Senate panel amends, forwards Office of Administrative Hearings budget after debate on FTE flexibility

A Senate appropriations subcommittee voted unanimously to recommend Senate Bill 2017, the budget for the Office of Administrative Hearings, after amending the bill to restore several compensation and operating items and to give the special‑funded office flexibility to use revenue to hire staff or contract hearing judges.

The committee approved an amendment, moved by Senator Davidson and seconded by Senator Mather, that adds the health insurance increases, funding to replace the vacant FTE pool, temporary salary authority and information technology increases into the base budget and incorporates the section that allows the agency spending flexibility within its special fund. The motion carried on a recorded voice tally of 5 yeas, 0 nays; the committee then…