Committee probes language for $250,000 recovery residence appropriation; staff recommend routing purchase through BGS

Committee counsel and fiscal staff reviewed a line in the H.494 cash amendment allocating funds for a recovery residence and discussed which agency should receive authority to spend the money if the appropriation is for purchasing a property.

Attorney John Gray described where the recovery residence appears in the amendment language and noted it is listed in the cash column. Committee members raised the question of whether the line item should go to a state agency or directly to a third‑party operator. Catherine Benno, identified in committee discussion as the chief fiscal officer, told the committee she had discussed the matter with the commissioner of Manoli and recommended routing a building purchase to the Department of Buildings and General Services (BGS). "She agrees with the commissioner of Manoli … that if it's for the purpose of buying the building, that makes sense for it to go to BGS because BGS is in charge of owning the buildings and leasing the buildings," Benno said.

Committee members also discussed whether the appropriation should name a town (Saint Albans) or simply specify the use (recovery residence) and leave final award details to Appropriations staff. A $250,000 figure appears in the amendment for a recovery residence site study or grant; staff said the exact recipient and whether the item is a grant or a purchase may need cleanup in Appropriations language.

Ending: The committee directed staff to change the line in the amendment from the Department of Health to BGS when the language is clearly for purchasing a building and to consult with appropriations staff about whether to retain a town name (Saint Albans) or a programmatic label (recovery residence) in the final language.