Committee concurs with audit-unit, library funding and authorizes rainy-day transfers for disaster relief

The Budget and Taxation Committee concurred by voice vote on several bills, including a measure to establish an audit and finance compliance unit and funding for the State Library Resource Center, and approved language allowing limited transfers from the rainy day fund to the disaster recovery fund.

Committee members voiced concurrence on Senate Bill 858, which aligns the Senate text with the House version establishing an audit and finance compliance unit. The committee then concurred on Senate Bill 410, which funds the State Library Resource Center and had been amended in the House to conform to a House bill previously passed unanimously by the Senate.

On House Bill 953, the committee agreed to language authorizing the governor, with Board of Public Works approval, to transfer rainy day funds into the disaster recovery fund so long as transfers do not reduce the rainy day balance below 5 percent. A sponsor described the measure as a clarification of existing access to funds that puts the authority into statute.

No roll-call tallies were read during the concurrence actions; members responded by voice and the chair recorded concurrence. The committee did not attach additional conditions to these concurrences during the session. The committee adjourned following the votes and scheduled follow-up work on later agenda items.