Video & Transcript Research : 'accessibility'
Page 83 of 500
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Civil Rights & Judiciary Dec 5th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Moving away from the pipeline itself for a moment to focus on access to justice in legal deserts, the
- Once they're here, they have access to things like Social Justice Tuesdays, an annual public service
- Which are the numbers I have access to, were double digits.
- That meant he could not access many services. He had a substance use disorder.
- Once he had those identity documents, he was able to access health care, he was able to access drug treatment
Summary:
The work session began with a discussion of expanding opportunities in the legal profession, especially in response to shortages of lawyers in rural Washington and in public service roles. Washington State Bar Executive Director Tara Nevitt described a slowly growing but aging attorney population, noted that younger attorneys have declined, and outlined efforts such as supervised practice pathways to bar admission, reduced admission-by-motion experience requirements, expanded law clerk capacity, rural job fairs and grants, and a pilot program allowing innovative legal service delivery models. Members asked about bar passage score changes, loan repayment assistance, and the former Limited License Legal Technician program; Nevitt said the bar is monitoring other states and remains in dialogue with the court about paraprofessional licensing. Law school representatives from UW, Seattle University, and Gonzaga emphasized public service pipelines, financial barriers, and rural legal deserts, citing LRAPs, scholarships, stipends, clinics, and hybrid or regional programs designed to recruit and retain students in Washington. Seattle U highlighted its FlexJD and hybrid hub partnerships in underserved areas, while Gonzaga and UW reported substantial shares of graduates entering public service, though most still cluster in urban regions. The committee also heard from the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys and the Office of Public Defense, both of which described severe recruitment and retention problems in rural counties, with vacancies, low applicant pools, and the need for higher salaries, housing help, internships, and loan support. The Office of Public Defense said its internship and fellowship program, created by SB 5780, has already placed interns in rural counties and produced some commitments to return after graduation. The Washington State Bar’s law clerk program was also presented as a pathway that helps people train locally and remain in their communities, including by supporting succession for aging solo practitioners.
The committee then shifted to family law and guardianship issues. On Title 26 guardian ad litem practice, presenters from Northwest Justice Project and private family law practice said GALs can play an important role but that training, oversight, and consistency remain major concerns, especially in domestic violence cases. They described problems such as inadequate training, bias, inconsistent recommendations, high fees, and lack of accountability, and suggested stronger, standardized training, more use of mental health professionals for custody evaluations, and better oversight mechanisms. Members asked about county practices, including rotation systems for GAL appointments and whether King County’s family court assessors provide a useful model. The discussion then moved to minor guardianships under the Uniform Guardianship Act. A Superior Court judge said the 2021 changes increased the need for court visitors and appointed counsel, but courts are struggling to find qualified attorneys and visitors, especially in rural areas. A former commissioner said most of the bill under discussion was technical cleanup to align prior amendments, though it would add some fiscal burdens. Administrative Office of the Courts staff reported that the statewide reimbursement program for UGA implementation has repeatedly run out of money earlier each year, with minor guardianship costs making up most of the expense. The Office of Public Guardianship then described rapid growth in demand for adult guardianship and less restrictive alternatives, noting that referrals and caseloads have risen sharply, but that the office is constrained by a shortage of certified professional guardians and low compensation levels. Finally, the committee began an update on Blake implementation from the Office of Civil Legal Aid, which funds civil legal services related to the decision, before the transcript cut off.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Local Government Dec 4th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- And so some of those things have really allowed access to increase.
- We have access. Do we have a solution to a technical issue? There we go. Let's give it a try. Yep.
- And so existing access is limited.
- meet fire or our construction standards for access streets.
- “Make some changes to make housing more accessible. Well, that’s a statement right there.
Summary:
The committee held a work session on form-based codes, child care facility siting, and street standards/frontage improvements. On form-based codes, Commerce’s Dave Anderson explained that these codes emphasize building form, orientation, and the public realm more than traditional use and density tables, and that they are typically applied in specific districts rather than citywide or statewide. Lacey’s Vanessa Dolby described the city’s Woodland District code, developed through community charrettes, fiscal and market analysis, and subdistrict-specific standards to create a walkable downtown. She said the approach has helped produce a more desirable built environment and more flexibility in permitted uses, but also noted it can be less user-friendly for applicants and still requires some use restrictions; both presenters said a hybrid approach is often best.
The committee then heard from DCYF and multiple providers about barriers to opening child care facilities. DCYF officials said Washington has more than 6,500 licensed providers and that a new pre-licensing support team is helping applicants navigate licensing, but local zoning, building, fire, parking, utility, and occupancy requirements still create delays and confusion. Testifiers described long permitting timelines, inconsistent local interpretations, costly upgrades, and utility hookup delays; one Yakima provider said county requirements, a floodplain-related elevation certificate, and a private well issue stopped her in-home child care proposal, while others described traffic impact fees, parking mandates, and zoning barriers that made projects infeasible. Enterprise Community Partners highlighted examples of successful local reforms, including fee waivers, expedited permitting, and zoning changes in several cities, and DCYF said it is working toward a 2026 action plan and a resource guide for providers.
In the final section, planners and developers discussed how street standards and frontage improvement requirements can undermine infill and middle housing. Poulsbo’s planning manager said current standards were designed for greenfield subdivisions and often force costly curb, gutter, sidewalk, stormwater, and utility upgrades on small infill sites, sometimes adding tens of thousands of dollars and causing projects to be abandoned. A Seattle-based developer made similar points about small middle-housing projects being burdened by frontage work, curb ramps, buried standards, and EV-ready parking requirements that can trigger expensive undergrounding. Committee members asked about possible state-level changes, including whether child care should be treated as an essential public facility and whether parking requirements had already been reduced; one senator noted that minimum parking requirements for child care facilities were eliminated in prior legislation, with implementation phased in over the next few years.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Science, Technology and Telecommunications Nov 12th, 2025
Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- They go and they all deploy. their own solution for access into their systems.
- It has access to all of the data within the environment because it is integrated.
- As an example, how to move forward with ADA and accessibility. But we're continuing to move.
- Who has access to the dashboard, or who's able to look at that?
- So you should have full accessibility to go ahead. Head whenever you're ready. All right.
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Fiscal Policy Apr 2nd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- CS for CS for SB 344 on the Telecommunications Access System Act of 1991 by Senator Rodriguez.
- Those are not the normal populations that lack access and resources.
- It should be access. It should be low income.
- Because those are the students that are having the lack of access.
- Next, we'll take up tab 12, Senate Bill 1162 on water access facilities by Senator Leak.
Summary:
The committee took up a series of bills and amendments, reporting several measures favorably. Early in the meeting, CS for CS for SB 344 modernizing the Telecommunications Access System Act was approved without opposition. The committee then adopted amendments and passed CS for SB 714 on non-opioid advanced directives, CS for SB 738 updating child care and early learning provider regulation, CS for SB 756 revising health insurance coverage for individuals with developmental disabilities, and CS for CS for SB 1356 creating a Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases at FSU and a newborn genetic testing pilot. Later, the committee also approved CS for SB 1624 on higher education, CS for SB 1626 on child welfare, SB 178 on an agronomic study for emerging crops, SB 1162 on water access facilities and boat ramp parking, CS for CS for SB 958 creating a type 1 diabetes early detection program, CS for CS for SB 1402 expanding dropout retrieval eligibility, SB 774 requiring electronic transmission of certain court orders, SB 1516 creating an international aerospace innovation fund, and SB 994 revising driver education requirements. Most of these bills were reported favorably by roll call votes after brief explanations and, in several cases, amendments.
Several measures drew substantive discussion and public testimony. CS for CS for SB 1624 prompted questions about replacing “minority” with “underrepresented,” the role of the Florida Department of Education’s Commission for Independent Education in overseeing private religious postsecondary institutions, and whether the changes could affect access for students at institutions such as FAMU and FIU. CS for CS for SB 1070 on ECGs for student athletes received extensive emotional testimony from parents and advocates describing children lost to sudden cardiac arrest and urging mandatory screenings; the sponsor said the bill would be cost-neutral for districts by encouraging partnerships with screening groups. SB 994 on driver education was discussed as a vehicle to add distracted driving instruction, and the sponsor agreed to work on that issue. SB 774 was presented as a response to a fatal delay in transmitting an ex parte order, with support from clerks and sheriffs.
The most extended debate centered on SB 810 on stormwater management systems. The sponsor said the bill, as amended, would narrow annual inspections to infrastructure identified as vulnerable by MS4 entities, but the Florida League of Cities, Florida Association of Counties, and Florida Stormwater Association warned the proposal could impose major costs and duplicate existing MS4 permit requirements. Committee members questioned the fiscal impact, whether the bill would apply to FDOT or other entities, and whether annual inspections were feasible for large and small jurisdictions alike. Despite those concerns, the sponsor and several members emphasized flood prevention and public safety, and the bill remained under discussion with the sponsor indicating continued willingness to work with stakeholders.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legislative Commission on Data Practices 11/20/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:21:06.000>
School access or withholding data. School access or withholding data. - :39:18.560>
and <00:39:18.800>data speak about data access and data speak about data access - <00:39:29.040>
to act as you know governs access to act as you know governs access to government - This is of access a county network.
- Um to to gain access to county networks.
Summary:
The committee approved the October 15, 2025 minutes and then held a broader discussion on current challenges with data retention and government transparency. Judy Randall of the Office of the Legislative Auditor said historical data is essential for post-audits, which often look back three to five years, and that retention decisions must balance audit needs with the burden of separating public and nonpublic data. She described the records-retention panel process as informal and largely based on individual judgment, noting she had objected to a proposed 60-day email retention period and generally uses a three-year guideline, though she said that standard is not grounded in a formal rule. Members discussed whether auditing standards should set retention periods, with Randall saying auditing is a good starting point but other offices, including the attorney general, also have needs, and that some agency discretion is unavoidable because of the gray area between official records and non-records.
Representative Elkins raised the related principle of data minimization, arguing that government should not keep data longer than needed and citing a University of Minnesota legacy data warehouse breach as an example of the risks of retaining unnecessary sensitive information. Randall agreed that data no longer needed is a liability and said her office purges workpapers after five years. Representative Scott pressed whether three years is enough for fraud investigations and financial records; Randall responded that a reasonableness standard is needed and that longer retention can produce diminishing returns, though she said she would follow up on whether financial records should be treated differently.
Tanya Tacker of the Rum River Special Education Cooperative testified in support of updating Minnesota’s data-retention laws for schools. She said districts want to protect student information and maintain transparency, but the current general retention schedule dates to 1985 and 2000 and does not reflect digital records, modern systems, or the volume of special education data. She urged modernizing the schedule, clarifying what must be kept in paper versus digitized form, aligning state rules with IDEA and other federal requirements, and providing practical guidance and tools. Members praised the specificity of her recommendations.
Dr. BB Newman testified that retention failures in St. Anthony Village have made it difficult to obtain routine municipal and police data, with records delayed, missing, or inconsistently produced and no clear explanation of what systems were searched or whether records were destroyed. Newman argued these gaps undermine statutory access rights and force residents into costly litigation, and recommended stronger retention auditing, documentation of destruction, mandatory disclosure of systems searched, and consequences for noncompliance. In response to questions, Senate counsel said there is generally no direct penalty, but affected parties may seek mandamus, Data Practices Act claims, or informal mediation/opinions from the Data Practices Office. The discussion closed with calls for clearer standards and possible legislative updates to improve compliance and transparency.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection - 03/06/25
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- the premium gets their bill and access the premium gets their bill and access to<00:19:33.960>
other motans who are not able to access other motans who are not able to access this<00:51:03.280- to care being important I I ask access to care being important I I ask Mr<00:19:45.159>
chair - to care being important I I ask access to care being important I I ask Mr<00:19:45.159>
- Accessing mental health care providers can be incredibly difficult to do on your own.
- Accessing mental health care providers can be incredibly difficult to do on your own.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- I was fortunate to have access to one. I was fortunate to have access to one.
- <01:24:12.000>
testing Canada to provide accessibility testing Canada to provide accessibility - Let every granite have access to the Let every granite have access to the mental<02:42:45.600>
health - <03:12:20.479>
to the pandemic, and without access to the pandemic, and without access to - <05:12:24.400>
to argues that this is a basic access to argues that this is a basic access
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
CAA Info Briefing - Wed Jan 14, 2026 @ 9:30 AM HST
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- So the ceiling access<00:21:06.960>
to <00:21:07.120>the <00:21:07.280>money <00: - So, access to the balance, the cash balance for the special fund is currently like $22 million.
- to arts as a whole and access to arts education.
- to arts as a whole and access to arts education.
- to arts as a whole and access to arts education.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Committee on Health and Human Services (Part II) May 21st, 2025
Health & Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- It's free, and everyone can access it.
- At least 30 days, half of them offer unfettered access. This is not a new concept.
- Unfettered access was first passed by Nebraska in 1957.
- We ask for your support of HB1942 to extend access to more Texans.
- The last thing I want to say is, this is about access.
Bills:
HB1106, HB3284, HB541, HB713, HB1403, HB1586, HB1942, HB2070, HB2844, HB2851, HB3151, HB3749, HB3940, HB3963, HB4454, HB4466, HB4795, HB5154, HB5394, SB1357, HB1052, HB4099, HB4638, HB5147
Keywords:
child abuse, neglect, gender identity, sexual orientation, child welfare, marriage, family, Texas Commission, family welfare, marriage support, stability, premarital education, child development, strong families, direct patient care, healthcare, physicians, medical services, insurance regulation, maternal health
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Rules Apr 16th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- IT IS REALLY FOR THE CONSUMER TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT.
- NOBODY'S GIVING THE KEY OUT TO THIRD PARTIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANYONE BEING ABLE TO ACCESS THAT.
- MINORS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO A CORE FUNCTION.
- SOCIAL MEDIA GIVES PEOPLE ACCESS TO OUR KIDS.
- BY RESTRICTING ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS WE RESTRICT INSTITUTIONS.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- A $200,000 investment will fund on-campus food pantries, SNAP access, and hunger awareness programs that
- And there is really a clear need for our students to access this sort of emergency funding.
- <00:20:33.400>
this need for our students to access this need for our students to access this - greatest needs as the pillars of access greatest needs as the pillars of access to<00:38:16.720>
- If we don't take on the access issues in rural Minnesota, who's going to do it?
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board. (3-9-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- help us continue that access in areas. help us continue that access in areas.
- the ability to continue that access. the ability to continue that access.
- <00:09:54.959>
any helpful. again without accessing any helpful. again without accessing any - <00:14:49.519>
to exercise motivation or even access to exercise motivation or even access - I appreciate your comments. reduce access to primary care, to reduce access to primary care, to behavioral
Keywords:
00:00:00 - Call to Order/Roll Call
00:02:20 - Discussion of 26RS HB 689
00:13:13 - Discussion of 26RS SB 201
00:27:45 - Discussion of 26RS HB 583
00:46:37 - Discussion of 26RS HB 488
00:48:13 - Discussion of 26RS HB 2
01:14:34 - Discussion of Kentucky State Plan Amendment (SPA) 26:0001: School-based Medicaid Services Program
01:18:24 - Public Comment, 958, all
Summary:
The Medicaid Oversight Board met on March 9 with a quorum present and no minutes to approve. The chair reordered the agenda to hear House Bill 689 first. Representative Amy Neighbors presented HB 689, which would authorize Kentucky to seek CMS approval for a Medicaid state-directed payment program for physician and non-physician professional services delivered through qualifying hospital-affiliated groups, beginning January 1, 2026, with retroactive payments for that year. She said the bill is intended to improve access to care in rural and underserved areas, support workforce retention, and generate about $29 million annually in federal Medicaid funds without using general fund dollars. Representatives from Owensboro Health and St. Elizabeth Healthcare testified in support, describing staffing and subsidy pressures, lower Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement, and the importance of the program for maintaining access and quality in rural and safety-net settings. Committee members noted the bill had already passed the House Health Services Committee unanimously and discussed broader concerns about Kentucky’s low reimbursement rates and the need to consider other systems not covered by the proposal.
The board then heard Senate Bill 2011 from Senator Donald Douglas and Cody Hunt of the Kentucky Medical Association. The bill would address a Medicaid coding issue by ensuring that coverage limits do not reduce payment to fewer than two evaluation and management service units per provider, per patient, per day. Douglas argued the current one-visit, one-issue limitation forces multiple visits, increases no-shows, and prevents providers from treating the whole patient. Hunt explained that the bill is meant to correct a longstanding regulation that limited E&M services to one per physician per recipient per date of service, which can prevent providers from coding additional medically necessary work during the same visit. He said DMS has already filed a regulatory amendment to fix the problem, but a statutory change is still needed to prevent the issue from returning. He also said the bill is not intended to change reimbursement policy, only coding rules, and that MCO payment practices vary.
Members generally supported the concept. Senator Berg asked about fiscal impact and private-payer billing; Hunt said there should be no fiscal impact because the bill does not change payment policy, only coding. Representative Moore said the proposal could reduce costs and improve convenience by avoiding extra visits. Chairman Meredith said the bill illustrated problems with fee-for-service care and supported moving toward a more holistic delivery model. Dr. Schuster raised a drafting concern about the bill summary language, and Hunt responded that the regulatory amendment should address the issue generally for providers. No votes were taken on either bill during this portion of the meeting.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Legislative Session Day 36 (2-27-26)
Kentucky House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- cost sharing, and transportation access cost sharing, and transportation access for<00:34:46.800
- Um, or if you have accessibility needs, those need to be accommodated.
- Um, or if you have accessibility car.
- with people who are trying to access with people who are trying to access care<00:47:15.520>
- <01:38:59.920>
the for eligible people to access the for eligible people to access the medical
Summary:
The House convened with an invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum, excused absent members, suspended rules to allow co-sponsorships and vote modifications, and approved the journal from February 26, 2026. The clerk then reported several bills on second reading, including measures on state personnel, domestic violence, fish and wildlife resources, open records, workforce investment, data centers, guardians ad litem and domestic relations, along with Senate Concurrent Resolution 9 on a Medicaid pilot feasibility study and Senate Joint Resolution 23 declaring Kentucky a “food is medicine” state.
The main floor business was House Bill 2, the Medicaid reform and appropriation bill. The sponsor described it as a response to rising Medicaid costs and federal changes, saying it would improve transparency, oversight, fraud prevention, and program operations. He said the bill would apply mainly to the Medicaid expansion population and include community engagement, cost-sharing, eligibility safeguards, stronger managed care oversight, transportation and dental delivery changes, waiver program prioritization, greater legislative access to CHFS data, a transparency dashboard, periodic auditor review, and limits on certain weight-management drug coverage. A House committee substitute was adopted, and a floor amendment on phasing in a marginal medical loss ratio requirement over four years was offered as a friendly amendment and adopted.
The House then debated House Floor Amendment 1, which would have removed state-mandated co-payments and limited cost sharing to the federal minimum, while also prohibiting reporting medical debt to credit agencies. Supporters argued the amendment would protect low-income Kentuckians from barriers to care and prevent medical debt from worsening poverty. Opponents said the bill’s co-pays were intended to encourage appropriate use of care, especially to reduce non-emergency emergency room visits, and noted that providers and MCOs could waive or work around some charges. After a roll call vote, the amendment failed 20-39.
After the amendment vote, the House continued discussion of the bill, with the sponsor defending the co-payment structure as a way to promote personal responsibility and sustainability while preserving access to primary care. The transcript ends during further debate on House Bill 2, and no final passage vote is shown in the provided excerpt.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Um we do not have equal access services.
- When our children have access to a computer or a smartphone, we are allowing them access to unlimited
- <01:32:53.120>
So <01:32:53.360>if accessible for convenient use. - So if accessible for convenient use.
- <01:33:59.679>
to people to be able to have access to people to be able to have access to
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 02/18/25
Environment, Climate, and Legacy
Transcript Highlights:
- The first area is free and discounted access.
- The first area is free and discounted access.
- The first area is free and discounted access.
- to do this to have the zoo be accessible to do this to have the zoo be accessible and<00:43:31.880
- <01:05:04.160>
to in my Co-op do not have access to in my Co-op do not have access to traditional
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on State Administration May 20th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- But with that, appreciate... ...access to this and this is what you can and can't do.
- It's to increase the access of the disaster rebuilding fund are really twofold.
- Finding forms to access, as you say, disaster funds.
- How do people get access? I think it was through EDD and a hearing.
- Thank you. access those funds as sub-recipients. So we'd like that to be really clear.
Summary:
The committee opened with the State Controller’s Office May Revision requests, including funding for Fiscal book-of-record stabilization, a Broadcom IDMS licensing adjustment, the California State Payroll System, ACFR reporting automation, and $3 million for unclaimed property outreach. Testimony emphasized progress on Fiscal becoming the state’s accounting book of record in July, faster ACFR publication, and the move to electronic unclaimed property claims. Members asked about the size of the unclaimed property fund and how quickly money is transferred to the General Fund; the Controller’s office said about $15 billion is held, with most excess transferred regularly, and the LAO noted the fund is the General Fund’s fourth-largest revenue source. No concerns were raised by Finance or the LAO, and the item was closed after no public comment.
The committee then heard the administration’s proposal to tax prewritten digital software and software-as-a-service, with Finance saying it would modernize sales tax treatment and raise an estimated $450 million General Fund and $560 million local revenue in 2026-27. The LAO supported modernizing the tax but suggested broader digital goods coverage and a business-use exemption; industry and taxpayer groups opposed the proposal, warning of higher costs for consumers and businesses. Members also heard CDTFA’s administrative request tied to the proposal, plus a separate CDTFA budget reduction reflecting lower operational needs; that reduction was presented as a savings item and drew positive reactions.
Next, the committee considered federal conformity for “Trump accounts,” which would align California tax treatment with federal rules for tax-deferred children’s accounts and avoid tracking burdens for families. The LAO recommended approval, and the item drew no opposition. The committee also heard a proposal to cut the first-year $800 annual business tax to $400 for LLCs, LPs, and LLPs; Finance argued it would lower startup costs and encourage new business formation, while the LAO said the benefit was not well targeted and could subsidize entities that would form anyway. Members discussed the policy tradeoff, and public commenters split between support for small business relief and concern about revenue loss.
The final major revenue item was a permanent business tax credit limitation, capping credits at the greater of $5 million per corporation or 50% of pre-credit liability, while excluding the low-income housing tax credit and personal income tax credits. Finance said it would raise significant revenue from large profitable corporations, and the LAO said it was a reasonable option but noted it would mainly affect the R&D credit and could have future implications for programs like California Competes. Public testimony was sharply divided, with business groups opposing the cap and anti-poverty advocates supporting it as a way to recapture revenue. The committee also heard FTB’s CalFile realignment request, which would return most of the direct-file-related resources to the General Fund while retaining a smaller staff to improve CalFile, and the California Arts Council’s request to reauthorize the Keep Arts in Schools voluntary contribution fund, which members and advocates supported despite relatively modest annual donations. The hearing continued with GoBiz proposals on civic media funding, CA RISE reappropriation, and a semiconductor facility reversion, with the LAO supporting the latter two and members raising questions about the civic media program’s scope, outreach, and inclusion of broadcast and ethnic media.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- access<00:19:28.480>
expand <00:19:29.120>access <00:19:29.520>and child care - to access expand access and child care to access expand access and address<00:19:30.080>
child - And I'm the communication access specialist for DECAP.
- <00:37:08.000>
for the communication access specialist for the communication access specialist - <00:57:49.920>
resources students aren't accessing resources students aren't accessing resources
Summary:
The committees heard testimony on HB 1872, which would create an early learning apprenticeship grant program to help early childhood providers participate in approved apprenticeship programs, require annual reporting, and appropriate funds. Testifiers in support included the University of Hawaiʻi, the Executive Office on Early Learning, the City and County of Honolulu, Commit to Keiki, the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi, the Commission on the Status of Women, Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network Speaks, Parents for Public Schools of Hawaiʻi, and Kīʻoka Family Learning Centers. Supporters said the bill would reduce financial barriers, strengthen recruitment and retention, improve compensation and career pathways, and help address child care shortages and workforce instability. The committee then voted to pass HB 1872 with amendments, including an HD1 and a defective date to allow further discussion.
The committee next took up HB 2489, which would appropriate funds for the University of Hawaiʻi to establish a bachelor’s degree program in American Sign Language interpretation, with a longer-term plan for a master’s program. Testimony in support came from the Disability Communication Access Board and the University of Hawaiʻi, and members also heard detailed support from DECAP and other advocates describing a statewide shortage of ASL interpreters, long waiting lists for ASL courses, and the need for locally trained interpreters who understand Hawaiʻi’s cultural and community needs. Witnesses said the shortage affects schools, courts, hospitals, emergency services, and other settings, and that the program could be expanded through articulation with other campuses. The committee voted to pass HB 2489 with amendments, again using an HD1 and defective date.
After those two measures, the committee moved to HB 441 on campus safety, which would require students, including transfer students, to complete training on federal laws and university policies regarding sexual misconduct before initial registration and would change how often training is provided to students and employees. The University of Hawaiʻi stood on its written testimony, while supporters including IMUA Alliance and other testifiers urged passage, citing survivor experiences, national best practices, and the need for prevention before harm occurs. No vote on HB 441 was reached in the portion provided.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- That could be a possibility, but it makes sure That any and all employees have access to any and all
- Hey, we're just going to let one come in and out and make sure if you give access to one, you give access
- teachers union has a luncheon that they pay for off campus with a separate teachers Union be have access
- your materials, and then they get a charge for the material review, and then they're never allowed access
- And this would give access for multiple options of different associations. Yes, you would.
Keywords:
unclaimed property, abandoned property, state treasurer, unclaimed property fund, public website, claimant, hearing, administrative procedures act, sales tax exemption, income tax subtraction, youth entrepreneurs, teen business, minor-owned business, sole proprietorship, business license exemption, entrepreneurship, youth vendor, Oklahoma Tax Commission, Title 60, Title 68
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Human Services Apr 23rd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- It's designed to ensure that all children, especially those with disabilities Can access high-quality
- Families are still struggling to access care, and we cannot afford any delays.
- For families to access adequately funded and staffed child care programs, we need reimbursement rates
- These reforms would stabilize the workforce, improve care and accessibility, and ensure families can
- In other states, it's a mixed delivery system where if you're high quality, you can also have access
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Appropriations Committee Apr 23rd, 2025
Appropriations
Transcript Highlights:
- HIV and viral hepatitis by preserving existing laws which increase access to sterile syringes.
- Extensive research and data collection has repeatedly proven that increased access to sterile syringes
- Pharmacists also offer guidance on how to access drug treatment, how to safely return syringes, and how
- to access HIV and hepatitis C. testing.
- However, accessing these privacy rights through the most commonly used browsers can be very burdensome