Senate Appropriations HR Division gives due-pass recommendation to House Bill 1012, makes three technical changes

The Senate Appropriations Committee27s Human Resources Division voted to give a due-pass recommendation on House Bill 1012, the Department of Human Services budget, and approved the bill as amended during a division meeting.

The division approved three edits to the bill: a corrected underfunding figure originally referenced as $30 million (page 9, line 17); replacing the term "human service centers" with "behavioral health clinics" (page 15, line 22); and revising section 31 (page 21, lines 162D17) so the department must "report any findings and recommendations" rather than unilaterally implement adjustments to medical assistance services.

Committee members discussed two other measures that could carry fiscal impact: House Bill 1485 (a personal needs allowance increase the House sent over that raised the allowance by $10 per month; the Senate returned it at $15 per month) and a bill numbered 2399 concerning PRTF reimbursement and billing for direct care. A Department of Human Services staff member told the division the fiscal notes for those bills differ by version and that "we do think we need to put funding in for those." The staff advised that the conference committees for those bills could attach appropriations, or the division could place funding in HB1012; Senator Davison said he would "email the folks on the conference committee and say whatever agreement you come to, please include the appropriation."

Senator Davison moved a due-pass recommendation on the appropriations to House Bill 1012 with a second from Senator Cleary. The division then moved and seconded a due-pass motion on House Bill 1012 as amended. Both motions passed by recorded vote, 42D1. Senators Davison, Cleary, Chairman Dever and Senator Magrum voted yes; Senator Mather voted no.

Committee members said the bills will proceed to conference committee and that final action will be taken by the full committee. Members flagged that conference agreements should explicitly include any needed appropriations so the fiscal effect is resolved before final passage.