LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers are moving ahead with an emergency $7 million cash transfer to prevent the state’s child welfare system from running out of money.

Senators attached the funding measure to a budget bill Thursday and advanced it to a final vote.

Lawmakers railed against the Department of Health and Human Services, saying past administrators denied that they needed help last year when senators asked them.

A department official told lawmakers this week the shortfall was caused by a variety of factors, including higher rates for foster care services, higher-than-expected mileage costs, unpaid bills and the loss of some federal foster care payments.

The federal government demanded reimbursement from the state for child welfare expenses submitted by a private contractor, which weren’t properly documented.