H.J.R. 11

1

JOINT RULES RESOLUTION ON EXECUTIVE
2 APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE BUDGET
3 RESPONSIBILITIES
4 2014 GENERAL SESSION
5 STATE OF UTAH
6 Chief Sponsor: Brad R. Wilson
7 Senate Sponsor: ____________
8
9 LONG TITLE
10 General Description:
11 This joint resolution of the Legislature modifies provisions related to duties of the
12 Executive Appropriations Committee when preparing base budget recommendations.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This resolution:
15 . provides that when directing staff on what revenue estimates to use in preparing
16 budget recommendations, the Executive Appropriations Committee shall consider
17 treating above-trend revenue growth as one-time revenue for major tax types;
18 . provides that when deciding whether to set aside special allocations for the end of
19 the session, the Executive Appropriations Committee shall consider the historical,
20 current, and anticipated status of debt, long-term liabilities, General Fund
21 borrowing, reserves, fund balances, nonlapsing appropriation balances, cash funded
22 infrastructure investment and federal funds paid to the state; and
23 . makes technical changes.
24 Special Clauses:
25 None
26 Legislative Rules Affected:
27 AMENDS:

28 JR3-2-402
29
30 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
31 Section 1. JR3-2-402 is amended to read:
32 JR3-2-402. Executive appropriations -- Duties -- Base budgets.
33 (1) As used in this rule:
34 (a) "Base budget" means amounts appropriated by the Legislature for each item of
35 appropriation for the current fiscal year that:
36 (i) are not designated as one-time in an appropriation, regardless of whether the
37 appropriation is covered by ongoing or one-time revenue sources; and
38 (ii) were not vetoed by the governor, unless the Legislature overrode the veto.
39 (b) "Base budget" includes:
40 (i) any changes to those amounts approved by the Executive Appropriations
41 Committee; and
42 (ii) amounts appropriated for debt service.
43 (2) (a) The Executive Appropriations Committee shall meet no later than the third
44 Wednesday in December to:
45 (i) direct staff as to what revenue estimate to use in preparing budget
46 recommendations, to include a forecast for federal fund receipts[;], and to consider treating
47 above-trend revenue growth as one-time revenue for major tax types; and
48 (ii) [decide] consider, when deciding whether to set aside special allocations for the
49 end of the session, [including any special allocations resulting from an anticipated reduction in
50 the amount of federal funds paid to the state;] the historical, current, and anticipated status of
51 the following:
52 (A) debt;
53 (B) long-term liabilities;
54 (C) General Fund borrowing;
55 (D) reserves;
56 (E) fund balances;
57 (F) nonlapsing appropriation balances;
58 (G) cash funded infrastructure investment; and

59 (H) changes in federal funds paid to the state;
60 (iii) approve the appropriate amount for each subcommittee to use in preparing its
61 budget;
62 (iv) set a budget figure; and
63 (v) adopt a base budget in accordance with Subsection (2)(b) and direct the legislative
64 fiscal analyst to prepare one or more appropriations acts appropriating one or more base
65 budgets for the next fiscal year.
66 (b) In a base budget adopted under Subsection (2)(a), appropriations from the General
67 Fund, the Education Fund, and the Uniform School Fund shall be set as follows:
68 (i) if the next fiscal year ongoing revenue estimates set under Subsection (2)(a)(i) are
69 equal to or greater than the current fiscal year ongoing appropriations, the new fiscal year base
70 budget is not changed;
71 (ii) if the next fiscal year ongoing revenue estimates set under Subsection (2)(a)(i) are
72 less than the current fiscal year ongoing appropriations, the new fiscal year base budget is
73 reduced by the same percentage that projected next fiscal year ongoing revenue estimates are
74 lower than the total of current fiscal year ongoing appropriations; and
75 (iii) in making a reduction under Subsection (2)(b)(ii), appropriated debt service shall
76 not be reduced, and other ongoing appropriations shall be reduced, in an amount sufficient to
77 make the total ongoing appropriations, including the unadjusted debt service, equal to the
78 percentage calculated under Subsection (2)(b)(ii).
79 (c) The chairs of each appropriation subcommittee are invited to attend this meeting.
80 (3) Appropriations subcommittees may not meet while the Senate or House is in
81 session without special leave from the speaker of the House and the president of the Senate.
82 (4) All proposed items of expenditure to be included in the appropriations bills shall be
83 submitted to one of the subcommittees named in JR3-2-302 for consideration and
84 recommendation.
85 (5) (a) After receiving and reviewing subcommittee reports, the Executive
86 Appropriations Committee may refer the report back to an appropriations subcommittee with
87 any guidelines the Executive Appropriations Committee considers necessary to assist the
88 subcommittee in producing a balanced budget.
89 (b) The subcommittee shall meet to review the new guidelines and report the

90 adjustments to the chairs of the Executive Appropriations Committee as soon as possible.
91 (6) (a) After receiving the reports, the Executive Appropriations Committee chairs will
92 report them to the Executive Appropriations Committee.
93 (b) That committee shall:
94 (i) make any further adjustments necessary to balance the budget; and
95 (ii) complete all decisions necessary to draft the final appropriations bill no later than
96 the 38th day of the annual general session.





Legislative Review Note
as of 1-13-14 3:45 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel