DHHS fund transfer approved

Senators passed a bill Feb. 24 that corrects an error in appropriation for the Nebraska Children’s Commission and allows a transfer within the state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

In 2013, the Legislature moved the Nebraska Children’s Commission from DHHS to the Foster Care Review Office. However, $94,000 of the commission’s appropriation was inadvertently left in the DHHS budget.

LB430, introduced by Omaha Sen. Heath Mello, moves that amount to the Foster Care Review Office.

The bill was amended on select file to transfer $7 million of unexpended general funds from the DHHS public assistance program to the child welfare program. Mello said the transfer was necessary to cover a funding shortfall in the state’s child welfare program and will be revenue neutral.

The bill passed 43-0.