Conference committee reviews Senate changes to House Bill 1015, adjusts OMB budget items

The conference committee on House Bill 1015 reviewed Senate changes to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) biennial budget, discussing adjustments that would reallocate state funds for custodial pay equity, guardianship grants, deferred maintenance, the State Hospital project, Prairie Public Broadcasting infrastructure and several agency-space and transition costs.

Senator Wontzick summarized the Senate changes and the funding amounts included in the Senate draft, saying the Senate added $110,114 to provide equity funding aimed chiefly at facility-management custodians to reduce turnover and close an average $1,800 annual salary gap. The committee heard that turnover among custodial staff averages more than 20 percent.

The committee discussed a $219,000 rent replacement for the 15th Floor after the Legislative Council expanded into space previously occupied by Career and Technical Education (CTE). Senator Wontzick said the legislative council is exempt from rent, and OMB did not anticipate the resulting loss of rental revenue; the Senate language would use general funds to cover OMB facility, custodial and utility costs tied to that change.

Guardianship grants were addressed at length. The budget currently includes $7,100,000; the Senate split the difference between a $2,000,000 request and the House amount,…