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Budget committee restores contract-nursing funds for state hospitals and approves amended budgets
Summary
The Committee on Social Services Budget restored multi-million-dollar contract-nursing allocations for Larned and other state hospitals, approved FY2026–FY2027 budgets as amended, and held $1.1 million for a competency unit pending offset analysis.
The Committee on Social Services Budget on the floor Tuesday moved to restore contract-nursing funding for multiple state psychiatric hospitals and approved amended budgets for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
Members voted to restore $32,000,000 in contract nursing funding for Larned State Hospital after hearing that vacancies, recruitment challenges and deleted FTEs complicate a quick switch to state hires. Representative Jim Carpenter moved to restore the funds and Representative Orpiza seconded; the motion passed on a voice vote.
Why it matters: Committee members said contract labor remains the practical short-term option while the state works to recruit permanent staff. Scott Brenner, deputy secretary with…
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