Legislators running low on funds for budget items

Health and Human Services:

After spending more than three hours finalizing its list of priorities for two of the state's biggest departments, the Health and Human Services Subappropriations Committee made a bold move Monday.

Committee members voted to ask the Executive Appropriations Committee for 8 percent of the state's $1.6 billion surplus — enough to fund most, if not all, of its needs.

The motion, made by Rep. Roz McGee, D-Salt Lake, was opposed by only two committee members and echoed early comments by committee chairman, Sen. Allen Christensen, R-North Ogden.

"Could I make the motion that we rank them all No. 1 and find the money?" he asked early in Monday's meeting as lawmakers struggled to prioritize its many competing needs.

At the top of the committee's final list of priorities approved Monday were services for disabled Utahns and an almost across-the-board increase in provider rates.

Lawmakers voted to recommend $2 million to tackle a lengthy waiting list for Utahns with disabilities, a hot topic during last year's session, and another $1.2 million for additional services offered through the state's Division of Services for People with Disabilities.

Coming in just below on the committee's final prioritization list was about $2 million worth of increases for dentists and others who treat Medicaid patients and providers in the state's Early Intervention/Baby Watch program and local health departments.

In a frustrating move for many advocates, the committee cut by more than $2 million the governor's recommendation to infuse an additional $4.2 million the Children's Health Insurance Program before ranking the proposal at number 17 on its list.

Also, a request to fund $3 million for dental and vision services for adult Medicaid beneficiaries failed to make it into the committee's top 20 priorities. Lawmakers chose not to fund these services at all last year, resulting in a push by Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman to secure $2 million in private funds for the most needy Utahns.

Criminal justice:

Top priorities for the executive offices and Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee include funding for an identity-theft database, software for government planning and voting machine fixes.

On Monday, the committee approved the following: Sen. Dennis Stowell, R-Parowan, asked the committee to set aside $300,000 to help small counties and municipalities plan for growth. The committee agreed and placed it at the 10 position.