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House passes supplemental appropriations bill after floor amendments, returns SB 217 to Senate
Summary
The Utah House advanced Senate Bill 217, the supplemental appropriations act for FY1994—94, after adopting floor amendments that added contingent funding priorities and a first-call appropriation for remodeling the Heber Wells Building. The measure passed the House 62 Yes to 9 No and was returned to the Senate.
The Utah House of Representatives on March 1 passed Senate Bill 217, a supplemental appropriations act for the 1994—94 fiscal year, after a series of floor amendments and debate over contingent project funding.
Lawmakers under suspension of the rules lifted SB 217 to the top of the third-reading calendar and considered amendments that would place a set of building and program priorities on any year-end surplus. Representative Marty Stevens and Representative Lane Hickman explained amendments that, among other changes, added a priority appropriation for remodeling the Heber Wells Building in Salt Lake City and clarified how bond funding interacts with surplus appropriations. Stevens framed the provision as a way to use available surplus funds to avoid higher rent and duplicate spending for state agencies that currently occupy leased space.
Opponents cautioned against creating a recurring practice of contingent appropriations that are not subject to the same competitive review as bond-funded projects. Representative Harwood warned the chamber that allowing many contingent items could produce a ‘‘Christmas tree’’ of additions that would bypass normal prioritization. Supporters, including representatives from Capitol Facilities, said the Heber Wells Building is vacant and a modest, targeted surplus appropriation would reduce pressure on the state—s bond program.
The House adopted the amendments and passed SB 217 by voice and recorded vote, 62 in favor and 9 opposed. The bill was returned to the Senate for further action and any necessary technical corrections.
What happens next: SB 217 goes back to the Senate for any requested technical fixes and final signature steps. If approved there, the supplemental allocations and prioritized projects would be eligible per the bill language and adopted amendments.
Quotes from the debate: "What this does is it appropriate now up to a total project cost of $5,100,000 for the remodeling of the Heber Wells Building in Salt Lake City," Representative Marty Stevens said in support of his floor amendment. Representative Harwood said opponents were right to worry that the approach could become an ad-hoc funding route if not kept to narrowly defined needs.
Outcome: Passed by the House, 62 yes, 9 no. Returned to the Senate.
