BISMARCK - The House voted Monday to let the Legislative Council decide on whether or not to study who should pay for foster care and subsidized adoptions.

As introduced, House Bill 1425 would have moved the responsibility to pay for those programs from the counties to the state. It also called for counties to reduce mills that currently cover these costs, resulting in lowered property taxes.

Rep. Robin Weisz, R-Hurdsfield, said the original bill would have carried a $13.3 million price tag. It was amended to be a study by the Senate, and the House acceded to the Senate amendment. The House passed the amended bill by a vote of 56 to 36.

"My disappointment at 1425 was that it was turned into a study," said Rep. Larry Bellew, R-Minot, who sponsored the bill, explaining that he thought it should be the state's responsibility to cover the costs of those programs.

The bill was on the calendar for Senate debate by Monday afternoon.

Bellew said there is no guarantee that the Legislative Council would choose to study the issue if it passes both chambers. If it isn't studied he might consider bringing the same idea forth in the next legislative session.

"It's too early to say, but I think I might," he said. "It's the right thing to do."