COMMERCE & REVENUE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE
MEMBERS PRESENT: Sen. Scott Jenkins, Co-Chair
Rep. Bryan D. Holladay, Co-Chair
Sen. Dan Eastman
Sen. Ed Mayne
Rep. Eli Anderson
Rep. Cindy Beshear
Rep. David Cox
Rep. Peggy Wallace
MEMBERS ABSENT: Rep. Chad Bennion
STAFF PRESENT: Bill Greer, Fiscal Analyst
Jonathan C. Ball, Fiscal Analyst
Marilyn Reed, Committee Secretary
VISITORS LIST: Attached to and made a part of these minutes.
Rep. Holladay called the meeting to order at 2:10 p.m.
MOTION: Sen. Jenkins moved to approve the minutes of the January 29, 2001 meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Mayne, and Reps. Anderson and Bennion absent for the vote.
The committee discussed an invitation by Davis Area Technology Center to hold the subcommittee meeting at their facility on Monday, February 5, 2001. The committee will respond to the invitation at its next meeting on Friday, February 2, 2001.
MOTION: Rep. Anderson moved to reconsider and correct the minutes of the January 29, 2001 meeting as follows:
Page 3 Delete "Rep. Jenkins" and insert "Sen. Jenkins"
The motion passed with Rep. Beshear voting no and Rep. Bennion absent for the vote.
Insurance Department:
Commissioner Merwin Stewart, Insurance Department, and Deputy Neal Gooch, Insurance Department, were present to answer questions from the committee.
MOTION: Sen. Jenkins moved to approve the Analyst's budget recommendation for the Insurance Department of $5,028,900, including $55,200 of Dedicated Credit Revenue for a fraud investigator and $15,000 of Dedicated Credit Revenue for Attorney General Billings. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Bennion absent for the vote.
MOTION: Rep. Cox moved to add H.B. 44 ($80,400) for an analyst to the funding priorities list.
SUBSTITUTE
MOTION: Sen. Eastman moved to add one FTE for an actuary ($105,000), H.B. 44 Analyst FTE ($80,400), and COSMOS ($27,500) to the funding priorities list. The motion passed with Sen. Jenkins voting no and Rep. Bennion absent for the vote.
Comprehensive Health Insurance Pool:
MOTION: Sen. Eastman moved to approve the Analyst's base budget recommendation ($8,633,600). The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Bennion absent for the vote.
Financial Institutions:
MOTION: Rep. Anderson moved to approve the Analyst's budget recommendation ($3,706,900) including 10 FTE ($729,600 GF Restricted -Financial Institutions Account), Infrastructure for 10 FTE ($89,000 one-time GF Restricted - Financial Institutions Account), Rent Increase ($24,000 ongoing GF Restricted - Financial Institutions Account), Copy Machine ($14,000 one-time GF Restricted - Financial Institutions Account). The motion passed with Sen. Jenkins voting no and Rep. Bennion absent for the vote.
Utah Department of Workforce Services:
Analyst Greer reviewed the budget recommendations and related funding issues as outlined under green tab #10 in the committee's budget book. This budget is larger than all the other budgets combined the committee will review.
Analyst Greer explained the TANF Program, TANF funding and its relationship with other programs and departments. He then answered questions from the committee.
Rep. Cox asked why the Office of Rehabilitation does not want to be part of Workforce Services. Analyst Greer will report on this at the next meeting, Friday, February 2, 2001.
Executive Director Robert Gross emphasized the Workforce Services budget is complex and 86% of its funding is Federal. He addressed the Office of Rehabilitation Issue, a short history of the Department, and explained the several streams of funding for the Department. The Department delivers services in a one-stop and no-stop manner.
Financial Officer Werner Haidenthaler reviewed the Department of Workforce Services handout which addressed the FY2001 Budget, Federal Revenue Funds, General Revenue Funds, General Fund History, TANF Rainy Day Fund, TANF Reauthorization, and Child Care Funding.
Executive Director Gross recommended that all child care functions be consolidated into the Office of Child Care.
Representatives of community organizations and the general public spoke to issues related to the Department of Workforce Services.
Gina L. Cornia, Utah Issues
Chris Chytraus, Utah Children
Karma Arnold, Providian Bank
Lori Manning, Parent advocate
Johnny Anderson, Utah Private Child Care Association
Diane Henry, Child Care Coalition
Wendy Romero, single parent
Kathy Carr, Utah Child Care Coalition
Sarah Crosland, Pediatricians, U. of U.
Myra VanWyck, GE Capitol Financial
Brenda Thomas, Westminster Student Nurse
Annabelle Sheenberg, National Council of Jewish Women
Dee Rowland, Risk Pool
Karen Silver, Salt Lake Community Action Program
Peter Corroon, Parent
Tim Cosgrove, Primary Children's Hospital and Utah PTA
Marlene Valentine, YWCA of SLC/Utah Children
Rep. Cox asked if $1.9 million new State money, which would draw down $4.7 million in Federal funds could be used for after-school programs and child care. Answer: Yes.
Rep. Cox expressed a need to support child care to better prepare children for school and that a minimum of 4% should be spent on after-school programs.
Sen. Jenkins asked Mr. Gross and Mr. Haidenthaller if the Department now has control over the problem which resulted in the Department being fined for food stamp program errors. Mr. Gross answered the Department has launched an initiative to solve the problem. Sen. Jenkins asked for a report on their progress.
MOTION: Sen. Eastman moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Bennion absent for the vote.
Rep. Holladay adjourned the meeting at 5:00 p.m.
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Sen. Scott Jenkins, Co-Chair Rep. Bryan D. Holladay, Co-Chair