[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6342480,"mediaKeyId","2254825-6dcd8b5c7fe62ab165febf77f6927f83","parentId",2254825,"title","Senate Human Resources panel reviews Veterans Affairs budget, holds off on hiring new benefit specialist","audioSeconds",999,"startMs",683000,"endMs",1682000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2254825-6dcd8b5c7fe62ab165febf77f6927f83&start=683&end=1682","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2254825-6dcd8b5c7fe62ab165febf77f6927f83/thumbnail_683000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6342480/North-Dakota/Senate-Human-Resources-panel-reviews-Veterans-Affairs-budget-holds-off-on-hiring-new-benefit-specialist","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6342480-670286f313a532fb5862bdbca8c93949/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148847&Signature=RLr4EzrolwaHlse8DK-SB7o8Gc1M2p~tEd8VP4dTYzvFcxUiZtyXg5Lb3ZyXlT3x2Fh-CTio9~f5pMORL8nLWEqsQ559f~5RxbGPES~IjWFSw48-FDglgJmopU7NT9aPmxLeWLuzexF3WIXGITkh2jNMW5TfbWoOaHF8GfpDnTVPmddZ0DtEt1tKwkJmGClsRw4Q84jiI4EEaD6JqC0LejMhp03aKutKQlzUXANt-bIRiIvotJUM5tGIwceX7Mzm801FRy~Thy4~SuBuwq5GMNpaGkZ15NA8S9LsTbYH4OJ3DmY8gF~8uBbR15mgBLq8TkzFgd43eKivyLitZMPs2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-02-10T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Appropriations Human Resources Division reviewed changes to the Department of Veterans Affairs budget and asked staff to prepare amendments while deferring a decision on hiring a veteran benefit specialist.

Committee chair Chairman Devers convened the division for a review of Senate Bill 2025, the appropriation for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and walked members through a one‑page long sheet dated Feb. 7 that split the recommended adjustments and items for committee consideration.

The committee agreed not to include a new FTE for a veteran benefit specialist in this round of budget work; members said that hiring can be discussed with the other chamber. The governor had included funding for a commissioner salary equity increase of $100,000; the division agreed to place a $25,000 placeholder to allow discussion with the House.

Committee members reviewed several one‑time and operating items on the long sheet. Office of Management and Budget staff told the committee the $34,000 line labeled \"operating expenses\" appears to cover a rent increase for the department’s office in South Fargo and is a 24‑month (two‑year) rent amount. Members agreed to keep the $34,000 in the draft so the House and other staff could reconcile it.

Other line items discussed included federal and special funds items (including a $193,000 federal line and a $4,200 item), $50,000 proposed for a service‑dog program (members discussed training, purchase and veteran training costs), $19,000 for accrued leave of retiring staff, and authority totaling $291,500 for the Veterans Home Cemetery Grama Program to expend federal money if federal funds become available.

One member asked whether operating expenses tied to a new FTE would fall away if the FTE was removed; committee staff explained that roughly $6,000 in operating expenses had been associated with the benefit specialist request and would not be included if the position is omitted.

Members asked staff to prepare finalized amendments to reflect the changes discussed and to have those available Wednesday so the committee could consider them in full on Thursday. The committee did not take a final vote on Senate Bill 2025 during this meeting.

The division closed its work on Senate Bill 2025 and moved on to other bills on the agenda.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Appropriations - Human Resources Division Mon, Feb 10, 2025 ","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Appropriations Human Resources Division reviewed changes to the Department of Veterans Affairs budget and asked staff to prepare amendments while deferring a decision on hiring a veteran benefit specialist.","taxTitle","Appropriations - Human Resources Division, Senate, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28901,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6342476,"Panel adopts amendment and recommends due pass for $64 million regional behavioral‑health infrastructure appropriation",1096,1686000,2782000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2254825-6dcd8b5c7fe62ab165febf77f6927f83&start=1686&end=2782","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2254825-6dcd8b5c7fe62ab165febf77f6927f83/thumbnail_1686000.jpg","/articles/6342476/North-Dakota/Panel-adopts-amendment-and-recommends-due-pass-for-64-million-regional-behavioralhealth-infrastructure-appropriation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6342476-f613b2666e4abbc775d81eab11fffa33/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148847&Signature=jJhyXR1Y9vaazBwkp1jtkX27ysGmN2NHGWVfwytp3lCWaH2mZBlBH8kJ2tyNol0zqSHVHjYgF6bb~XTXsprklYReyd~e-J1ZGkFNKzi5nGfrzzIT~xZO0qv-6WzAn8CpTaIswrmZULwkp63Q4trl~NUHlhDlKQeFssjPEo0ayj1b3U~KFTG79RGh2nb6L0H-VBtpZWCbccT3whPLUvP53GQBiaCwMK8MxpGK8ZceMloSOfk5m9Nn~pcdVKCoOCP0gxG5YKUQN-OazAu4ied8PFzcFeV-H~GUGJdurBJAFrIn-Balqd7V9emQGycOLMhe~iEhgXYKPz-jPm-WnstsYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Appropriations Human Resources Division adopted an amendment and recommended a due pass for Senate Bill 2096, a one‑time $64 million appropriation intended to support regional behavioral‑health infrastructure.

Senator Mathern offered an amendment (Legislative Council draft 25.0114.04003) that clarifies the appropriation provides the Department of Health and Human Services authority to contract with providers in four quadrants of the state (anchored in Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot and Bismarck) and allows the department to use the funds for either operating or capital expenditures to build regional capacity. The amendment also removes any direct appropriation to the state hospital and requires contracts with private providers who must commit to provide services for at least 10 years.

Senators discussed the amendment’s intent and safeguards. One member said the language gives the agency flexibility to negotiate with private providers rather than issuing direct grants, and the sponsor said the money is intended to create infrastructure and programs so providers can then bill for operations through Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance or private pay. The sponsor also noted the appropriation is for the coming biennium to get providers online, not an ongoing operating appropriation.

A committee member raised concerns about recent audit findings at the Department of Health and Human Services and said that history makes him cautious about broad discretion. Supporters replied the amendment includes contracting and term requirements to protect the public interest; the sponsor noted the amended appropriation is smaller than earlier versions and contains parameters for contracts.

The committee approved the amendment without recorded opposition and then took a roll‑call on a motion to recommend a due pass for Senate Bill 2096 as amended. The clerk recorded the following votes: Senator Clary — yes; Senator Davidson — no; Chairman Dever — yes; Senator Grama — yes; Senator Matherne — yes. The motion carried 4–1. Senator Mathern said he would carry the bill to the full committee.

Committee members requested additional implementation detail for related bills and asked staff to schedule follow‑up witnesses from the department or legislative authors as needed for related juvenile‑justice and behavioral‑health measures.

","The division adopted an amendment and voted to recommend a due pass for Senate Bill 2096, a one‑time $64 million appropriation for regional behavioral‑health infrastructure, on a 4–1 roll call.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate Human Resources panel reviews Veterans Affairs budget, holds off on hiring new benefit specialist

Panel adopts amendment and recommends due pass for $64 million regional behavioral‑health infrastructure appropriation