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Committee reopens Senate Bill 80, adopts three amendments and advances amended bill 8–3
Summary
After a motion to reconsider Senate Bill 80, the House Appropriations Committee adopted three technical amendments (L012, L013, L014) addressing program sunset/refund rules, grantee eligibility and advisory-council diversity, then voted 8–3 to advance the amended bill to the Committee of the Whole amid continuing concerns about private funding and potential future general-fund obligations.
The House Appropriations Committee voted to reconsider Senate Bill 80 and, after adopting three amendments that sponsors said addressed committee concerns, moved the amended bill to the Committee of the Whole on an 8–3 vote.
Representative Taggart moved to reconsider Senate Bill 80 and acknowledged he had been "on the fence" previously, telling the committee, "I admit my mistake and bring it back today." Representative Soper and others urged caution about using reconsideration, with Soper warning it is generally reserved for serious mistakes and noting he had reservations about reopening a committee decision.
Representative Lukens introduced amendment L012, saying it was drafted to align with existing practice for gifts, grants and donations and to avoid creating a general-fund obligation; specifically, L012 would provide that the program would cease if there were no gifts, grants or donations received and address how remaining cash in a fund would be handled. Representative Sitton moved L012 and it was adopted without objection.
Representative Zokai moved L013 to ensure grant money goes to organizations with an established track record (roughly three years of service) and to avoid concentrating funds in a single organization; Zokai then moved L014 to expand the advisory council’s diversity of expertise. Both amendments were supported by Representative Lukens and adopted by the committee.
Representative Fatone moved to send Senate Bill 80, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. During discussion Representative Soper reiterated concerns about mixing private and state functions, saying the state would be “holding the bucket” while private donors initially supply resources and warning of the potential for future state obligations. Representative Zokai said he would vote yes in committee despite planning to vote no on the floor. The clerk called the roll and the chair announced the motion passed 8–3.
The bill will proceed to the Committee of the Whole.
