Committee reviews early learning and developmental‑disability budget, including $15 million childcare installment and STAR certification progress

BOISE — The Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee reviewed the Department of Health and Welfare’s requests for services for people with developmental disabilities and related early‑learning programs on Feb. 20, including proposals to use one‑time federal child‑care funds and progress updates on the START certification model used at SWITC (Southwest Idaho Treatment Center).

Analyst Alex Williamson said the division is being rebranded as Early Learning and Development under a departmental reorganization and noted that several developmental‑disability programs have moved into the Medicaid budget. She described FY2026 requests and governor recommendations, including a governor recommendation to allocate $15 million one‑time from under‑utilized Child Care and Development Block Grant funds (to be spent in installments over three years) and an ongoing $4.2 million request for the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP).

What the agency said: Director Alex Adams said the department is treating the ICCP carefully because it is not an entitlement; the department paused new enrollments late last year to live within the legislature’s appropriated amount, then resumed enrollment in January after adjustments. "If we treated it as an entitlement, I would have needed $68,200,000. I spent $52,700,000," Adams said, explaining that program rules and benefit changes drove higher projected costs and that a pause was used to avoid an immediate supplemental.

START certification and SWITC: The committee also heard about START (Systemic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resources and Treatment) certification efforts at SWITC and related crisis‑treatment funding. Lisonbee Tate and Allison Tate (division administrators referenced by the department) reported progress in using START clinical models at SWITC and said training has been slower than initially envisioned but that recent weeks showed enrollment and placements increasing after teams adopted the model. Williamson said a report on START progress is due to the committee later in the spring.

Facilities and operations: Senator Cook asked about a permanent‑fund project that includes a walk‑in cooler at SWITC; Lisonbee Tate said buying food in bulk and centralizing refrigeration could reduce food costs and help other state facilities that currently purchase smaller quantities. On Payette, Adams said the state paid for modifications to the leased facility and nonprofit partners contributed equipment.

Funding, transfers and authority: The division requested authority consistent with Idaho Code §67‑35‑11 to exempt it from restrictions on transferring personnel dollars and trustee/benefit payments that the maintenance bill imposed last year. Williamson also highlighted federal funds and FMAP shifts: an 81,800 shift from federal funds to general fund associated with a change in FMAP percentage was noted in the materials.

Speakers and oversight: Legislators raised operational concerns about START certification, the childcare program’s prior enrollment pause, and staffing and training needs for support brokers who help people use self‑direction services. Director Adams said most developmental‑disability services are in the Medicaid budget and that the department will appear during Medicaid hearings to answer detailed questions about long‑term supports, service brokerage and federal funding risks.

The committee did not take action during the hearing; the department will provide a START progress report later in the spring and further details as the Medicaid and child‑care budgets come before the committee.