Rep. Matt Byerong seeks extension for county and regional governance study committee
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Summary
Lawmakers heard H.762 to extend and refine the county and regional governance study committee created by 2024 Act 118; sponsors said it requires no new money, carries forward consultant funds, and reduces co-chairs to one to improve continuity for work on intergovernmental coordination.
The House Appropriations Committee on March 11 heard H.762, an act amending 2024 Act 118 to extend the county and regional governance study committee and adjust its structure so the work can continue without new appropriations.
Representative Matt Byerong, chair of House Government Operations and Military Affairs, told the committee the extension is meant to ‘‘set the table for the continuation of work that was put in place in 2024,’’ citing the need to help smaller communities access grants and streamline coordination among county, municipal and state resources.
Legislative counsel Tim Duffer said the draft strike-all amendment (1.2) retains most prior language from Act 118 but pushes back the report date, reduces co-chairs from two to one, and slightly narrows or clarifies some duties to make the committee’s workload more manageable.
A fiscal office representative identified in the transcript as Scott told members the committee met once last fall and that actual per-diem spending to date was minimal (about $200). The fiscal office estimated that if the committee again met up to 10 times, per-diem and related reimbursements could amount to roughly $14,622 (rounded informally in discussion to ‘‘up to $15,000’’). Duffer and others emphasized that an earlier $50,000 JFO appropriation for consultants remains available and unspent; H.762 does not request additional money.
Committee members asked whether the scope fits in a 10-meeting schedule and whether existing entities already address some of the committee’s charge. Byerong acknowledged the workload is large but said interested stakeholders and the existing consultant allocation should help the committee produce useful work if it has the extra time.
The committee did not record a final vote in the transcript; the chair indicated plans to bundle votes later in the day or the following day and that an amendment from the committee might be filed before a formal vote. The next procedural steps noted in the hearing were posting and potential vote scheduling.