The Senate Appropriations Committee’s Government Operations Division voted to cut the appropriation for an outside performance audit in Senate Bill 2396 and to advance the bill to a due‑pass recommendation.

Senator Dwyer moved to reduce the appropriation in SB 2396 from $350,000 to $200,000; Senator Burkhart seconded the motion. The roll call recorded affirmative votes from Senator Wansick, Senator Burkhart, Senator Dwyer, Senator Sickler and other members present. The amendment passed and the committee then voted to give SB 2396 a due pass as amended.

Committee members said they wanted a lower authorization so sponsors could gather better cost estimates from auditors before a larger appropriation was approved. Brady, the committee staff member, said that if the bids exceeded the reduced authorization the chairman of Legislative Management could decide not to proceed or other budget funds would need to be identified.

Ending

With the reduction adopted, SB 2396 was recommended for a due pass as amended; committee staff will proceed under the amended funding level.