Transcript Highlights:

• and cost. ...that just focuses on performance and maybe the first category of, you know, the performance
• in state courts or not.
• At a minimum, we should await that ruling by the high court.
• The language about market share says the court or jury may use, not shall.
• Supreme Court is currently reviewing Suncor Energy v.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• of the trial court.
• If you're in a specialty court, it takes about 14 months to graduate from specialty court.
• If you're in specialty court, it takes about 14 months to graduate from specialty court.
• So I got a call from Quincy District Court.
• We do performance-based contracting.

Summary: The Special Commission on Correctional Consolidation and Collaboration met to approve the May 5 minutes and hear a presentation from the Massachusetts Probation Service. The minutes were approved unanimously, with a request that a member’s closing remarks be added to the record. The commission also noted online participants and confirmed quorum before moving to the presentation. Probation leaders described the agency’s role as the state’s largest post-release supervision system and emphasized its focus on reentry, accountability, and reducing technical violations. They outlined the from-and-after sentencing structure, dual supervision with parole, and efforts to reduce revocations and non-criminal violations. Members asked about racial and ethnic disparity work, and probation said that effort is funded through the trial court and state budget, not federal grants. The presentation highlighted community engagement, simplified and translated probation conditions, workforce diversification, and training aimed at improving trust and access for court users. A major portion of the discussion focused on Community Justice Support Centers, evidence-based programming, and shared services such as housing, MassHealth enrollment, transportation, and behavioral health referrals. Probation said the centers are underutilized but have shown improved outcomes in non-randomized studies, with lower recidivism among participants compared with similar probationers. Members discussed mental health access, veterans identification, medication-assisted treatment, and the importance of state IDs and driver’s licenses for successful reentry. The commission also heard about housing supports, including transitional and sober housing, and a statewide behavioral health initiative for justice-involved individuals. The meeting ended with plans for the next session on July 11 and a motion to adjourn, which passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• He's now on the Court of Civil now on the Court of Civil Appeals.
• They have to be ordered by a court before they can perform the autopsy.
• Well, we would probably end up in some type of a court proceeding in circuit court or at an administrative
• It is power within the administrative court. ...power within the administrative court.
• So you've now entered the court you've now entered the court system, which then gives you the subpoena

Bills: SB324 , HB395 , HB222 , HB310 , HB285 , HB144 , HB251 , HB380

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> performing students internationally. performing students internationally.
• </c> as demonstrated by high performing as demonstrated by high performing countries<00:15:29.839><c>
• Um and um so or the court website.
• Like there have been challenges in court, and the court struck down those challenges based on the current
• and the court been challenges in court and the court struck<05:16:57.920><c> down</c><05:16:58.160><

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Summary: The committee held a hearing on House Bill 1571, which would direct the Department of Education to review and revise statewide academic standards and curriculum and make an appropriation. Representative Kristen Noble, the sponsor, said the bill is intended to update outdated standards, especially in math, and to have the department create a list of high-quality curriculum and materials aligned to the revised standards. She noted she would likely amend the bill to change a requirement that districts “shall” select from the list to “may,” and said a misplaced crossed-out section would need to be restored and moved by amendment. She also said assessments would need to be updated to match any new standards. Testimony from Marie Banfield strongly supported the bill and the move away from a mandate, arguing that current standards are outdated and that Common Core and related standards have not improved student outcomes. She criticized the math standards for emphasizing multiple strategies and written explanations over computation, and said stronger standards would better support students, including those with learning or communication challenges. She also argued that New Hampshire should follow examples such as Massachusetts, which she said used rigorous standards successfully. Nate Green of the Department of Education did not take a position on the bill but explained that the bill would affect statewide academic standards, state assessments, and potentially federal compliance. He distinguished academic standards from minimum standards in statute, said any standards revision would require work with content experts, State Board approval, and then a corresponding assessment update that could take about two years. He estimated assessment development costs could range from about $200,000 to $500,000 for minor revisions and $1 million to $2 million for a wholesale new set of standards. He also said the bill would apply to public and charter public schools, not private or homeschool students, and that the department does not currently provide a statewide list of curriculum materials because curriculum decisions have historically been local.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:24:52.640><c> the</c> &gt;&gt; and that I will faithfully perform the &gt;&gt; and that I will
• faithfully perform the duties<00:24:53.200><c> of</c><00:24:53.440><c> my</c><00:24:53.679><c> office
• </c><00:24:56.400><c> the</c><00:24:56.640><c> duties</c> &gt;&gt; And I will faithfully perform the
• duties &gt;&gt; And I will faithfully perform the duties of<00:24:57.200><c> my</c><00:24:57.440><c>
• </c> committee will meet in old Supreme Court committee will meet in old Supreme Court 10<00:35:38.720

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it the Supreme Court? I mean, who oversees that?
• If the court finds the charges to be sufficient, and whether the ballot synopsis is adequate.
• But we look to our courts, our legislator, our processes to address those. Not to go over.
• Courts, our Legislature, our processes to address those, not to go around our voters.
• I filed, I don't know, litigated in the Supreme Court a half a dozen recall actions, and...

Bills: HB2387 , HB2490 , HB2508 , HB2539

Committee: House Community Safety

Keywords: elected sheriff, sheriff accountability, recall election, peace officer certification, certified peace officer, law enforcement authority, Washington RCW, criminal justice training commission, special election, public official recall, decertification, sheriff removal, voter accountability, county sheriff, police powers, extraordinary medical placement, compassionate release, medical parole, terminal illness, serious medical condition

Transcript Highlights:

• and to advise the court regarding assessment of CDCR's compliance with the court orders.
• The receivership is court ordered, so I just want to be clear that it's court ordered.
• We will be providing quarterly updates to the court and reports to the court that will be docketed.
• that this is a court-ordered action plan and the progress quarterly reports back to the court certainly
• And I just want to make sure that, again, this is a court-ordered action plan approved by the courts

Transcript Highlights:

• It basically says misconduct and failure to perform duties. That could be read many multiple ways.
• That the secretary can request a suspension for failing to perform the duty or any other law or rule
• And, you know, we have relied on courts and...
• But they also have the ability to go to district court, to appeal to district court, right?
• But they also have the ability to go to district court, to appeal to district court, right?

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• order. ...have to bring up our commitment under Martinez-Jazi, which the court ordered and specifically
• Chair, the court order.
• When we looked at student Lexile performance and growth using comparable metrics, New Mexico students
• That raises an important question: Are we measuring performance consistently across states, or are we
• by Everest... ...favor of House Memorial 43 because this independent study performed by Everest Analytics

Bills: HB30 , HB120 , HJR1 , SB210 , SB306

Committee: House House Education

Keywords: teacher residency, Teacher Residency Act, public schools, teacher preparation, educator pipeline, teacher recruitment, teacher retention, student teachers, apprenticeship, co-teaching, mentor teachers, residency stipend, teacher salary, level one teacher, charter schools, school districts, New Mexico education, teacher workforce, principal stipend, cohort model

Transcript Highlights:

• As well as our LIS team, and I believe a court officer in plain clothes somewhere amongst us.
• I'm surveying the room right now to find out who the plain-clothes court officer is, but it's an honor
• While DUA's performance data shows that it's experiencing significant challenges, it also shows that
• DUA's frontline staff are performing more work than ever.
• Unfortunately, despite these efforts, DUA's data shows that its performance with respect to a number

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development

Summary: The Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development held a hearing on House 5188, a late-filed bill to establish a special commission to study access to unemployment insurance in Massachusetts. Representatives Hadley Luddy and Joshua Tarski, the bill’s sponsors, said they filed it after seeing many constituent cases involving delays, unresolved claims, and difficulty navigating the unemployment system, especially for seasonal workers and others facing financial instability. They argued the commission should review claim data, gather stakeholder input, and identify gaps in the process so the system is more efficient, equitable, and transparent. Greater Boston Legal Services testified in support, describing numerous client cases in which claimants waited months for determinations or were stuck in limbo after the launch of a new online benefits system. Attorneys said DUA’s backlogs and timeliness metrics had worsened, citing large increases in non-monetary, separation, and hearings backlogs, and they urged the committee to consider systemic fixes, including better notice about paid family and medical leave and possibly more funding or staff for DUA. Committee members generally praised the bill and the sponsors’ collaboration, and one suggested the commission’s reporting deadline might need to be extended. No vote was taken during the hearing. After testimony and brief discussion, the chair closed the hearing and concluded the committee meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The court will order a child...
• And we do have a fabulous truancy support court.
• Then they get to truancy court.
• I told you, each kid is six months prior to getting to truancy court.
• Truancy court, if it doesn't work in truancy court, and the resources we provide with the judge, with

Committee: Senate Education Pre-K - 12

Summary: The committee met to discuss student attendance and chronic absenteeism in Florida K-12 schools, with Chair Simon outlining the state’s attendance requirements and intervention process, including school contact after unexcused absences, child study team review, district superintendent referral, DJJ family services referral, truancy petitions, and possible parental prosecution and driver’s license consequences. Dr. Chris Curran of the University of Florida presented statewide data showing chronic absenteeism has risen sharply since the pandemic, with Florida at about 31.4% in 2023–24, and noted that absenteeism varies by district, school level, demographics, and urbanicity. He emphasized that causes are multifaceted—ranging from transportation, mental health, housing instability, safety concerns, and family circumstances—and said effective responses include early warning systems, text or phone outreach, multi-tiered interventions, mentoring programs like Check & Connect, and community partnerships. He also cautioned that punitive responses alone are often less effective than addressing root causes and keeping students engaged academically even when they miss school. Collier County Superintendent Leslie Ricciardelli described her district’s attendance efforts as a priority supported by attendance specialists, social workers, mental health staff, home visits, attendance contracts, and extensive parent communication. She said Collier’s chronic absenteeism rate was about 9% in 2023–24 and attributed success to consistent monitoring, family outreach, and community support, while stressing that students must be physically present to learn. She also argued that many absences are tied to barriers such as clothing, transportation, childcare, or family mental health, and that districts need resources to address those issues. Dr. Rachel Dawes added that Collier uses multilingual brochures, attendance awareness campaigns, vacation-planning guidance, door tags, automated calls and letters, and a truancy flow chart, with truancy court used as a last resort. Volusia County Executive Director Mike McAuliffe described a districtwide overhaul that included an attendance matters campaign, automated notices sent early and often, same-day and period-by-period notifications, a data dashboard, and tiered supports through MTSS. He said Volusia reduced chronic absenteeism from 34% in 2023–24 to a projected 29% and reported a first-quarter rate of about 20% in the current year. He highlighted community partnerships, including AdventHealth support for washers and dryers, bikes for students with transportation barriers, and monetary recognition for schools that reduce absenteeism. In response to questions, both district leaders emphasized that funding, staffing, and consistent follow-through are essential, and that attendance work is most effective when paired with family engagement, data monitoring, and practical supports rather than punishment alone.

Transcript Highlights:

• It does not eliminate damages or restrict access to the courts.
• It simply clarifies how the courts.
• </c> addressed by a court addressed by a court in<00:25:10.320><c> a</c><00:25:10.400><c> fair</c> in
• President, House Bill 96 relates to the performance funding work group and performance funding, as many
• The performance funding work group and performance funding, as many of you know, is something that we've

Transcript Highlights:

• The annual work related to Medicaid is largely performed in Arkansas's statewide single audit.
• Now, The audit cycle continues the next year, when subsequent-year auditors perform follow-up procedures
• Are these mostly being filed in state court or do you go to federal court?
• The civil actions are often filed in federal court because they're whistleblower actions, qui tam.
• Occasionally, we will file something in federal court if we are working with the U.S.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-MEDICAID SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The Medicaid Subcommittee of the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee met to adopt the November 2018 minutes and receive a primer on the subcommittee’s role and Medicaid oversight in Arkansas. Legislative audit staff reviewed the subcommittee’s history and explained that Medicaid is audited annually through the statewide single audit because it is a high-risk federal program. Staff summarized recent audit findings, including weaknesses in eligibility and data-matching controls, improper use of Medicaid funds for partially non-Medicaid work, issues with incarcerated juveniles’ coverage, the absence of a Medicaid recovery audit contractor program exception request, reporting problems involving MFCU recoveries, and provider eligibility documentation concerns. Staff also noted a DHS departmental audit finding involving employees who improperly received benefits, which was referred for further action. The Department of Human Services gave an overview of Medicaid’s structure, eligibility, delivery systems, and budget. DHS described Arkansas Medicaid as covering about 850,000 people through fee-for-service, managed care, and premium assistance for the expansion population, and outlined major spending categories such as institutional care, long-term services, pharmacy, capitated payments, and supplemental payments. DHS also explained the difference between state plan amendments and waivers, and said it has a beneficiary-fraud unit that refers cases to local prosecutors. The Office of Medicaid Inspector General described its role in detecting and preventing fraud, waste, and abuse, distinguishing between suspensions for credible allegations of fraud and recovery actions for mistakes or overpayments. OMIG said it works with DHS and law enforcement, issues quarterly and annual reports, and has increased recoveries in recent years. The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit explained that it prosecutes provider fraud criminally and civilly, can also handle long-term care neglect, abuse, and exploitation cases, and works with local prosecutors as special deputies. Committee members asked about court venue, provider suspensions, beneficiary fraud, education of providers, and the status of Medicaid expansion work requirements; DHS said it is preparing to implement community engagement requirements under HR 1 and will begin with a soft launch before full enforcement. No formal votes were taken beyond adoption of the minutes, and the meeting adjourned after questions were answered.

Transcript Highlights:

• The annual work related to Medicaid is largely performed in Arkansas's statewide single audit.
• The audit cycle continues the next year when subsequent-year auditors perform follow-up procedures to
• And so that's what we are generally appointed by the elected prosecutor, sometimes by the court or a
• Are these mostly being filed in state court, or do you go to federal court?
• Occasionally, we will file something in federal court if we are working with the U.S.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-MEDICAID SUBCOMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:

• In the district court, in the federal district court, the plaintiffs had asked for an injunction prohibiting
• And the court clearly said that's probably unconstitutional.
• The court didn't bring that up as a problem.
• It went up to the United States Supreme Court.
• and are standing in that court better.

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• That would be the new baseline, so they would be performing against that standard.
• That wraps up the first performance component.
• So that wraps up the first kind of performance component.
• I do want to talk about, you mentioned 80% performance or the budget that was moving forward. 80% performance
• I know the agenda mentions that it's 11% performance.

Summary: The committee heard a broad public safety budget hearing focused on youth justice funding, probation incentive grants, and disaster response and recovery. On the youth justice item, the Office of Youth and Community Restoration described a proposed change to the JJRBG funding formula that would shift resources away from a DJJ-based measure and toward county youth population, serious offenses, and step-down placements in less restrictive programs. Members asked about data on Native American youth; OYCR said statewide data are limited, but its SYTF data show about 1% of youth in secure youth treatment facilities were Native in 2024. The Department of Finance had no objections, and the item was discussed as a way to support alternatives to long-term incarceration. The committee then reviewed the community corrections performance incentive program for county probation departments. The Department of Finance proposed stabilizing the program with a maintenance payment, updating the performance baseline, and adding a growth factor; the LAO agreed the formula needed changes but recommended using 2022-23 data instead of 2021-23, using marginal rather than average cost assumptions, rejecting the growth payment and minimum guarantee, and adding stronger oversight through the BSCC. Finance said it was open to some technical changes but opposed a new BSCC audit framework, noting Judicial Council already surveys probation departments and that evidence-based practice use has increased over time. Members and staff indicated the proposal still needed further work. A major portion of the hearing focused on the January 2025 Southern California wildfires and state disaster response. A resident of Altadena gave emotional testimony about evacuation failures, loss of home, and the need for accountability. LAO and Cal OES outlined the disaster response and recovery system, including mutual aid, alert and warning, debris removal, FEMA and state funding streams, and the long timeline for reimbursement. Cal OES said it had pre-positioned resources, temporarily took over the county’s wireless emergency alert function for about three weeks, coordinated debris removal and recovery operations, and had already allocated more than $286 million in state funds. Officials also discussed the 100% federal cost share for emergency work for 180 days and the uncertainty created by changing federal processes and the cancellation of the BRIC resilience program. The committee also heard two smaller Cal OES items: a request to reappropriate about $22 million for the law enforcement mutual aid reimbursement program, which the LAO said should be placed in statute with clearer goals and reporting, and an update on Victims of Crime Act funding, where Cal OES said federal VOCA allocations have fallen sharply and that roughly $224 million would be needed to maintain current service levels if federal funding does not improve. Public comment included a request for funding to expand datacasting and emergency alert receivers for wildfire and earthquake warning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um again trying to set a uh reasonable uh performance indicator for an agency that has uh seen fraud
• ><c> indicator</c><00:05:19.280><c> for</c> reasonable uh performance indicator for reasonable uh performance
• While we agree that allegations of misconduct or inadequate job performance should be taken seriously
• Is there what would be the cause of action in a court if an individual disagreed?
• </c> would be the cause of action in a court would be the cause of action in a court &gt;&gt; if<00:15

Transcript Highlights:

• He also He was over the Hugolas, which was a Supreme Court justice funeral.
• Four years ago, how many abortions are being performed? Performed?
• The court will activate the machine sergeants. Roll call is now in progress.
• The court will activate the machine sergeants. Just not roll call.
• Is Charlotte Paslo Courts now? Ole Hall rollco sound progress.

Bills: HR1036 , HB2975 , HB3026 , HB3297 , HB2981 , HB2978 , HB4144 , HB1322 , HB1818 , HB3194 , HB3767 , HB3342 , HB3344 , HB4170 , HB3287 , HB3288 , HB4454 , HB3264 , HB3266 , HB3268 , HB4095 , HB4115 , HB4316 , HB3530 , HB3428 , HB4272 , HB4273 , HB4274 , HB3405 , HB3406 , HB3467 , HB3469 , HB3931

Keywords: Bob Wills, Western Swing, Cain's Ballroom, Oklahoma music history, country music, rock and roll, folk jazz blues, Oklahoma Arts Council, Oklahoma Film and Music Office, Oklahoma Historical Society, OKPOP Museum, commemorative resolution, day at the Capitol, musician recognition, heritage celebration, Tulsa, poultry waste, nutrient management, environmental regulations, agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• Our guardianship and children's court advocacy programs help eliminate barriers and provide free legal
• to court-appointed counsel in dependency court.
• Our guardianship and children's court advocacy programs help eliminate barriers and provide free legal
• to court-appointed counsel in dependency court.
• AB 1208 requires the development of uniform measures for evaluating quality, performance, and outcomes

Summary: The committee heard a series of child care, social services, immigrant support, disability services, and language access bills, with many measures drawing strong support and no opposition. Early in the hearing, AB 450 proposed a Department of Aging task force to study and recommend policies for undocumented adults age 55 and older; AB 593 would let CDSS identify data-sharing opportunities to improve CalFresh administration and participation; and AB 904 would clarify child care subsidy eligibility so families do not lose care during pregnancy leave, family leave, caregiving, or job search periods. All three were presented as ways to reduce barriers and improve access to essential services, and AB 904 was moved out on a 1-0 call after support testimony from child care advocates and a member of the public. AB 617, which would expand and standardize respite care access for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by requiring licensing and registry participation, drew both support and significant opposition from respite providers and disability service organizations concerned about added regulation, cost, and possible delays; the author said she would continue working with opponents, and the bill was moved out on a 2-0 call. The committee also heard AB 1220, which would require regional centers to document denials, notices of action, and appeals in individual program plans and include that data in annual reports to improve transparency and equity in developmental services. The bill drew extensive public support from parents, advocates, and disability organizations, with no opposition, and passed 5-0. AB 752 would make child care centers by right in certain residential zones when co-located with multifamily housing or institutional uses, and supporters argued it would reduce zoning barriers and help expand child care capacity; it also passed 5-0. AB 1242 would create a CalHHS language access director, require human review of machine translation, and improve language coverage determinations for state and local agencies; supporters emphasized health equity and the need for better access for limited-English communities, and the bill was moved out on a 4-0 call. Later, AB 548 would continue and expand the Asylee and Vulnerable Non-Citizen Program, which provides case management and integration services for asylees and certain visa holders; supporters said the program had been effective but had run out of funding, and the bill passed 4-0. AB 495, the Family Preparedness Plan Act, would strengthen family safety planning for immigrant families, standardize acceptance of caregiver authorization affidavits, and create a joint guardianship process for temporary separations; testimony focused on fear of family separation and the need for clear school and medical procedures, and the bill passed 4-0. AB 1357 would exclude guaranteed income payments from being counted as income for state public assistance eligibility, with supporters arguing it would prevent recipients from falling off the “benefits cliff”; it passed 4-1. Finally, AB 1201, the Reunity Act, was introduced to require individualized court assessments before denying reunification services to parents with certain violent felony convictions after a five-year period, with the author and a witness describing the bill as a trauma-informed approach to family reunification.

Transcript Highlights:

• Peace officer while engaged in the lawful performance.
• </c> in the lawful performance. in the lawful performance.
• </c><00:48:13.599><c> and</c> you assess the cost of the court and you assess the cost of the court and
• They've been adjudicated and found guilty in a criminal court.
• And so, as all the time with the courts.

Bills: SF0087 , SF0088 , SF0092

Committee: Senate Judiciary