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Committee advances House Bill 863 after debate over $22 million cut to services
Summary
The Senate Health and Welfare Committee advanced House Bill 863 to the Senate floor with a 6-3 roll call vote after members debated a proposed $22 million reduction to programs serving people with disabilities and the direct-care workforce.
The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted 6-3 to send House Bill 863 to the Senate floor with a 'do pass' recommendation after a lengthy debate about a proposed $22 million reduction in program funding.
Senator Wintrow argued she "cannot support this motion" and said, "if we cut almost $22,000,000 all at once, we'll destabilize the program," warning that abrupt cuts could force good providers to reduce staff or close and harm people receiving services. Senator Ziderfeld, who moved the bill, said the reduction was part of difficult budget choices brought by the governor and JFAC and urged colleagues to approve the motion.
Opponents stressed the risk to direct-care staffing and to services relied upon by people with disabilities; proponents framed the change as a necessary step in a constrained budget environment where federal funding has pulled back. The committee used a roll call vote; secretarial tallies recorded six votes in favor and three opposed, and the motion passed.
