House Passes Bill to Require More Information in Governor’s Budget
HARRISBURG – The House this week passed legislation to reform the budget process, including a measure from Rep. Sheryl Delozier (R-Cumberland) that would require the governor’s office to share information about how federal and state mandates affect spending.
House Bill 922 would not only require annual reports on federal mandates, but also require the governor to present legislative language in his annual budget proposal for changes being proposed.
“The budget proposal any administration presents should be accompanied by a plan to make the needed changes for it to be passed. Throughout the appropriations hearings, we ask cabinet secretaries how they propose to implement the governor’s budget. Many times, they cannot say what changes are needed. If this bill becomes law, it will be very clear what the governor plans to do,” Delozier said.
House Bill 922 passed with related measures to require the secretary of the budget to project revenue shortfalls starting in December; to update the Legislature on how unspent appropriations are handled; to require the governor’s administration to issue quarterly reports about special funds; and to direct the governor to explain the reasons for a state supplemental appropriations request.
Delozier said the clearer the information is when originally proposed, the more streamlined the budget process can be.
Legislation similar to House Bill 922 passed the House in the last legislative session as well.
The budget reform bills now go to the Senate for its consideration.
Representative Sheryl Delozier
88th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives