the disaster grants and the child care infrastructure program. Senators and members pressed the administration on why the budget would reduce child care slots and COLA percentages while the state still has waitlists and unspent funds, and questioned the need for early funding of Cost of Care Plus payments and the move from a flat administrative amount to a percentage. Public commenters, including providers, advocates, county offices, and infrastructure partners, urged full COLA funding, preservation of child care slots, support for prospective pay, and continued investment in child care access and facilities. After a short recess, the committee moved to Part B on health and heard the Department of State Hospitals. DSH presented a May Revision budget of $3.2 billion and described proposals for a central utility plant replacement at Metropolitan State Hospital, an electronic health record implementation, reduced county bed billing authority due to phased-in LPS bed capacity, limited contract exemption authority for online clinical subscriptions, reversion of prior-year unspent operating funds, and a workforce development proposal shifting some costs to Behavioral Health Services Act funds, including support for an additional psychiatric training cohort at Napa. The department also outlined IST-related savings and a trailer bill to remove the sunset on the independent placement panel program.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Commerce and Consumer Affairs (04/21/2026)

Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • You just You want<01:14:50.520> auditing. want auditing. want auditing.
  • Auditing<01:14:55.600> already Auditing already Auditing already occurred.<01:14:57.680> If
  • We do audit out-of-state as do audit.
  • audits.
  • audit takes, the initial inventory? audit takes, the initial inventory?
Keywords: 1189, house, all
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/19/2026 - House Health & Human Services

Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • You guys know the audits.
  • I’m not going to belabor the point, but after four audits and 33 years of recommendations, the board
  • The board is already enacting changes to increase efficiencies and try to decrease backlog.
  • we've received fewer complaints, we are able to meet that timeline more efficiently.
  • And after reading the Auditor General's performance audit and Sunset Review, the problem is not unique
Summary: The committee first took up several continuation bills to extend state boards and agencies, including HB 2728 for the Department of Economic Security, HB 2729 for the State Board of Nursing, HB 2730 for the Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners, HB 2731 for the Physician Assistants Board, and HB 2732 for the Board of Pharmacy. Each was moved for a due pass recommendation, with HB 2731 amended to continue the physician assistant board for four years instead of two. All of these continuation bills passed the committee with strong support. The committee then heard HB 2408, a nursing board reform bill dealing with complaint investigation procedures, timelines, confidentiality, complaint prioritization, access to investigative files, expungement of certain disciplinary actions, and a revised definition of unprofessional conduct. The sponsor and supporters argued it would improve fairness, allow limited expungement for older non-patient-safety issues, and address long investigation delays. The nursing board president and other opponents warned it would raise the evidentiary standard, weaken patient safety protections, and erase useful disciplinary history. After extensive testimony, the committee adopted an amendment and passed the bill 7-4-1. Next, the committee considered pharmacy-related reforms. HB 2434 updated the controlled substances prescription monitoring program, including registration, reporting, confidentiality, and a compliance work group; it passed unanimously after amendment. HB 2733 allowed pharmacists and technicians to complete continuing education after renewal submission if finished before expiration, clarified prescription delivery locations, and addressed temporary operation during ownership changes; it also passed unanimously after amendment. Finally, HB 2725, which would have restricted access contractors from substituting non-opioid drugs and limiting non-opioid utilization controls, drew concerns that it was too broad and could affect many drug classes and costs. After amendment and debate, the committee failed to give HB 2725 a due pass recommendation by a 6-6 vote, and the meeting adjourned.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Education Postsecondary Jan 14th, 2025

Education Postsecondary

Transcript Highlights:
  • Universities are also required to provide a summary to our office of any reviews or audits that have
  • Any audit findings, so if their inspector general has pulled that into an audit for some reason and there's
  • technology called focused ultrasound, and this opens up the blood-brain barrier and allows more efficient
  • engineers from all across campus and truly all across the world to look at scalable, affordable, efficient
  • processes to make them more efficient, more available, and more stringent and tough materials.
Summary: The Education Postsecondary Committee held its first meeting and focused on state university centers and institutes, with an overview from the Board of Governors on how the more than 500 centers and institutes across Florida’s public universities are categorized, overseen, and reported. The Board described three categories: state-level centers, legislatively established centers, and university-established centers. Members were told universities must maintain policies, notify the Board of changes, publish public inventories, and submit annual reports and compliance certifications. Senator Harrell asked about funding sources and whether underperforming centers are reviewed for elimination; the response was that funding varies by center and that universities decide whether to maintain or disband centers under their own policies, with annual reporting and audit findings shared with the Board. Four university presentations followed. Florida Atlantic University highlighted its Center of Excellence in Biomedical and Marine Biotechnology, describing research in marine-derived drug discovery, genomics, imaging, cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and ocean sustainability, along with spin-off institutes and partnerships that have generated significant grant and contract support. FIU presented its Center of Excellence for Hurricane Damage Mitigation and Product Development, emphasizing the Wall of Wind facility, hurricane and water intrusion testing, code and product innovation, insurance modeling, and future expansion toward higher wind speeds and flood simulation. Florida State University’s High-Performance Materials Institute described work in advanced materials, aerospace composites, sensors, nanocomposites, and AI-enabled materials development, along with patents, industry partnerships, and new facilities tied to economic development. The University of Florida’s Lastinger Center for Learning outlined its work on teacher professional learning, literacy, New Worlds Reading, tutoring, and mathematics supports, including microcredentials, statewide book distribution, and early results showing improved reading confidence and growth. Members generally praised the centers for their research, commercialization, workforce development, and education impacts. Senator Jones and Senator Harrell commended the Lastinger Center’s literacy work and the broader return on investment from these programs, while Senator Berman noted the value of the synergies across institutions. The chair emphasized that future funding requests should clearly show measurable success, commercialization, and statewide impact. The committee then adjourned without any formal votes on legislation.