SFIN-260512-1330

[FOREIGN LANGUAGE] Call Senate Finance Committee to order this afternoon of May 12th. We are past 1:30.

Today we are joined by Chairman Olson, Chairman Steadman, Senator Kiehl, Senator Merrick, Senator Kaufman, Senator Cronk, and myself, Senator Hoffman. We have a full contingent to do this afternoon's business. We have 4 items on today's agenda. HB 27, medical major emergencies. HB 262, number of Superior Court judges.

HB 63, foster children psychiatric treatment. And finally, HB 133, Payment of contracts.

HB 27, medical emergencies. This bill was first heard on May 7th. We took public testimony and reviewed the fiscal notes at that time. No amendments were submitted.

Will the committee senator— Senator Steadman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move House Bill 27, version N, from committee with attached fiscal notes and individual recommendation. Is there objection to moving the bill from committee with individual recommendations? Seeing none, that moves on to the Rules Committee.

The second item is HB 262, number of Superior Court judges. This is a companion bill to Senate Bill 212, which we heard on March 18th. We took public testimony, reviewed the fiscal notes at that time. No amendments were submitted. The bills are identical.

Will the committee's interest—. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move House Bill 262, version A, from committee with attached court fiscal note only and individual recommendations. Is there objection? Seeing no objection, that bill moves on to the Rules Committee.

Next item is HB 36, foster care psychiatric treatment. This bill was first heard on May 6th. We took public testimony, reviewed the fiscal notes at that time. We have a CS to introduce, Senator Stegman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I move that the Finance Committee adopt a committee substitute for House Bill 36, version E, before the committee as our working document. I will object for explanation by Liz Harpold. Please come to the table and explain the CS. Thank you. For the record, Liz Harpold, staff to Senator Olson and the Senate Finance Committee.

There's a couple changes that were made in House Bill 36 at the request of the bill sponsor and working with the department. First, From the title and associated sections, we remove references to the examination and treatment of minors and relating to consent for behavioral and mental health treatment for minors 16 years and older. The bill sponsor introduced this topic separately. Still needs some work, so at his request, we're pulling it from the bill. Additionally, in Section 15, we've removed the limit of not more than 4 children from the definition of a treatment foster home.

The department has the ability to set the number of beds via the regulation process. And lastly, the effective date was updated from July 1st, 2026 to July 1st, 2028 for various sections for the state to pursue an amendment to the state's medical—. Members of the Finance Committee have questions on the CS? I will remove my objection. Is there further objection to the adoption CS?

Seeing none, will the committee— Senator Steadman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that the Senate Finance Committee substitute for House Bill 36, version E, from committee with attached fiscal notes and individual recommendations.

Seeing no objection, that bill moves on to the next committee of referral. That brings us to item For the last item, which is HB 133, payment and contract— payment of contracts. This bill was first heard on May 7th. We took public testimony, reviewed the fiscal notes at this— at that time. We have a CS to introduce at this time.

Senator Steadman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that the Finance Committee adopt the committee substitute for House Bill 133, version U, before the committee committee as our working document. And I will object so that Liz Harpo can explain the CS to the Senate Finance Committee. Thank you.

Again, for the record, Liz Harpo, staff to Senator Olson and the Senate Finance Committee. Uh, the changes that are found in this bill— first, the committee worked with the bill sponsor to exempt the division within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs responsible for Homeland Security and emergency management for the provisions laid out in this bill. This gives them some flexibility when, you know, responding to the various things that could happen in our state. And then additionally, some language was removed that was flagged as being unenforceable and potentially create legal challenges. Are there questions on the CS?

I will remove my objection. Is there further objection to adoption of the CS? Seeing none, that CS is adopted. Move the committee, Senator Tedman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I move that the Senate Finance Committee substitute for House Bill 133, version U, from committee with attached fiscal notes and individual recommendations. Is there objection to moving the bill from committee with individual recommendations to the Rules Committee? Seeing none, that bill passes on to the Rules Committee. That concludes this afternoon's meeting. Our next meeting is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.

Anything else to come before the committee at this time? Seeing none, we are adjourned.