General Fund panel advances bill raising Children's Insurance Fund share from food-stamp benefits to 7.5%

The Finance and Taxation General Fund committee gave a favorable report to HB 224, sponsored by Representative Matt Campbell, which increases the percentage taken from food-stamp benefits for the Children's Insurance Fund from 5% to 7.5%, the committee chair said.

The change, the chair said during the committee meeting, is intended "to meet the extra costs" facing the fund. Senator Albritton moved to give the bill a favorable report; Senator Beasley seconded. The clerk led a roll-call; the transcript records affirmative votes (Aye) from Senators Albritton, Chambliss, Beasley, Coleman, Coleman-Madison, Givhan, Kelly, Shelnutt and Weaver and the committee gave the bill a favorable report.

Committee members did not record further debate in the transcript. The chair closed discussion and said the bill would proceed after the committee's report.

The committee's action was procedural: the panel reported the bill favorably to the next step in the legislative process. No floor vote outcome is recorded in the transcript.