Senate committee advances $7.4 million claims appropriation to pay state judgments

The Senate Committee on Appropriations voted to pass AB 25 97 to the Senate floor, a claims appropriation that authorizes approximately $7,400,000 from the general fund to the Department of Justice for payment of attorney fees and costs tied to eight specified claims against the state.

Tiffany Brokaw, speaking for the Attorney General, told the committee the settlements were lawfully entered and that the appropriation is necessary to effectuate payment. "This bill would appropriate approximately $7,400,000 from the general fund to the attorney general," Brokaw said, describing the payments as binding state obligations entered on advice of counsel.

The Department of Finance told the committee it had reviewed the items and had no concerns with the included amounts. The committee recorded a final roll call in which members moved the bill to the Senate floor; the transcript records a final vote of 6 to 0 in favor. No opposition witnesses were recorded at the hearing.