Committee defers bill to increase works-of-art fund and create collections manager position

The House Committee on Culture and the Arts on Feb. 13 deferred HB 2461 after discussions with the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. The bill would have increased the ceiling for the works-of-art special fund and appropriated funds for maintenance, preservation and a collections manager position.

The chair said follow-up conversations with the foundation suggested the committee was unlikely to move the measure forward this year and indicated staff would explore whether state budget or capital improvement program (CIP) options could address collection preservation needs. "We may look at the state budget or perhaps with the CIP to help preserve the state art collection," the chair said.

After the chair summarized those conversations, the attorney's recommendation was to defer the measure. The committee adopted the attorney's recommendation and deferred HB 2461; no vote tally for passage was taken because the item was deferred.

The chair closed the meeting and adjourned the committee.