The House Appropriations and Finance Committee convened on February 15, 2025, to discuss various measures related to workforce performance and funding strategies within state agencies. The meeting focused on evaluating turnover rates and caseloads, with an emphasis on improving organizational health and child outcomes.

During the session, committee members highlighted the absence of specific metrics tied to organizational health. A proposal was made to develop a suite of performance measures that would allow for better assessment of agency effectiveness, particularly in relation to child welfare. The committee expressed a commitment to collaborate with the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) to integrate these metrics into the agency's accountability framework.

Representative Duncan raised a concern regarding a planned expenditure of $100,000 for an external contract aimed at understanding employee turnover. The chair clarified that the purpose of the contract is to assist the department in enhancing its ability to claim federal funding for its workforce, noting a significant decline in federal funding claims over the past two fiscal years.

The discussions underscored the committee's focus on addressing workforce challenges and ensuring that state agencies are equipped to optimize their funding and performance measures. The meeting concluded with a commitment to follow up on these initiatives and further refine the strategies discussed.