Senate Children and Youth Committee approves minutes, confirms oversight appointment and adopts newborn home-visiting ISP

The Senate Children and Youth Committee opened its session by approving prior meeting minutes and taking several administrative actions before moving to policy discussion. Members unanimously approved the June 9 and 07/24/2023 meeting minutes after motions and recorded 'aye' votes. The committee then approved appointments to the Child Maltreatment Investigations Oversight Committee, naming Senator Alan Clark as the chair appointee and approving Representative Charlene Fite as one of the General Assembly members to that closed oversight body.

Representative Jay Mayberry (Representative Mayberry) presented an interim study proposal to create a universal newborn home-visiting program, explaining she had previously filed a version of the bill and sought to continue discussion with members outside public health. Mayberry said she invited representatives from Family Connects in North Carolina to provide additional information and asked the committee to adopt the ISP so those conversations could proceed. The committee moved to adopt the ISP and members voted in favor; the motion carried.

Committee leadership encouraged members to submit agenda items for future meetings and to coordinate with staff for proposed topics. The chair also announced staff follow-up on budget turnover for agency programs and offered to coordinate tours and additional information for members on items raised during the session. The meeting was later adjourned with no additional business reported.