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House HR panel reviews HHS budget; members ask for block-grant language, reporting and agency-wide salary adjustment
Summary
The House Appropriations Committee HR section discussed amendments to the Health and Human Services budget including a proposed block grant that would move agency salaries into one line, added reporting requirements, and an agency‑wide reduction request to reflect unaddressed salary funding shortfalls.
The House Appropriations Committee HR section on Feb. 19 considered amendments to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) budget that would move most salary dollars into a single block grant and add quarterly reporting requirements.
Donna Auckland, chief financial officer for the Department of Health and Human Services, told the committee she had handed out “all of the department’s amendments” and pointed the panel to a change in section 4 that would permit the department to transfer rolled‑up revenues into the salaries line if “we have revenue producing positions, federal funds or other funds that we have roll up for, for us to be able to do a budget adjustment.” Auckland said the packet left the specific underfunded dollar amount blank “because we were hoping there would be no underfunding, but we are realistic and know that there will be something.”
Chairman Nelson said the committee will consider the block grant approach and its reporting requirements. Under the proposal, HHS would consolidate salaries for the state hospital, life skills and transition center and the behavioral health clinics into one line and provide quarterly reports to legislative council on positions added, hires and projected budget adjustments.
Nelson also asked the committee to consider an agency‑wide reduction labeled as an underfunding adjustment; he later described a $30 million spread‑across reduction as a working figure to be lowered as other line items are adjusted. Staff told members the long sheet will be updated as amendments are approved so the committee can see a house‑version total for Monday’s vote.
The committee did not adopt final language on any of the proposals during the session. Members agreed to prepare amendment text over the weekend for formal votes on Monday.
The discussion emphasized transparency: Auckland said the department would provide quarterly reports showing “where we’re at with our positions, where we’ve added positions, how many positions we’ve hired.” Committee staff (Keith) said approved changes would be reflected in an updated long sheet before the Monday vote.
Ending: Members agreed to submit amendment language to staff so the committee can vote on each change on Monday and to continue the block‑grant and reporting discussion at that time.
