Keith Bybee, budget division manager for the Legislative Services Office, told JFAC the statewide maintenance packets include nearly every agency's divisions except the Department of Health and Welfare's indirect support services. Bybee said the omission was intentional: the committee is withholding the maintenance appropriation for that division as leverage to secure a formal corrective plan addressing outstanding accountability-audit findings.

"One of the approaches that are included in this package is to not fund a key and critical division in the health and welfare department, and that is indirect support services," Bybee said, describing the decision as a negotiation piece so the department will "formalize some sort of response to outstanding audit and uncorrected findings" during the session.

Committee co-chair Representative Dorothy Horman and others sought to reassure members that the omission would not interrupt current-year service delivery. "This is not for the current year. This would have no impact on the current year," Horman said, adding the committee expects a resolution and will find a path to fund the division for FY25 if the department provides acceptable corrective actions.

Committee members asked for clarification about what indirect support services covers; Bybee said that the division includes fiscal, human resources, legal, the director's office and IT support for Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Members also acknowledged the department had taken steps and engaged leadership; Bybee and the co-chairs said they expect continued engagement with Director Cameron and the department to resolve outstanding audit issues before final appropriation.

Why it matters: Indirect support services provide the central administrative functions that enable the Department of Health and Welfare to operate. Withholding maintenance funding for a major administrative division is an uncommon step and signals the legislature expects corrective measures for audit findings before enacting a standing FY25 appropriation for that division. Staff and the co-chairs emphasized the action is procedural and aimed at securing improved audit responsiveness; they said the committee will consider funding options if the department presents a satisfactory plan.