1994-03-24                     Senate Journal                      Page 3346
SB 365                                                                       
Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution,          
I am transmitting a bill relating to the improvement of state finances         
and fiscal accountability by increasing fees, collecting additional            
revenues, reducing certain program expenditures, and changing state            
agency functions or procedures to achieve certain savings or                   
efficiencies.  A section-by-section description of this bill is                
forthcoming.                                                                   
                                                                               
In this time of great financial concern, we must look for ways of              
streamlining state government and find ways for agencies to defray             
a greater portion of their costs through the imposition or increase of         
fees.  If there are ways to access other kinds of funds for the                
services the state provides, then we must be willing to seek those             
funds.  If there are ways to cut the expenses of the state                     
administration, we must be open to the changes necessary to achieve            
them.                                                                          
                                                                               
This bill is only one example of this administration's continued               
efforts to keep the costs of state government in check.  It, along             
with the bills I have introduced that change required reports of state         
agencies (HB 530 - SB 357) and eliminate some state multimember                
bodies (HB 531 - SB 358), can go a long way to improving the                   
operation and expense of the state.                                            
                                                                               
I urge your favorable consideration of the bill.                               
                                                                               
					Sincerely,                                                                
					/s/                                                                       
					Walter J. Hickel                                                          
					Governor                                                                  
                                                                               
SB 366                                                                       
SENATE BILL NO. 366 BY THE SENATE FINANCE                                      
COMMITTEE, entitled:                                                           
                                                                               
"An Act relating to medical support for children;                             
allowing a member of the teachers' retirement                                  
system or the public employees' retirement system                              
to assign to a Medicaid-qualifying trust the                                   
member's right to receive a monetary benefit from                              
the  system;  relating  to the  effect of a Medicaid-