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Senate Human Services committee raises personal‑needs allowance for long‑term residents to $150 and advances bill
Summary
Committee amended and advanced legislation raising the monthly personal‑needs allowance for residents in long‑term care programs from the prior statutory level to $150 per month; amendment passed unanimously and the committee voted to refer the bill to appropriations.
Senators in the Senate Human Services Committee voted to amend a bill that raises the personal‑needs allowance for long‑term care recipients and advanced the bill to appropriations.
Committee members discussed how the allowance — whose statutory level had not kept pace with inflation — affects residents’ ability to pay for small personal items, hair care, gifts and phone service. Several senators described real‑world examples of how limited monthly personal funds make ordinary purchases difficult.
Senator Rohrs moved an amendment to set the personal‑needs allowance at $150 per month; Senator Weston seconded the amendment. Senators then approved the amendment by voice or recorded roll call and the committee recorded ayes from Senators Lee, Weston, Roars, Hogan, Van Osteen and Clemens. The motion to give the bill a due‑pass recommendation as amended and to refer it to appropriations was then moved (Senator Rohrs) and seconded (Senator Weston) and passed on roll call with the same recorded ayes.
Committee members noted the amendment increases fiscal exposure; staff estimated that a $10 increase produces roughly $1 million in biennial cost, and members discussed balancing resident needs with budget constraints. The committee adopted the $150 figure and referred the bill to appropriations for fiscal review.
