Human Services committee approves amendment to H.218 and advances bill as amended

The House Committee on Human Services approved an amendment to H.218 and voted to report H.218, version 5.1, as amended, to the Appropriations Committee after roll-call voting produced a 10-1-0 tally.

The committee met to review draft 4.1 (later numbered 5.1) and Kate Ruthlyn of the Office of Legislative Council walked members through edits made that morning. Ruthlyn said the most recent changes were highlighted in green and explained distribution language that appropriates $800,000 with a $35,000 suballocation to the Department of Corrections and the remainder for contingency management grants.

The vote to approve the amendment was called and members raised hands in favor; the chair reported the amendment approved by voice/raise vote. Representative Ray Yerfano moved to report the bill as amended; the committee then conducted a formal roll call on the bill itself. The roll call listed Representatives Bishop, Cole, Donahue, Estes, Garfano, McGuire, McKeel, Noise, Steady and Wood as voting yes and Representative Nielsen voting no; the clerk announced a 10-1-0 result. Representative McGuire will carry the bill when it proceeds to Appropriations.

The draft language discussed at the meeting clarified the allocation and placement of funds within subsection 5 and confirmed the $35,000 was a subpart of the $800,000 appropriation for contingency management grants. Ruthlyn noted formatting and placement adjustments made in the draft before the committee vote: "So, Kate Ruthlyn, Office of Legislative Council, we're looking at draft 4.1. And the changes you made this morning are highlighted in green." The committee recorded the motions and moved the package toward the next step in the budget process.

The committee did not take up additional substantive amendments on the floor after the roll call; members discussed next steps and timing for floor and appropriations work before adjourning.