The Senate Committee Substitute of HB 2, the supplemental budget bill, passed out of the Senate on May 23rd and the House concurred with those changes on May 26th. The version that passed out of Senate Finance is the version that has now passed out of both chambers.
Senator Jane Nelson’s May 18th press release on the passage of CSHB2:
The Senate Finance Committee chaired by Texas State Senator Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, today passed CSHB 2, which provides supplemental appropriations for the current 2016-2017 budget. Each session, the Legislature approves a supplemental budget to address revised revenue estimates and supplemental needs.
"This legislation protects the most vulnerable among us — our children. It balances the ledger for our current budget and puts Texas in a strong position to meet the challenges ahead," Senator Nelson said.
CSHB 2, as passed today in committee, appropriates roughly $1 billion GR for FY 16-17, including:
- $160 million to address needs at Child Protective Services, primarily to fund "critical needs" resources approved over the interim;
- $794 million to address the Medicaid shortfall;
- $4.5 million for needs in the Early Childhood Intervention program;
- $7.4 million for Texas Forest Service reimbursement for aiding in the response to natural disasters, such as fires and flooding;
- $80 million to pay current obligations related to the Constitutional requirement to provide Correctional Managed Healthcare;
- New restrictions that prevent the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission from expending appropriated funds on travel outside the state; and
- $80 million in savings from lease payment and bond debt service reductions at the Facilities Commission, Texas Public Finance Authority, and Texas Department of Transportation.
