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House passes bill allowing use of existing state funds to keep benefits for furloughed employees
Summary
The Utah House passed HB2001 on Oct. 16, 2013, authorizing use of existing appropriated funds (no new appropriation) to continue health, dental and life insurance and to pay a Columbus Day holiday for state employees furloughed by the federal government; an amendment added the Department of Workforce Services. The bill passed unanimously and was sent to the Senate.
The Utah House on Oct. 16 passed House Bill 2001, a measure authorizing the use of existing appropriated funds to continue health, dental and life insurance and to pay a Columbus Day holiday for state employees furloughed because of the federal government shutdown. Representative Dee sponsored the bill and said the measure does not appropriate new money, but allows expenditure from budgets where funds already reside.
"These monies are already within these existing budgets," Representative Dee said, adding that the bill "does not appropriate any additional monies." He told the chamber the authorization applies whether the funds are federal or state within existing line items and that the Division of Human Resource Management has determined the state would continue benefits for affected employees.
An amendment to the bill (Amendment 1, 10/16/2013) added the Utah Department of Workforce Services to the list of departments covered, correcting an omission the sponsor said was discovered late the previous night. The amendment was explained as necessary because some employees in that department were subject to furloughs; it was adopted without recorded opposition.
Representative Veil Peterson confirmed the bill's coverage extends to both the Air and Army National Guard. Representative Greenwood voiced support after clarifying line language referencing the National Guard.
The House voted on HB2001 after summation was waived. The Clerk announced the bill had received the required two-thirds support and recorded votes of 69 yes with 0 no votes; an additional vote was permitted and the bill was reported as carrying 70 yes to 0 no. The bill will be transmitted to the Senate for consideration.
The sponsor and supporters emphasized that the authority to spend would be limited to existing appropriations and line items; Representative Dee said the measure was intended only to help employees during the period of the federal shutdown. The bill does not change permanent benefit policy and was described repeatedly as a temporary measure tied to the current shutdown.
