Conference committee removes $5 million diversion-center line, adjusts corrections budget

The conference committee on Senate Bill 2015 voted to remove a $5 million line item for a proposed diversion center and agreed to a series of budget adjustments for the Department of Corrections, members said during the meeting.

The committee accepted the House position on county jail overflow payments — $28,900,000 for state inmates held by counties — and agreed to several smaller line-item changes, including trimming a one-time contingency and reducing a software-and-technology add to $10,000,000, committee members said. The panel also discussed converting some equipment funding into a legislative line of credit if federal funds do not materialize.

The vote to strike the diversion-center funding was made from the committee floor; Chairman Clary moved to remove the line, and Senator Grama seconded. Elizabeth, the clerk, called the roll. Recorded votes in the roll call included Chairman Cleary (Yes), Senator Deavor (No), Senator Magram (Yes), Representative Seaman (No) and Representative Burke (Yes); the motion to remove the funding carried on that roll…