By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org

CONCORD – Any money the state gets from the sale of the Sununu Youth Services Center in Manchester will go to the state’s general fund, not the YDC victims fund. And the state will study getting out of the operation of the Winnipesaukee Basin wastewater treatment program, which is owned and paid for by its eight community members, if the House agrees to recommendations made by the full House Finance Committee Monday.

It voted unanimously to support SB 592 relating to the wastewater system and along party lines 13-11 to support an amendment which would place the real estate sales funds from the Sununu Center into the general fund under SB 481-FN-A.

The latter bill was at first considered a housekeeping measure to address where the estimated $80 million in sale funds would go to as it is referenced twice in the current budget with one spot saying the money would go to the general fund and the other to the victims’ fund.

Republicans said that it really doesn’t matter which account it goes into, the state will pay the estimated 500-800 victims of sexual and physical abuse at the former center in Manchester while Democrats said it makes sense that the sale of property where the victims were harmed should go to them directly.

During a previous hearing in a subcommittee of the Finance Committee, Republican members said the victims’ fund is a target for lawyers.

State Rep. Mary Jane Wallner, D-Concord, said this will mean the claims administrator will have to go to take the extra step to ask for the funds from the joint legislative fiscal committee and that it “makes sense” that the money should go to the victims themselves.

State Rep. Kenneth Weyler, R-Kingston, said that the sale likely would not cover the state’s entire exposure in the sex abuse scandal and Rep. Brian Seaworth, R-Pembroke, said having it in the general fund is more flexible because the state does not know when the facility will be freed up as it remains a center for youths which is transitioning to the property formerly known as Hampstead Hospital.

SB 592-FN began as a bill to clarify the roles of regional planning commissions related to habitat but lakes region officials requested an amendment which would allow for a six month study commission to identify issues and any law changes which would be needed to allow the towns and the City of Laconia to operate the 50-year-old wastewater system and its treatment plant in Franklin along the Merrimack River.

State Rep. Carol McGuire, R-Epsom, said there are “a lot of pieces that need to be looked at” but that it is something the communities want and are willing to pay for.

The vote on the bill was 24-0 in committee and it now heads to the House and because it was amended in the House will go back to the Senate if passed.