Legislature(1997 - 1998)
1998-07-15 House Journal
Full Journal pdf1998-07-15 House Journal Page 4102 HB 326 The following letter, dated June 30, was received July 1, 1998: "Dear Speaker Phillips: On this date I have signed the following bill with line item vetoes and am transmitting the engrossed and enrolled copies to the Lieutenant Governor's Office for permanent filing: CONFERENCE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 326 "An Act making appropriations for the operating and capital expenses of the state's integrated comprehensive mental health program; and providing for an effective date." Chapter No. 138, SLA 1998 ¦Effective Date: July 1, 1998á The comprehensive mental health budget required by law brings together all operating and capital appropriations for programs and projects serving beneficiaries of the Mental Health Trust Authority. Considerable progress has been made in the few short years since this new budget process was put into place despite the difficulty of working in a period of budget cuts. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the trustees and staff of the Mental Health Trust Authority for the work they do on behalf of Trust beneficiaries. I particularly commend the Mental Health Trust Authority for its fine work this year to incorporate thoughtful results-based budgeting in its process and presentation. I did not veto any funds from this bill. I did, however, follow a long- standing practice of Alaska governors by vetoing the intent language on page 9, lines 6-7 since it did not specifically address funding. Governors have routinely vetoed intent language whether they agree with the content or not because such language is not consistent with the limitations our state Constitution places on appropriations bills. You will also see that I lined out the "missions and measures" language which was appended to several appropriations during the Finance Committee process. This definitely does not signal my disagreement with the concept of performance budgeting. Although missions and measures have been in state budget documents for years, 1998-07-15 House Journal Page 4103 HB 326 they were largely ignored. My administration has worked to turn them from a rote exercise into a more effective focus on state government goals and strategies, and how the budget must support them. I look forward to working with the Trust Authority and the Legislature on further development of an effective process and to finding the most appropriate way to present performance measures to the public. Sincerely, /s/ Tony Knowles Governor Attachment" The following was attached to the Governor's transmittal letter for CCSHB 326: "Fiscal Year 1999 Mental Health Bill Vetoes of Language which is inconsistent with constitutional limitations on appropriation bills. Missions and Performance Measures Page 3, lines 23-28 Page 4, lines 5-16 Page 4, lines 18-33 Page 5, lines 3-6 Page 5, lines 15-31 Page 6, lines 3-9 Page 6, lines 18-32 Page 7, lines 5-24 Page 9, lines 9-15 Page 9, lines 26-33 Page 10, lines 3-9 Intent Page 9, lines 6 & 7"