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House Concurred with Senate Amendments to Supplemental Appropriations Bill; $1M Transfer Cited to Support Health Informatics Jobs
Summary
The Utah House voted to concur with Senate amendments to House Bill 6,001 (Supplemental Appropriations Act 5), approving a $1 million transfer from the Industrial Assistance Fund to the Department of Business and Economic Development to support a health informatics opportunity reportedly tied to about 1,600 jobs; the House also accepted deletion of intent language on sales tax exemptions.
The Utah House on Dec. 18, 2002, voted to concur with Senate amendments to House Bill 6,001, the Supplemental Appropriations Act 5, agreeing to a transfer of $1 million from the Industrial Assistance Fund to the Department of Business and Economic Development to support a health informatics project.
Representative Jay Alexander, sponsor of the appropriation bill, told colleagues the transfer is intended to enable the state to pursue a health informatics business opportunity. "They have like 1,600 jobs committed," Alexander said, describing the scale of the prospective project. He also said the Senate removed an intent provision the House had added concerning proposed sales tax exemptions.
Representative Becker urged refusal to concur and asked for a conference with the Senate, saying the House previously voted 2-to-1 to include the intent language and that members heard "misinformation" in the Senate debate. "I would urge this body to refuse to concur," Becker said, arguing a quick conference could clear up misimpressions.
Representative Biskupski questioned the sponsor about the $1 million transfer. Alexander clarified that the item is a transfer of funds already in the Industrial Assistance Fund to the Department of Business and Economic Development and "is not an appropriation," according to the record.
The motion that the House concur with the Senate amendments was put before the chamber and the presiding officer announced the motion passed. The clerk closed the vote and, as recorded in the proceedings, Representative Farren was allowed "to record an 'I' vote"; the transcript does not specify a full vote tally.
The clerk stated the bill will be returned to the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel for processing following the concurrence.
The House's action resolved the immediate question of whether to accept the Senate's changes; members who opposed accepting the Senate deletion of the intent language pressed for a conference to revisit sales tax exemption language.
