Brooke Dupree — Brooke Dupree introduced herself and presented an overview of the Workforce Development Council budget.
Brooke Dupree — Brooke Dupree, a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, introduced the agency presentation and began the budget overview for the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, including its statutory purpose.
Brooke Dupree — Introduces the Idaho State Historical Society budget presentation and cites the budget book page.
Mark Harris — Asked what happens to the dedicated fund money if the STEM Action Center is moved.
Mark Harris — Representative Harris is addressed twice in a short span during the same exchange, with the speaker directing remarks to him in a continuous discussion. The transcript does not show a meaningful change in topic or context between the two mentions, so they are best summarized together as one brief addressed moment.
Ms. Dupree — Said she had not seen the policy bill and could not answer what the fund would become.
Ms. Dupree — Was asked to return to the first slide and explain the FTP figures.
Ms. Dupree — Praised for giving an overview of the agency.
Ms. Dupree — Presented the agency budget analysis and invited questions.
Wendy Sechrist — Wendy Sechrist was invited forward and then introduced herself as the executive director of the Idaho Workforce Development Council, also noting accompanying staff.
Elaine Price — Asked for clarification about the FTP counts on the first slide.
Elaine Price — Representative Price asks why Launch should be treated as proven before effective metrics are shown and what outcomes are being funded.
Elaine Price — Representative Price asks what outcomes are being funded under Launch.
Elaine Price — Representative Price asks what the council will do to ensure private entities provide funding or in-kind time for STEM activities.
Elaine Price — Representative Price was invited to ask questions and then asked about the consolidated fund analysis, specifically questioning the rapid decrease in miscellaneous revenue.
Mr. Dupree — The analyst is thanked and the committee moves on to hear from the director.
Jeff Cornilles — Representative Harris asked the director follow-up questions about the dedicated STEM fund, including where any remaining funds would end up and whether STEM could continue raising money in that fund after moving, or whether the fund would simply go away.
Denny Haney — Identified as the chair of the Workforce Development Council.
D. Mooney — Identified as the administrator of the STEM Action Center.
Sharon Reberry — Identified as the Director of Education and Careers.
Director — Responded that the $2.9 million shown on the slide is spending authority for funds the STEM Action Center would raise annually.
Director — Explained that the $2.9 million is spending authority, that about $300,000 remains in the dedicated fund, and that any leftover dollars would transfer to the Workforce Development Training Fund under the policy bill.
Director — Said the dedicated fund has always been spending authority and recalled that the STEM Action Center may have raised about $1.4 million at its peak.
Director — Explained that the policy bill sunsets the STEM education fund and that the STEM Foundation relationship with the STEM Action Center has been broken.
Director — Began describing the agency's accomplishments and said she has the best job in state government.
Director — Highlighted the impact of Launch, the Workforce Development Training Fund, semiconductor-related grants, and child care investments.
Director — Highlighted Launch, semiconductor workforce expansion, and grant carryover due to multi-year grant lengths.
Director — Said career exploration should start early and that STEM activities can help children imagine future careers.
Director — Explained that the FY27 appropriation will fund Launch awards for the class of 2026 and cover FY27 personnel and operating costs.
Melissa Wintrow — Senator Wintrow asked the director for a big-picture overview of workforce development, including the director’s proudest accomplishments, especially those tied to economic development, and the main challenges the body should address. In the same exchange, she then sought clarification on concerns about a $10 million cash transfer out of Launch and how that might affect grants to students.
Melissa Wintrow — Senator Wintrow asks whether the wording can be changed so the proposal does not create a scenario that reduces Launch awards, and the speaker responds directly that it can be addressed.
Melissa Wintrow — Senator Wintrow raises concern that rescissions and holdbacks can disproportionately affect small agencies and asks about the impact on services. The administrator responds that for 2026 the agency intentionally kept some positions open for a few extra months to generate salary savings to help offset those pressures.
Kevin Cook — The speaker references Senator Cook's comment that statute already provides for the money to transfer back.
Brandon Mitchell — Representative Mitchell asks about the 2023 Launch bill and repayment obligations, and the director responds with repayment-status figures referenced from the November JFAC presentation.
Dale Hawkins — The speaker asks for updated numbers and comments on repayment expectations. The transcript says 'Senator Zederville,' which is likely a mis-transcription of Senator Zederveld.
Glenneda Zuiderveld — Senator Zuiderveld is identified in the transcript and then asks about the ARPA-funded program, noting there is about $30 million remaining and seeking clarification on what happens to the program after those funds are depleted.
Chris Bruce — Representative Bruce asks what share of the funding goes to different trainee categories, especially comparing incumbent workforce trainees with unemployed participants or new hires. He then questions whether incumbent workforce training should be funded by taxpayers at all, suggesting it might be an internal HR function for private companies. The director begins responding by explaining the requirements for qualifying for an employer grant.
Cindy Carlson — Senator Carlson asks a budget-book question about a general fund cash transfer and appropriation adjustments.
John Shirts — Asked for a breakdown of the governor's recommended $84.5 million budget by category, including administration and Launch programs.
John Shirts — Raised a question about discrepancies between the slide and the budget book figures for actual expenditures.
Ms. Beth Cunningham — Identified as the agency administrator present to answer questions after the presentation.
Mr. Prey — Defers the question about the fund balance to the administrator.
Administrator Cunningham — The committee invites the administrator to testify.
Beth Kenningham — Beth Kenningham, administrator for the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, introduces herself and staff member Corey Brazina, explains that the agency helps people who are blind or visually impaired achieve employment and financial independence, notes that Social Security reimbursements require appropriation authority, and closes by thanking the committee for its continued support of the agency’s mission.
Corey Brazina — Identified as the agency's financial services manager.
Director Cunningham — The senator addresses the administrator as Director Cunningham.
Administrator — Explains that the agency pays for surgeries only when no other insurance or payment source is available.
Janet Gallimore — Janet Gallimore, executive director of the Idaho State Historical Society, introduced herself and accompanying staff/board members, thanked the committee for its consideration, and outlined the agency’s FY27 budget request, describing it as focused on stewardship and rooted in the society’s mission and history.
James Woodward — The director is asked how long she has served, and the question is later attributed to Senator Woodward in the following section.
James Woodward — Senator Woodward asks how archaeological survey requirements are determined and whether staff travel to sites.