Committee approves overhaul of MDT/CAC oversight despite strong opposition from many local coordinators

The committee considered a multipart bill that reorganizes grant administration and oversight for multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) and Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs). Sponsors said the bill moves grant distribution to the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), creates an MDT oversight committee, requires audits, reporting and clearer roles for coordinators, and seeks to ensure consistent statewide standards and stronger oversight of funds.

Representative Dismang walked committee members through the amended language, which deletes the prior advocacy language in some places, adds a nondirective MDT oversight structure, and clarifies duties, audit requirements and multidisciplinary-team composition. Sponsors said the changes were intended to create accountability and reduce gaps in service.

Testimony at length reflected deep division. Multiple MDT coordinators and local responders — including Kaye Beal, Liz Wagner, Shane West, Rhonda Thomas and others — urged against the bill, saying they had not been consulted, that the change risks undermining the neutrality and local independence of MDT coordinators, and that rural counties might lose services or local control. Coordinators said many currently operate as contract facilitators hired with input from multiple local stakeholders and that shifting contracting relationships to CACs could remove the 'buffer' that enabled neutral facilitation.

CAC executives, including Jennifer Long and Robin Connell, testified the CACs would support MDTs and provide local resources and training; they said the amended text preserves local hiring input and that CACs can extend support into rural counties. Prosecutors and the Attorney General's office offered mixed comments but some concern about drafting; the bill's sponsor said amendments strengthened oversight, clarified the hiring/contracting model (coordinators remain contractors, not employees), and added reporting and audit provisions. After extended debate and multiple witnesses, the committee adopted amendments and voted to pass the bill as amended. Sponsors said they expect legislators and stakeholders to monitor implementation and return with fixes if necessary.