Thursday, January 18

Legislators are definitely thinking about oversight of government spending today, both in standing committees this morning and in appropriations subcommittees this afternoon.

MORNING:

In HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS (W010 at 9 a.m.) HB 89 will be debated. It asks the Legislative Fiscal Analyst to report annually to the Executive Appropriations Committee how much state and federal money has been spent on financial assistance and services to low-income individuals and families. The report would be broken down by program, service and population served. On the other hand, the second bill in committee, HB 216, reduces legislators' oversight of capital improvements somewhat by raising the cost threshold that requires their direct approval. For example, legislators now must approve a new facility that costs $250,000 or more. HB 216 would raise that threshold to $500,000.

SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (in W020 at 8 am) will consider SB 104, which allows the state Office of Recovery Services to charge $25 a year for child support collection services to a custodial parent who has never been on welfare if the office had recovered at least $500. The bill would raise about $400,000 a year, which would be dedicated to recovering more child support. The committee also may vote on SB 46, a bill that appropriates $2 million to help local health departments make and implement plans to respond to disease outbreaks. The local departments could strengthen their Medical Reserve Corps, disease surveillance capability and emergency preparation and response plans.

AFTERNOON:

PUBLIC EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS (in W135 at 2 pm) will start off with a report on the education initiatives and reforms that came out of the 2006 legislative session.

TRANSPORTATION , ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND NATIONAL GUARD APPROPRIATIONS (in W010) will discuss the Department of Environmental Quality budget.

Some of the other subcommittees will hear departmental budget overviews or requests from the Governor based on his budget.

Sandy Peck

League of Women Voters, 3804 Highland Drive 8-D, Salt Lake City UT 84106

(801)272-8683 fax (801)272-5942 www.lwvutah.org

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