Transcript Highlights:

• conference report relates to directing the Director of the Department of Energy to identify and develop training
• I... well, lost my train of thought real quick.
• Speaker, with the conference report, we're going to limit the number of skill machines that are legal
• reduce the number of skill games across the Commonwealth from about 90,000 to 25,000.
• We look at skill games. They'll give us X number of dollars.

Keywords: March 14, 2026 - Regular Session Part 2, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our core training activities, like our Disclosure 101, Before issues arise.
• activities, are offered as a live training year-round.
• We also offer seasonal courses like our F1 training and various trainings for filers reporting lobbying
• Training is far from the only thing we do to assist our customers.
• So someone who's a campaign treasurer who's very skilled at, user experience for everyone.

Committee: House State Government & Tribal Relations

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• are skills that we don't have in-house.
• It is $5.4 million to sustain a dynamic training program for three years.
• and they offer free CEUs and CMEs in exchange for that training.
• It is $5.4 million to sustain a dynamic training program for three years.
• they offer free CEUs and CMEs in exchange for that training.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to adopt multiple ways to assess graduation competency over the state standards and newly adopted skills
• higher-order abilities like critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills
• higher-order abilities like critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills
• And students need those skills no matter... ...triangulate and decide that it really isn’t.
• And students need those skills, no matter what they go into in the future.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Education

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education heard testimony on several bills centered on school accountability, receivership, graduation requirements, charter school access, community schools, school libraries, and student voting rights. Much of the discussion focused on the Thrive Act, S. 374, which would end state receivership and change the state’s accountability approach. Supporters, including educators, parents, advocacy groups, and students, argued that receivership has not improved outcomes in districts such as Lawrence, Holyoke, Southbridge, Boston, and the Dever, and that local communities should have more control, with greater emphasis on community schools, wraparound services, and broader measures of school quality. They also supported related bills on community schools and school library standards, and several witnesses backed a bill to expand student representative voting rights on school committees. Opponents of S. 374, especially charter school leaders, parents, students, and some education advocates, focused on Section 4 of the bill, which would change the charter school net school spending cap in the lowest-performing districts. They argued that the provision would reduce access to charter seats in communities where families are seeking more options, and that schools such as Roxbury Prep, Excel Academy, Brook, Veritas Prep, and Libertas Academy have produced strong results for students, including students of color, low-income students, and students with special needs. Several witnesses said the section would force schools to shrink or close and would remove opportunities for families in districts with long waitlists. Committee members questioned witnesses on both the effectiveness of receivership and the charter school cap language. Chair Lewis and Chair Gordon emphasized the need for a better accountability system and noted concerns about whether current measures, including MCAS-based designations, accurately reflect school quality. Some witnesses said they had discussed the possibility of removing Section 4 from the Thrive Act and suggested it might be addressed in separate charter reform legislation. No votes were taken during the hearing; testimony was received and the committee later closed testimony on S. 374 and several related bills before moving on to the student voting rights bill, S. 367.

Transcript Highlights:

• our training providers.
• , contract training, industry-led.
• </c> funds uh workforce enhancement training funds uh workforce enhancement training funds.<00:16:04.240
• ,<00:16:10.320><c> contract</c><00:16:10.720><c> training,</c> training, contract training, training,
• </c><00:38:39.440><c> through</c> credit uh nonredit training through credit uh nonredit training through

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 210; 14 January, 2026: 3:30 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• this week will move to aahu and training this week will move to aahu and they<00:34:12.679><c> will<
• I just like to point out that incorporating skills-based hiring can be an effective tool, but it also
• The skills-based hiring, I can see more benefit in, say, blue-collar jobs like a painter.
• Next, we have SB 165, SD2, relating to skill-based hiring.
• </c><00:58:51.760><c> hiring</c> sb165 sd2 relating to skill-based hiring sb165 sd2 relating to skill-based

Committee: House Labor

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we started to utilize a program called ASIST training, which is Applied Suicide Intervention Skills
• Training.
• So we began to leverage this Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, which is a two-day training
• We're going to train more of our volunteers with train-the-trainer so we're able to do more in-house
• have the mental train Mental Health Training<01:14:13.320><c> Professionals</c><01:14:13.960><c> in<

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So, for example, we have a cybersecurity training, right?
• </c><00:07:32.759><c> right</c> we have a cyber security training right we have a cyber security training
• </c> government to do cyber security training government to do cyber security training but<00:07:36.840
• As we spoke yesterday, Senator, I'd love to see a directory of skill sets.
• </c><00:25:04.320><c> sets</c> love to see a directory of skill sets love to see a directory of skill

Committee: Senate Economic Development and Tourism

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism heard confirmations for two Hawaii Technology Development Corporation board nominees, Jaclyn Ka and Gregory Oara. Testimony for both was overwhelmingly in support. Supporters for Ka emphasized her Kauaʻi roots, work in workforce development and digital equity, and ability to connect schools, industry, and community needs. In her own remarks, Ka said she wants to bring resources to Kauaʻi and the neighbor islands, strengthen local workforce pathways, and use the HTDC board to help local residents access technology jobs and training. Members questioned Ka about how to reduce reliance on mainland hires for jobs at PMRF and other technology employers, how to better align training with local needs, and how to connect Kauaʻi schools, community college programs, and creative media/digital technology efforts. Ka described KDB’s role in building islandwide digital media and drone clubs, professional development for teachers, and partnerships intended to create a pipeline from school to workforce. She also said the legislature can help mainly by listening and staying informed about local needs. For Oara, supporters highlighted his engineering and semiconductor background, his experience in academia, industry, and startups, and his potential to help HTDC with technology commercialization, IP, and exportable services. Oara said he wants HTDC to better support early-stage companies, improve coordination among universities, government, and the private sector, and create a directory of technical skill sets to connect startups with needed expertise. He also discussed AI, saying Hawaii can contribute by developing smaller, locally relevant models rather than only relying on large-scale data-center infrastructure. The hearing focused on these nominations and testimony; no vote or final committee action was stated in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, clinical skill, quality of care, lack of continuity of care.
• But I would agree with you that the level of skill, level of training, and the ability to deliver a baby
• appropriate training to apply the sealants.
• So what goes into on-the-job training?
• staff to conduct the training.

Committee: Joint Health Care Committee

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then heard a detailed annual presentation from Dr. Thomas Arnold, chair of the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, on maternal mortality trends and review findings. He explained the committee’s structure, the de-identified review process, and the distinction between pregnancy-associated and pregnancy-related deaths. He said national maternal mortality has declined from its 2021 peak, but mental health conditions, substance use, overdose, suicide, cardiovascular disease, hemorrhage, infection, and embolism remain major causes. He emphasized that many deaths are preventable, with especially high rates among non-Hispanic Black women and in the American Indian/Alaska Native population, and noted that a large share of deaths occur after 42 days postpartum. Committee members asked about suicide, domestic abuse, pregnancy testing in unexplained deaths, and the role of home births and midwife training. Dr. Arnold said the committee is adding a caseworker, exploring post-mortem pregnancy testing in suspicious cases, and working with coroners and forensic officials; he also said home births and untrained midwifery pose safety concerns and that better public education and facility-based care are important. The committee then heard from State Fire Marshal Dr. Matt Clark on cigarette ignition propensity standards and fire prevention. He recommended updating North Dakota’s cigarette ignition legislation to the current national standard and also considering legislation requiring fast-breakaway oxygen tubing, citing fatal fires involving smoking around home oxygen. He explained that his office verifies manufacturer testing and maintains certification for cigarettes sold in the state, but does not itself conduct the testing. Members asked about implementation, cost, and whether the standards apply in tribal communities; Clark said he would follow up with cost information and additional details, and that he had not seen evidence of a major issue on tribal lands but would look further. Christine Greff of the Department of Health and Human Services presented the North Dakota Stroke System of Care report. She described the statewide network of two comprehensive stroke centers, four primary stroke centers, and 30 acute stroke-ready hospitals, along with the stroke registry and quality-improvement efforts. She reported that most strokes are ischemic, that the median stroke patient age is 71.5, and that common risk factors include hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and diabetes. She highlighted improvements in door-to-CT, thrombolytic treatment times, dysphagia screening, EMS pre-notification, and interfacility transfer performance, and said new priorities include hemorrhagic stroke quality measures and standardized EMS stroke screening tools. Members asked about the VA hospital’s participation, and Greff said she would pursue outreach. After a break, the committee heard testimony from Taha Khan of Vertex Pharmaceuticals as part of the prior authorization study, focused on non-opioid pain treatment. He argued that prior authorization can delay access to acute pain treatment and may push patients toward opioids, especially in the critical 24- to 72-hour post-discharge window. He cited data showing that even short opioid exposure can increase the risk of long-term use and said prior authorization is often a barrier for physicians and patients. Khan recommended open access with a quantity limit rather than prior authorization, suggesting a 14-day limit supported by the product’s data and an episode-of-care approach. Members asked about dental use, payer discussions, and cost; he said the product’s wholesale acquisition cost is about $16.10 per tablet, with patient assistance available, and that he would follow up on payer and comparison-cost questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• This amends an existing federal grant to increase by $6,000, and this is for training of specialized
• This amends an existing federal grant to increase by $6,000, and this is for training of specialized
• This is for conducting a statewide skills assessment for information technology personnel.
• This is also for skilled nursing at the Arkansas Health Center and other agency facilities.
• This is also for skilled nursing at the Arkansas Health Center and other agency facilities.

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Summary: The subcommittee reviewed multiple methods of finance and construction items, including projects for Arkansas State University, Black River Technical College, UAMS, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and UCA. The UAPB Allied Health and Sciences Building appeared both as a method of finance and as an alternative delivery construction project, with East Harding Construction selected and AMR Architects as designer. Members approved the methods of finance, the alternative delivery project, and several discretionary grants, including Department of Health grants for a heart attack center designation and community health worker training, and DHS grants related to homeless services, behavioral health transition support, and an enabling technology pilot. The committee then reviewed service contracts, including RFQs, construction-related contracts, intergovernmental agreements, and a large number of out-of-state and in-state contracts. Testimony focused heavily on DHS staffing and state hospital contracts, the Arkansas State Police seatbelt survey, AEDC’s lithium supply chain analysis, and Shared Administrative Services’ new SuccessFactors performance-management contract. Members asked detailed questions about contract nursing costs, turnover, hiring timelines, and whether some contracts were being renewed or amended beyond their original projected costs. DHS and Veterans Affairs officials explained staffing shortages, retention incentives, and the use of contract labor as a supplement to state employees. Several contracts drew scrutiny and were held for further review. Representative Wardlaw raised concerns about projected costs and repeated amendments on the Department of Education security contract and on DHS staffing contracts, arguing that some had exceeded their original projected totals. The committee voted to hold contracts 5, 7, and 8 until Friday, while adopting the remaining contracts. The meeting ended after informational reports on service contract amendments without material change, executed contracts, and emergency procurements were presented, with no further business before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are highly skilled professionals, business owners, entrepreneurs, and patriots. ...who march forward
• Translating military skills to business, veterans develop leadership and problem-solving skills; however
• And frankly, it was touched on a moment ago; veterans possess tremendous skills from their service. .
• in Houston for work we did for them over the last 15 years, and we had people with extraordinary skills
• Our country has already invested in their training. ...leadership and expertise.

Bills: SB 390 , SB 1197 , SB 1271

Committee: Senate Veteran Affairs

Keywords: veteran-owned businesses, state contracting, historically underutilized business, economic opportunity, small business, economic development, veterans, certification, Texas legislation, unmanned aircraft, spaceport, criminal offense, aviation regulations, airspace safety, military installations, concurrent jurisdiction, governor's approval, state agency, land acquisition, Veteran Affairs

Summary: The meeting of the Committee on Veteran Affairs addressed several significant bills aimed at supporting veterans and their businesses. Among the bills discussed was SB390, which seeks to expand the definition of historically underutilized businesses to include all veteran-owned businesses, regardless of disability status. This change aims to create a more equitable economic landscape for veterans and to foster their participation in state procurement opportunities. The committee heard strong testimony supporting this initiative, emphasizing the importance of providing veterans with fair chances in business development.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, we use it for medical training. We train procedural skills. It's not science in itself.
• It's not research in itself, but it is to train those life-saving skills that people need to be very,
• They're used to train surgeons, paramedics, and emergency medicine physicians on these life-saving skills
• They won't let me come back to train. We get trained at private facilities.
• specimen training.

Bills: SB1406 , SB1681 , SB2480 , SB2721

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: body donation, medical science, forensic science, willed body program, informed consent, boarding home, boarding home facility, adult care home, group home, assisted living, county reporting, municipal reporting, annual report, reasonable accommodation, fair housing, disability accommodation, local ordinance, permit requirement, Texas Health and Human Services Commission, HHSC

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 2480, which would clarify that the Texas Medical Board may collect license renewal surcharge fees from all licensees to fund the Texas Physician Health Program and related administrative costs. The bill author explained the funding fix was needed after prior language was found to allow surcharges only for physicians and physician assistants. Witnesses from the Texas Physician Health Program supported the measure and described the program’s confidential monitoring and treatment services; members asked about the fee amount, which was described as capped at $15 per two-year registration cycle. The bill was left pending. The committee then took up Senate Bills 1406 and 2721, both authored by Senator Parker, addressing the handling of human remains by non-transplant anatomical donation organizations, willed body programs, and related facilities. Senator Parker and several witnesses described alleged abuses involving unclaimed bodies, consent problems, body leasing, hotel-based dissections, and mishandling of cremains, and argued for strict licensing, inspections, transparency, and criminal penalties. Supporters included families of deceased veterans and other relatives, a biomedical ethicist, the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops, and some public safety and hotel industry representatives who said legitimate training should continue but bad actors should be shut down. Opponents or cautious witnesses from accredited donation organizations and bioskills labs said they support stronger oversight but warned the bills could unintentionally disrupt legitimate medical education and urged clearer language and implementation of existing law. Both bills were left pending. Senate Bill 1681, by Senator Menendez, would require counties and municipalities that regulate boarding homes to report facility standards and related information to the Health and Human Services Commission. The author said the bill is intended to improve state oversight of boarding homes that serve elderly and disabled residents and to address abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The bill was left pending after brief discussion. After the testimony portion, the committee returned to voting on pending business and unanimously reported Senate Bills 527, 912, 1580, 1952, and 2032 to the Senate with recommendations that they do pass and be printed, and each was also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also adopted a committee substitute for Senate Bill 407 and reported the substitute favorably, with six ayes and three nays. The committee then moved on to Senate Bill 500 as pending business.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think it is Fadid Vinoerik, or for Yorik, who is with the Athletic Training Association of Florida,
• And Jerry Stevens with the Florida Board of Athletic Training.
• And Jerry Stevens with the Florida Board of Athletic Training is waiving in support.
• and skilled at fitting... ...and who's been trained and skilled at fitting glasses to continue to be
• Because in a world where efficiency equals profitability, trained opticians aren't an expense.

Committee: Senate Health Policy

Summary: The Health Policy Committee heard and advanced several health-related bills. SB 1546 on background screening for athletic coaches was explained as another extension of the deadline for coaches to be added to the background screening clearinghouse; it passed favorably with support from athletic and youth sports organizations. SB 958 on type 1 diabetes early detection was amended to match the House version, requiring the Department of Health to provide school districts, school boards, and charter schools with informational materials for parents; it was reported favorably as a committee substitute. CS/SB 1070 on electrocardiograms for student athletes drew extensive discussion about sudden cardiac arrest prevention, implementation timelines, costs, funding through private and public sources, and whether insurance, KidCare, or Medicaid should cover screenings; after supportive testimony from school and athletic groups, it was reported favorably as a committee substitute. The committee also heard SB 1060, which would create a joint legislative oversight committee for Medicaid managed care to review encounter data, financials, audits, and rebate calculations with assistance from an actuary and the Auditor General. The sponsor and several senators framed it as a transparency and verification measure in response to large mid-year Medicaid funding increases and concerns about network adequacy and vertical integration; it passed favorably. CS/SB 944, which shortens the insurer overpayment recovery look-back period for claims involving psychologists from 30 months to 12 months, also passed favorably with support from the Florida Psychological Association. SB 1370, moving ambulatory surgical centers into their own statute rather than under hospital licensure provisions, was supported by surgery center representatives and reported favorably. The committee approved SB 768, as amended, to narrow the foreign-country-of-concern licensure attestation for health care entities to direct controlling interests and clarify the “reasonable efforts” standard; it passed after questions about how the standard would work in practice. SB 1544 on opticianry prompted significant debate over whether the bill would limit nonlicensed staff in ophthalmology and optometry settings; after a proposed amendment was withdrawn and multiple witnesses spoke both for and against, the bill was temporarily postponed. Finally, the committee adopted a strike-all amendment to SB 1808 requiring health care practitioners and facilities to refund patient overpayments within 30 days, with enforcement through AHCA fines or professional discipline, and then reported the bill favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then they're able to collect unemployment for the time they're doing the training.
• Question: Isn't training related to work an exemption? Mr.
• To accept jobs that don't necessarily match their skill sets, and to take pay cuts as well, and that
• pay cuts. to accept jobs that don't necessarily match their skill sets, and to take pay cuts as well
• Apprentices do receive, you know, when people in the skilled trades go on, they do go on unemployment

Bills: HB2070 , HB2129 , HB2227 , HB2439 , HB2667 , HB2745 , HB2773 , HB2825 , HB2873 , HB2876 , HCR2005 , HCR2044 , SB1002 , SB1036 , SB1054 , SB1271 , SB1432 , SB1435 , SB1437 , SB1439 , SCR1022 , SCR1031 , SCR1033

Committee: Senate Government

Keywords: flood relief, Gila County, emergency funding, public safety, environmental cleanup, municipal libraries, annual reporting, state legislation, transparency, government accountability, chiropractic, chiropractor, chiropractic board, state board of chiropractic examiners, license discipline, unprofessional conduct, patient records, record retention, HIPAA, conflict of interest

Transcript Highlights:

• c> undersized</c><00:09:24.399><c> and</c> training building is undersized and training building is undersized
• ><c> skill</c> opportunity for skill opportunity for skill development.<00:10:29.120><c> These</c><00
• </c> things you know helps them build skills things you know helps them build skills that<00:24:50.559
• Y and training those people, low. Y and training those people, getting<01:32:34.320><c> Yep.
• And rifle, for other kinds of training.

Committee: Senate Capital Budget

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this complexity mandates that dealers deal in a very much higher plane of technological skill and
• And they pay for the specialized training associated with the use of those tools.
• And they pay for the specialized training associated with the use of those tools.
• It varies by the skill level, it varies.
• ,</c> has taken the manufacturer's training, has taken the manufacturer's training, then<00:09:06.360

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• unemployment insurance benefits are making a meaningful effort toward employment that suits their skills
• . and then they're able to collect unemployment for the time they're doing the training.
• Question: Isn't training related to work an exemption? Mr.
• To accept jobs that don't necessarily match their skill sets, and to take pay cuts as well, and that
• pay cuts. to accept jobs that don't necessarily match their skill sets, and to take pay cuts as well

Committee: Senate Senate Government Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first heard SB 1036, which would tighten unemployment insurance eligibility by requiring five weekly work-search actions, weekly reporting, cross-checks against data sources for fraud or ineligibility, and employer reporting of refusals to return to work or accept suitable work. The sponsor argued the bill would reduce fraud and improve program integrity, while DES said it was neutral but warned of system-update costs, added workload, and more appeals; some members raised concerns about apprenticeship programs and administrative burden. The committee adopted a technical amendment and then recommended the bill do pass as amended on a 4-3 vote. Next, the committee considered SB 1054, a strike-everything amendment to make city and town emergency measures subject to referendum. Supporters, including Payson’s mayor, former mayor, and council members, said local governments had abused emergency clauses to push through tax increases and bond measures without voter input. The League of Arizona Cities and Towns opposed the measure, arguing it would undermine true emergency powers and slow city responses. The committee adopted the amendment and then recommended the bill do pass as amended on a 4-2 vote. The committee then heard SCR 1022, which would increase the House from 60 to 90 members beginning in 2033, with a later amendment delaying implementation to 2043. Senator Mesnard said the change would improve representation by reducing the number of constituents per member and nesting three House districts within each Senate district; some members and a public witness supported the idea, while others questioned cost, feasibility, and the effect on legislative power. The committee adopted the amendment and recommended the resolution do pass as amended on a 5-2 vote. Finally, the committee quickly passed SB 1271, barring municipalities from penalizing businesses based on the number of emergency calls or the value of stolen/damaged property, with exceptions for malicious or false calls, and SB 1437, requiring public records to be provided in the least expensive electronic format with fees limited to material costs. Both measures received unanimous or near-unanimous support after brief testimony, and the committee also began hearing SB 1439, a strike-everything amendment creating a Conservative Grassroots Network specialty plate, but the transcript cuts off before any action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've also done the State of California Gen-A Guidelines for Public Sector Procurement Uses and Training
• The State of California Generative AI Toolkit. for Procurement Use and Training was also completed.
• released as well. we released our Project Delivery Lifecycle, Generative AI Procurement Use and Training
• Other things involve looking at training and what kind of training would someone need to undertake before
• and that they're gaining skills that are going to help them for the rest of their career.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• illness, policies that build capacity of private-sector nonprofits and nonprofits to recruit, hire, train
• illness, policies that build capacity of private sector nonprofits and nonprofits to recruit higher, train
• In Kentucky, they actually developed training and registration requirements for alcohol and drug peer
• can really recognize self-employment as a valuable career pathway by providing individuals with training
• training and work-based learning for new and current employees, and model best practices for employers

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Disability Employment Subcommittee met with roll call, approved prior meeting minutes, and shared an inspirational quote from Jane Goodall about the importance of every individual. Members then introduced themselves and their roles, including state disability advocates, providers, and commission members, before hearing a presentation from Katia Alpanis and Dina Klumkina of the State Exchange on Employment and Disability (SEED). SEED described its role as a technical assistance and policy resource for states, focused on sharing best practices and examples from other states to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The presentation outlined SEED’s seven policy areas: career readiness and work-based learning, behavioral health and work, stay-at-work/return-to-work supports, employer recruitment and retention tools, entrepreneurship and disability-owned business development, interagency coordination, and state government as a model employer. Examples from other states included scholarship and transition supports in Kentucky and Virginia, stay-at-work programs in Alaska and Washington, accommodation funds in Minnesota, procurement and small business initiatives in New Jersey and Virginia, and model employer efforts in Colorado, New York, and Tennessee. Members also asked about digital accessibility and PEAT; SEED said PEAT has been refunded and that SEED can help with policy-level questions and peer examples, but not implementation of accessibility requirements. Discussion then shifted to possible Massachusetts projects. Members raised concerns about upcoming Medicaid work or civic engagement requirements and how people with disabilities might fall through the cracks, and they asked whether SEED could help Massachusetts use existing documentation, such as IEPs, to reduce barriers. The group identified two main areas for follow-up: a Massachusetts “state as a model employer” roadmap and a youth/young adult employment and volunteer pipeline, potentially linked to transition services and apprenticeship opportunities. SEED agreed to provide Massachusetts-specific analysis and two briefs, one on career readiness policies and one on state-as-model-employer strategies, and the subcommittee planned an offline follow-up meeting to narrow priorities and develop a scope of work.

Transcript Highlights:

• an injury or illness, policies that build capacity of private-sector nonprofits to recruit, hire, train
• illness, policies that build capacity of private sector nonprofits and nonprofits to recruit higher, train
• In Kentucky, they actually developed training and registration requirements for alcohol and drug peer
• can really recognize self-employment as a valuable career pathway by providing individuals with training
• training and work-based learning for new and current employees; and model best practices for employers

Keywords: 1212, all

Summary: The Disability Employment Subcommittee met with SEED (the State Exchange on Employment and Disability) staff for a presentation on state disability employment policy options and possible collaboration with Massachusetts. After roll call, the committee approved prior meeting minutes and heard an inspirational quote from Jane Goodall emphasizing that every individual matters and can make a difference. Members then introduced themselves and described their roles in disability employment, accessibility, state government, and advocacy. SEED staff Katya Alpanis and Dina Klumkina explained that SEED provides technical assistance, research, peer-state examples, and policy resources to help states advance disability employment. They outlined seven policy areas, including career readiness and work-based learning, behavioral health and retention, stay-at-work/return-to-work supports, employer recruitment and accommodation tools, disability-owned business development, interagency coordination, and state-as-model-employer strategies. They shared examples from other states such as Kentucky, Virginia, Alaska, Washington, Minnesota, New Jersey, Illinois, Colorado, New York, and others. In response to questions, they clarified that PEAT has been refunded and is expected to return online, and that SEED’s role is policy support rather than implementation of accessibility requirements. Committee members discussed Massachusetts-specific interests, including digital accessibility, existing state efforts, and prior SEED engagement with Massachusetts agencies and legislators. Members raised concerns about upcoming Medicaid work requirements and the risk that people with disabilities could fall through the cracks, and asked whether SEED could help inform state policy responses. The group identified two likely project areas: a Massachusetts state-as-model-employer roadmap and a youth/young adult employment and volunteer pipeline, potentially linked to transition supports and civic engagement. SEED agreed to follow up with briefs and a questionnaire, and the committee planned an offline follow-up discussion to narrow priorities and develop a scope of work. No formal votes beyond approving the minutes were taken.