Appropriations – Week of April 7, 2011

STAFF CONTACT:  Theresa Kehoe

SF 512 – Indigent Defense FY11 Supplemental

HF 642 – Transportation Budget

FLOOR ACTION:

SF 512 provides an $18.55 million FY11 supplemental for indigent defense costs, including $2.55 million for the State Public Defender’s office. This supplemental is also contained in SF 209, which is currently in conference committee. The Senate adopted an amendment to strike a provision added by the House to strike the supplemental appropriation, but require the Governor to transfer the $18.5 million from other programs while the Legislature is in session. The Senate did accept a House provision to add the “coupling” of federal tax provisions, which are also contained in SF 209. SF 512 now returns to the House. [4/5: 50-0] The House refused to concur with the Senate amendment on a party-line vote on April 5. The Senate then receded from their amendment. SF 512 will go to the Governor as passed by the House. [4/5: 50-0]

HF 642 appropriates $346 million to the Department of Transportation (DOT) for FY12. This includes $47.6 million from the Road Use Tax Fund, $298.4 million from the Primary Road Fund and 3,109 FTE positions. This is a net decrease of $4.8 million and no change in FTE positions when compared to FY11. HF 642 is the same as Governor Branstad’s FY12 budget proposal. The Senate adopted an amendment deleting all FY13 appropriations. [4/6:26-24 (party-line)]