ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Mark Dayton says a health plan is donating $30 million to the state treasury to help with Minnesota’s $5 billion deficit.

The Democratic governor announced the UCare health plan’s contribution on Wednesday, as House panels were about to start work on a budget bill for health and welfare programs.

Dayton says his administration is asking other health plans that cover more than 500,000 state patients to make similar contributions based on their earnings and reserves. UCare will make the contribution from its reserves in July.

House Republicans want to spend $1.3 billion less on health and human services programs than Dayton’s budget recommended. Two panels convene Wednesday to begin detailing how they plan to tighten spending.

Health and welfare programs are one of the biggest areas of Minnesota’s budget.