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Lawmakers press for assurance on Williston CHI behavioral-health beds; discuss progress reports and recapture language
Summary
Committee members debated a request for an additional $1.5 million to complete a 10-bed behavioral-health facility in Williston, questioned why earlier appropriations were not spent, and asked staff to add progress-reporting requirements to facility grants.
Conference committee members debated an additional $1.5 million request to complete a 10-bed behavioral-health facility in Williston funded in the current biennium, raised concerns that prior appropriations remain unspent, and asked staff to add progress reports for facility grants to the budget sections.
Why it matters: The committee has previously appropriated funds for behavioral-health facility grants. Members said they want assurance projects will proceed before committing more money, and several suggested adding regular reporting so appropriators can track progress.
What committee members said: Several legislators said the county and regional needs in Western North Dakota justify the earlier appropriation but noted that projects funded in the prior session have not yet opened. “I would be interested in knowing what assurance we have that it's gonna happen,” one senator said, asking whether the department could provide confirmation that construction would proceed.
Chairman Nelson said he did not want the project to be stopped automatically if construction is underway at year-end: “I don't think that we want to stop this project on December 31 if they're making progress.” Committee members discussed language in the draft that would recapture funds if grant recipients were out of compliance and whether the department should distinguish between funds spent and projects finished.
HHS and staff responses: Pam Segnus of the Department of Health and Human Services said Section 28 of the draft contains a carryover of $1.95 million and that the requested additional $1.5 million included a December 2025 end date in the draft. Segnus offered to work with the committee to clarify recapture and timing language.
Committee action and follow-up: Committee staff agreed to add reporting requirements so that each budget section would receive progress updates on facility grants; staff and HHS also noted that Section 51 of the draft already included reporting language. Members asked HHS and the facility to provide periodic updates so appropriators could monitor construction and implementation.
Next steps: Staff said it would draft language to clarify the difference between projects that have started and funding that would end on a date; the committee asked for monthly progress checks and the inclusion of facility grant reports in the relevant budget section.
