HR appropriations subcommittee issues do-pass recommendations on multiple agency budgets, amends retirement office incentive rules

The Senate Appropriations Committee’s Human Resources Division on Thursday recommended passage of multiple agency spending bills and adopted amendments to the bill concerning the Retirement and Investment Office.

The committee approved a do-pass recommendation for House Bill 1007, the appropriation defraying expenses of the Department of Labor and Human Rights; granted a do-pass recommendation for House Bill 1014, which covers expenses for the Protection & Advocacy Project; and amended and passed House Bill 1022, the appropriation for the Retirement and Investment Office, with several changes that limit incentive pay and require reporting to the Appropriations Committee.

Why it matters: The committee’s actions set final language and funding priorities that will go to the full Appropriations Committee and, where required, to conference committee with the House. The changes to the Retirement and Investment Office (RIO) alter the scope and oversight of a new incentive program that state lawmakers authorized recently, and add transparency provisions about plans to move investment work in-house.

The committee first took up House Bill 1007, which the chair described as a straightforward bill reflecting the executive recommendation for the Department of Labor and Human Rights. Senator Davison moved a do-pass recommendation and Senator Mather seconded. The clerk called the roll and the motion carried; the committee recorded that the bill will not go to conference…