Subcommittee adopts base provisos, amends DNR publication funding and conforms several program budgets

The Criminal Justice Budget Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee adopted a set of budget provisos and technical amendments on Oct. 12 and approved several funding conformations affecting multiple agencies.

The subcommittee voted to adopt the base provisos and a package of technical amendments that update fiscal-year dates and other nonpolicy changes. The chair opened the package and said the base provisos were standard items the panel planned to adopt "if everybody agrees to it." Members responded with voice votes; the chair announced, "The ayes have it."

The panel approved technical amendments affecting multiple provisos (including DNR deer processing pilot program, PPP reentry transition services, DJJ other funds, employee retention and recruitment, and rice fields and wetlands pilot program) to change fiscal-year dates from FY2024–25 to FY2025–26.

The committee adopted an amended proviso for 47.1 (DNR publications revenues). The amendment strikes a sentence that had barred general funds from supporting the South Carolina Wildlife magazine, allowing the department to use general fund support instead of relying solely on the fish and wildlife and boat titling fund. A motion to adopt as amended passed by voice vote; the chair announced the ayes had it.

The subcommittee also voted to delete proviso 47.2 (DNR Barnwell County), saying it was no longer needed because all funds were dispersed during FY2024–25.

On conform-to-funding items, the panel agreed to adjust provisos if the General Assembly appropriates additional recurring funds. The briefing identified three items to be conformed to funding if appropriated: a $4,200,000 recurring request for the Commission on Prosecution Coordination to be distributed to circuit solicitors; a $640,000 increase for the Department of Juvenile Justice juvenile arbitration/community advocacy program (raising the proviso from $40,000 to $100,000 if funded); and a new proviso permitting carryforward of up to $5,600,000 for the PDT indigent public defender tier system grant.

The subcommittee moved to adopt the conform-to-funding language and to give staff authority to make technical changes to proviso language to reflect actions taken. Those motions passed by voice vote; specific roll-call tallies were not provided in the transcript. The chair thanked staff for their work and adjourned the meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Adopt base provisos and technical amendments: approved (voice vote; "ayes have it"); mover/second not specified in transcript. - Amend proviso 47.1 (DNR publications revenues) to allow general funds for South Carolina Wildlife magazine: approved (voice vote). - Delete proviso 47.2 (DNR Barnwell County): approved (voice vote). - Conform funding: Commission on Prosecution Coordination recurring request $4,200,000 (to be distributed to circuit solicitors) — conformed if appropriated. - Conform funding: DJJ juvenile arbitration/community advocacy program additional $640,000 (proviso increase from $40,000 to $100,000) — conformed if appropriated. - New proviso: PDT indigent public defender tier system carryforward up to $5,600,000 — conformed if appropriated. - Grant staff technical authority to make technical changes to proviso language: approved (voice vote).