Topeka ? Providing health coverage to 8,000 Kansas children will be at the center of a budget battle this week.

Last year, state lawmakers approved increasing income limits for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program so that more families could qualify for coverage, which in Kansas is called HealthWave.

But that action was ineffective because the lawmakers didn’t provide the funding needed to cover the cost.

Now the fight is about whether to provide that funding while many state agencies are taking budget cuts because of the recession and dwindling tax revenues.

Both the House and Senate will debate their proposed budget bills this week for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ proposed budget would add the $1.2 million to fund the SCHIP expansion, but neither appropriations bills contains the funding.

“We’re going to quibble over a million dollars for uninsured children … that’s a pretty sad commentary,” Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley, of Topeka, said.

In Kansas, the SCHIP program has approximately 39,000 children, offering coverage for children in households with incomes up to 200 percent of the poverty level, which is $42,408 per year for a family of four. Raising it to 250 percent would make it $53,010 per year. Premiums cost from $20 to $30 per month per household.

The proposal to spend $1.2 million in state funds would draw $6 million in federal funds, officials say.

Despite tough budget times, Democrats support the increase, as do some Republicans, especially in the Senate.

“I’m still very optimistic that before the year is over we will find a way (to expand HealthWave),” said Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, R-Independence. “It has been a priority for us,” he said.

The will to do that may be tested this week during budget debates.