Appropriations committee approves DHHS positions tied to psychotropic medication settlement after vacancy debate
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Summary
Lawmakers approved several positions to support reporting tied to the psychotropic medication settlement, but members pressed DHHS over roughly 400 vacancies and whether new roles should be filled from existing unfilled positions; one related funding item was tabled for further review.
The Appropriations Committee approved a package of positions intended to support reporting and implementation tied to the psychotropic medication settlement, but the votes followed sustained concern from minority members about adding roles while the Department of Health and Human Services reports a large number of vacancies.
Rep. Drew Gattin presented the HHS unvoted initiatives and said the positions are intended to support requirements related to the psychotropic medication settlement. Representative Ducharme opposed creating new roles while noting "there are roughly 400 vacancies in the Department of Health and Human Services" and said the committee would likely oppose new positions unless they could be funded from existing vacancies.
Representative Aranda proposed an amendment to fund one of the positions by transferring an unfilled DHHS position, prompting procedural discussion about whether the mover would withdraw and refile the motion; after clarification that the commissioner would be given authority to identify which vacant position could be used, the committee voted. The motion to fund lines 19–20 (establishing one child protective services case aid position funded 79% general fund/21% other special revenue) passed 8–5 after an initial procedural vote failed and the motion was refiled.
The panel then approved lines 21–22 (one management analyst 2 position) and lines 23–24 (two child protective services nurse consultant positions), both described as supporting reporting needs related to the settlement; those motions carried by similar margins amid continued minority objection.
Members asked for confirmation that these were not wholly new headcounts but in many cases reallocations tied to federal match changes or existing program structure. "These are not new positions," Gattin explained; "these are existing positions with existing people" in many cases, though members pressed for assurances that new hiring would be limited to replaced vacancies where practicable.
The committee tabled one related behavioral‑health funding request (line 181) after members asked whether opioid settlement funds could cover ongoing support for adult treatment and recovery courts in Region 6; Representative Ducharme said she would return with a proposal to the committee.
The decisions allow DHHS to move forward on reporting and compliance work tied to the settlement while leaving open funding source questions for one item that was sent back for further drafting.
