1997-01-16                     House Journal                      Page 0085
HB 76                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 76 by the House Rules Committee by request of                   
the Governor, entitled:                                                        
                                                                               
An Act making appropriations for the operating expenses of the                
state's integrated comprehensive mental health program; and                    
providing for an effective date.                                               
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee.                 
                                                                               
A letter dated December 16, 1996 to the Alaska Mental Health Trust             
Authority from Annalee McConnell, Director, Office of Management               
and Budget, was attached and is on file in the Chief Clerk's office.           
                                                                               
The Governor's transmittal letter, dated January 16, 1997, appears             
below:                                                                         
                                                                               
Dear Speaker Phillips:                                                         
                                                                               
As part of the budget package I am presenting to the legislature today,        
I am transmitting  this separate appropriation bill for the states             
integrated, comprehensive mental health program.  I have included a            
report explaining the differences between the appropriation bill and the       
recommendations of the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority.                   
                                                                               
This bill provides $114,993,700 for mental health programs throughout          
the state.  Included in this amount is $6,097,200 from the Trust               
Authoritys authorized and administration receipts which would be               
administered by various state agencies according to the mental health          
bill appropriations listed in Section 3.  Section 2 of the bill provides       

1997-01-16                     House Journal                      Page 0086
HB 76                                                                        
that if these mental health trust receipts fall short of the estimates, the    
Section 3 appropriations will be reduced by the amount of the shortfall.       
                                                                               
The mental health trust litigation settlement included a requirement that      
mental health program appropriations be made through a bill separate           
from the rest of the operating budget and consider the Trust Authority         
recommendations.  This is the second year in which the authority and           
four beneficiary planning boards (the Advisory Board on Alcoholism             
and Drug Abuse, the Alaska Mental Health Board, the Alaska                     
Commission on Aging, and the Governors Council on Disabilities and             
Special Education) have worked together to develop recommendations             
for the mental health program.                                                 
                                                                               
This bill reflects the progress being made toward a truly                      
comprehensive and integrated mental health plan because of the                 
partnership forged between the state, the Trust Authority, the planning        
boards and the mental health trust beneficiaries.                              
                                                                               
							Sincerely,                                                              
							/s/                                                                     
							Tony Knowles                                                            
							Governor