Expenditures in Excess of Appropriations

Under current law, the controller may allow any state department, institution, or agency of the state, including any institution of higher education, to make an expenditure in excess of the amount authorized by an item of appropriation for the fiscal year if certain conditions are satisfied. One of those conditions is that the overexpenditure is necessary due to unforeseen circumstances arising while the general assembly is not meeting in a regular or special session. The act modifies that condition to also allow an overexpenditure when it is necessary due to a lapse in a federal appropriation that the joint budget committee determines is reasonably likely to occur while the general…