(1) When the general assembly creates statutory programs which are not required by federal law and which offer and provide services or assistance or both to persons in this state, the general assembly gives rise to a reasonable expectation that such services or assistance or both will be provided by the state in a manner consistent with the statutes which created the programs. However, the general assembly does not commit itself or the taxpayers of the state to the provision of a particular level of funding for such programs and does not create rights in the ultimate recipient to a particular level of service or assistance or both. The general assembly intends that the level of funding, and thus the level of service or assistance or both, shall be in the full and complete discretion of the general assembly, consistent with the statute which created the program.
In the statutes creating some of these programs, the general assembly expressly conditions any rights arising under such programs by the use of the words "within available appropriations" or "subject to available appropriations" or similar words of limitation. The purpose of the use of these words of limitation is to reaffirm the principles set forth in subsection (1) of this section.
At the time such a program is created, the general assembly appropriates funds for itsimplementation, taking into account many factors, including but not limited to the availability of revenues, the importance of the program, and needs of recipients when balanced with the needs of recipients under other state programs. The amount of the initial appropriation indicates a program's priority in relation to other state programs. The general assembly reasonably expects that the priority of the program will be subject to annual changes which will be reflected in the modification of the annual appropriation for the program. If the general assembly desires a substantive change in the program, or to eliminate the program, that can be accomplished by amendment of the statutory law which created the program.
It is the purpose of the general assembly, through the enactment of this section, toclarify that the rights, if any, created through the enactment of statutory programs are subject to substantial modification through the annual appropriation process, so long as the modification is consistent with the statute which created the program.
Source: L. 89: Entire section added, p. 341, § 1, effective March 25.