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JFAC staff outline 'clear language' and reappropriation authority as committee prepares maintenance budgets
Summary
Committee budget staff walked members through program maintenance packets on Jan. 15, explaining comparative budget tables, a committee recommendation column, and the 'clear language' sections that capture exemptions, reappropriations and conditions for appropriations.
Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee staff briefed members on how maintenance budgets will be presented and voted during the budget‑setting process, emphasizing a new focus on “clear language” that formalizes legislative conditions, limitations and reporting requirements.
Keith Bybee, Division Manager of Budget Policy Analysis for the Legislative Services Office, previewed 10 maintenance‑budget packets and described a comparative table that now includes a third column for the committee’s recommendation. He said the final maintenance numbers will change after committee votes on statewide items such as personnel benefit costs, statewide cost allocation and change‑in‑employee‑compensation (CEC).
Bybee and committee leaders explained three main categories of “clear language” the committee will use in appropriation bills: exemptions from statutory limits on transfers between expenditure categories (to allow certain agencies flexibility), reappropriation authority to carry unobligated funds from one fiscal year into the next (commonly used for ARPA and long‑term capital projects), and conditions/limitations that define how specific appropriations must be used and what reports the legislature expects.
Committee members asked whether the language in the packets is historical (language that appeared in prior appropriation bills) and whether the Joint Committee can remove or change such language; chair remarks confirmed the committee retains full discretion to add, remove or revise language during budget votes. Members also discussed using a new fiscal impact team to improve follow‑up and performance tracking for funds that include reporting requirements.
Bybee asked members to review the packet language in advance of budget votes so the committee can adopt or amend clear language during the maintenance‑budget sessions scheduled later in the week.
