LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s child welfare system will run out of money by mid-April unless lawmakers approve an emergency $7 million cash transfer to cover foster care expenses.

Tony Green, acting director of the Division of Children and Family Services, told a legislative committee Tuesday that the department can’t wait for the regular budget process that ends in May.

Green says the shortfall was caused by higher rates for foster care services, increased mileage costs that weren’t expected, unpaid bills from last year and the loss of some federal foster care payments.

Green made his request to the Legislature’s budget-writing Appropriations Committee. Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha, the committee chairman, says the problems were caused by former members of the Heineman administration.