In the wake of the state’s budget impasse, this week the Governor signed legislation that will allow the state to distribute $5 billion in federal funds to critical social service programs.
Without a state budget, social service agencies that provide meals for senior citizens and supplemental nutrition programs for women and children, help crime victims, and provide community and rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities, said they would have been forced to cut services or eliminate programs if appropriations authority wasn’t granted.
The state is responsible for administering many programs mandated or funded by the federal government. Although funding for these programs has been approved at the federal level, without appropriations authority the Comptroller was unable to cut checks to agencies for these programs. Senate Bill 2042 allows the Comptroller to spend those dollars and ensures the providers receive the federal funding they rely on.