Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Appropriations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
S.B. 245 directs $21.4 million for eCourts, cybersecurity and public-safety administrative staff
Summary
The ratified bill includes nonrecurring and recurring appropriations: $5 million for eCourts positions at the Administrative Office of the Courts, $15 million for cybersecurity at the Department of Information Technology, $1.4 million recurring to the SBI and $3 million recurring to the State Highway Patrol for nonsworn administrative positions.
The General Assembly’s ratified S.B. 245 includes several appropriations aimed at technology and public-safety support. Section 4 directs nonrecurring and recurring funds to multiple agencies for the 2025–2026 fiscal year. Why it matters: the appropriations fund short-term implementation positions and cybersecurity work and add recurring administrative staffing to two statewide law-enforcement agencies. Key allocations: Section 4(a) appropriates $5,000,000 in nonrecurring funds from the IT Reserve (established in S.L. 2023-134, Section 2.2(d)) to the Administrative Office of the Courts, Budget Fund 100051, for time-limited technology and business process positions related to eCourts implementation. Section 4(b) appropriates $15,000,000 in nonrecurring funds from the same IT Reserve to the Department of Information Technology for cybersecurity. Both of those allocations are effective July 1, 2025, per Section 4(c). Section 4.5(a) appropriates $1,400,000 in recurring General Fund dollars beginning in fiscal year 2025–2026 to the State Bureau of Investigation to create up to 10 nonsworn administrative positions. Section 4.5(b) appropriates $3,000,000 in recurring General Fund dollars beginning in fiscal year 2025–2026 to the State Highway Patrol to hire 26 full-time nonsworn administrative positions. Section 4.5(c) makes that section effective July 1, 2025. Details: the $5 million and $15 million allocations are designated as nonrecurring and tied to the IT Reserve cited in prior session law; the funds are for time-limited positions and cybersecurity work rather than long-term operating increases. The SBI and Highway Patrol allocations are recurring and intended to fund ongoing nonsworn administrative positions (10 and 26 positions, respectively). Next steps: agencies will need to budget these positions and any necessary hiring plans within the 2025–2026 fiscal year, and implementation hinges on the receipt of the appropriated funds and internal hiring processes.
