The Conference Committee for HB1 released their decisions for the Department of State Health Services. Some of the issues decided by the Conference Committee are presented below.
Technical Adjustments and Cross Strategy Issues. The Conference Committee agreed to the House proposal to reallocate $918,000 in House Rider 2, Capital Budget, from Upgrade Laboratory Information Management Software to Miscellaneous Lab Equipment. They did not, however, agree to increasing the FTE cap by 6.0 FTEs, in House, for vital records events (Strategy A.1.2, Vital Statistics).
The Committee adopted a compromise of $1,126,575 in General Revenue to provide 45 percent of agency request for public health nurses and $6,586,184 in General Revenue for TB Prevention Activities related to an operational shortfall at TCID.
The number of Full Time Equivalents (FTEs) was established by the Committee at 3,249.7. The House had provided 3,270.7 while the Senate had provided 3,243.7.
There were no appropriations through riders recommended by the Committee.
Public Health Preparedness and Coordinated Services. The Committee recommended $134,207,168, adopting the House position providing an increase of $100,000 in General Revenue-Dedicated Account No. 5045, Permanent Fund for Children and Public Health in unexpended balances to maintain 2018-19 funding levels for regional and local health services. This is guided by House Rider 28, House Rider 32, and Cross-Strategy Issue (see above).
Vital Statistics. The Committee recommended $30,602,268, adopting $1,518,804 in General Revenue and 17.0/0.0 FTEs for vital statistics. The House had recommended an additional $3,037,608 in General Revenue and 17.0/17.0 FTEs to improve customer service for vital event records. The Senate had recommended an additional $1,965,551 in General Revenue and 11.0/11.0 FTEs.
Health Registries. The Committee recommended $27,131,988, adopting the Senate position providing $6,236,064 in General Obligation Bond Proceeds to operate the Cancer Registry, including employee benefits…
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