Cindy Carlson — Referenced as having asked about public health funding earlier.
Glenneda Zuiderveld — During roll call, Glenneda Zuiderveld was called and responded 'Here.'
Glenneda Zuiderveld — Senator Zuiderveld questioned the director about program integrity staffing, including whether a fraud investigator position is needed because of fraud concerns. The discussion then moved to a request for provider information and an update on the 360 review, with the director indicating a willingness to provide both the provider list and a status update.
Glenneda Zuiderveld — Senator Carlson asks what data collection and surveillance activities are funded in public health services.
Glenneda Zuiderveld — Senator Carlson asks for the data to be shared with the committee and then raises a question about privacy protections.
Glenneda Zuiderveld — Senator Carlson asks for follow-up information to be shared with the committee and then asks about privacy limits.
Glenneda Zuiderveld — Senator Carlson asks what statutory limits protect individual privacy.
Glenneda Zuiderveld — Senator Carlson asks what activities would cease without federal money.
Glenneda Zuiderveld — Senator Carlson is addressed after the answer about federal funding and is invited to introduce staff.
Glenneda Zuiderveld — The director references Senator Carlson's earlier point while explaining public health's surveillance role.
Glenneda Zuiderveld — The director cites Senator Carlson's earlier point as part of the explanation of public health's role.
Glenneda Zuiderveld — Called on by the chair to ask questions; likely a mis-transcription of Senator Bjerke.
Codi Galloway — Codi Galloway was called during roll call and responded 'Here.'
Janie Ward-Engelking — Janie Ward-Engelking was called during roll call and responded 'Here.'
Janie Ward-Engelking — Addressed by the Director in response to the funding question.
Janie Ward-Engelking — Senator Ward-Engelking asks where the immunization fund money comes from, and the chair and Director Sharon respond directly to her question, with the director indicating he will explain the fund in more detail.
Melissa Wintrow — Melissa Wintrow was called during roll call and responded 'Here.'
Melissa Wintrow — Senator Wintrow asked whether the funds could be used for child care safety equipment, and the response confirmed they could be used for items like a fire extinguisher or other equipment needed to keep children safe in a home or community child care setting. The discussion then continued with Senator Wintrow’s follow-up question about why an exemption is needed for transferring funds, leading into an explanation of the exemption for Youth Safety and Permanency and related transfers.
Melissa Wintrow — The speaker and director address related questions from Senator Wintrow and Senator Bjurke about child care funding, regulation, and licensing requirements, explaining how the funding and licensing issues are connected.
Melissa Wintrow — Senator Wintrow asks Director Sharon to explain the role of public health in the Department of Health and Welfare’s continuum of care, including why public health is important and what function it serves.
Melissa Wintrow — Senator Wintrow asks about kinship navigation and related child welfare services, pressing for details on what is being done in the program, whether effectiveness is being tracked through metrics, and whether children are ending up in crisis services instead of prevention services. She then follows up with comments about restructuring foster care onboarding, expressing concern about balancing efforts to make it easier for foster parents and kin caregivers to come on board with the need for sufficient training, support, and avoiding unnecessary bureaucracy.
Steven Tanner — Representative Steven Tanner was called during roll call and responded 'Here.'
Steve Miller — During roll call, Steve Miller was called and responded 'Here.'
Rod Furniss — During roll call, Rod Furniss was called and responded 'Here.'
James Petzke — During roll call, James Petzke was called and responded 'Here.'
Dustin Manwaring — During roll call, Dustin Manwaring was called and responded 'Here.'
Brandon Mitchell — Brandon Mitchell is called during roll call and responds 'Here,' confirming his উপস্থিতি/attendance.
— Presiding chair called the committee to order and was answered 'Here.'
Ilana Rubel — The analyst concludes the presentation and stands for questions.
Ilana Rubel — Defers the question about data and verification to the agency.
Ilana Rubel — Is asked about the Youth Safety and Permanency transfer request and says she does not know the current fund balance offhand.
Juliet Sharon — Juliet Sharon, director of the Department of Health and Welfare, explains the $16 million request for child care expansion. She clarifies that the money is intended to increase child care slot capacity for providers rather than subsidize families, gives examples of how it could help new or expanding child care businesses including in-home providers, and identifies the funding source as the Child Care Development Block Grant.
Juliet Sharon — Identified herself as Director of the Department of Health and Welfare.
Edward Hill — Is recognized to ask a question of Ms. Poloni.
Edward Hill — Representative Harris questioned why $782,000 of the 2025 appropriation was left unspent and asked where the money went and why it was not used.
Director Sharon — Director Sharon explains that the current and FY26 funds are intended to increase child care availability and capacity, particularly in underserved and rural areas, including support for in-home providers. She also notes that any licensed or unlicensed providers receiving these funds must still comply with federal health and safety standards from ACF. The discussion then clarifies that the funds could help a rural Idaho in-home daycare meet regulatory requirements such as fire equipment and other safety-related needs.
Director Sharon — The committee thanked Director Sharon for her time, praised her comments and answers, and acknowledged the large scope of her multi-billion-dollar department as part of the same expression of appreciation.
Director — Confirmed the funds could be used for safety equipment such as a fire extinguisher in a home or community child care setting.
Director — The senator directed questions to the department director.
Director — Explained the request for a fraud investigator and other program integrity positions.
Director — Agreed to provide provider information and an update on the review.
Director — Was asked to explain the impact of the prior appropriation and the proposed new funding.
Director — The Director explained that she may need to follow up on specifics because the division is newly carved out of a previous division and was formed by bringing together existing programs. In response to questions about why transfer authority would be useful, she said the department sometimes needs flexibility to move funds between adjacent budgets to address emerging needs or regulatory requirements when authority exists elsewhere. She then concluded by thanking the committee and staff for their patience and support during her recent absence.
Chris Bruce — Representative Bruce questioned what the first tranche of funding accomplished and what an additional $16 million would achieve if allocated again. In response, the director clarified that the prior $14 million appropriated by the legislature had not yet been executed or released.
Richard Cheatum — The director responds to Representative Bruce's question about when the $14 million will be released and whether more appropriations are needed.
Richard Cheatum — Representative Bruce is told the $14 million was intended to build provider capacity and slots, especially in underserved and rural areas.
Richard Cheatum — Representative Bruce is addressed again regarding the request for additional funding.
Richard Cheatum — Representative Bruce asks whether the other $16 million needs to be appropriated.
Richard Cheatum — The director explains the funding is intended to support provider capacity building.
Richard Cheatum — Representative Bruce asks whether the Legislature still needs to appropriate the additional $16 million.