Judiciary committee approves several bill introductions and minutes

The Judiciary committee approved requests to introduce several proposed statutory revisions and bills and approved January meeting minutes by voice vote.

Bill introductions approved: Tanya Keyes of the Department for Children and Families requested introduction of RS 29 18, described in the transcript as concerning children and minors and authorizing evidence-based program account funds to be used for licensed residential facilities with juvenile behavioral health crisis intervention programs. Laura Nordgren, executive director of the Judicial Council, requested RS 29 47 to revive statutes related to estates of absentees; the chair approved both introductions.

Later in the meeting a senator (identified in the transcript when the chair called for requests) introduced RS 2627, described as a bill to amend current law to clarify that children engaging in age-appropriate independent activities do not meet the definition of "child in need of care" and to state that the crime of endangering a child does not cover such independent activities. Chair Warren also approved RS 26 38, described in the transcript as the "App Store Accountability Act" (regulating app store and developer operations with respect to minors), and RS 25 55, described as a consumer-protection measure enacting the "Proxy Advisor Transparency Act." The chair approved all requests for introduction.

Approval of minutes: Senator Titus moved to approve the January meeting minutes; Senator Shane seconded. Chair Warren called for the voice vote; those in favor said "Aye," and the chair declared the motion carried and the minutes approved. The transcript records a voice vote and does not include a roll-call tally. No further formal votes or amendments were recorded in the transcript.

Next steps: The committee will meet the following day for a full hearing on a House-transferred bill mentioned at the end of the session.

Key transcript references are the oral requests for introduction (RS numbers and brief descriptions) and the motion and voice vote approving minutes. Where the transcript paraphrased bill titles or numbers, this article uses the language presented to the committee and marks program descriptions as "as described in the transcript."