2001-07-20                     House Journal                      Page 1896
      Constitution of the State of Alaska, from the constitutional budget                           
      reserve fund; and providing for an effective date."                                           
                                                                                                    
      Chapter No. 61, SLA 2001                                                                      
      [Effective Date:  See Chapter]                                                                
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
When I presented my FY2002 budget last December, I called it the                                    
"Jobs and Families Budget" because it addressed three basic needs for                               
the good health of Alaska families and economy.  First, it maintained                               
the existing level of vital public services Alaskans want, especially in                            
education and child protection.  Second, it made strategic investments                              
to improve education, early childhood development, public health and                                
public safety.  And third, it promoted job development by supporting                                
the gasline and restoring some of the recent cutbacks in service to                                 
Alaska businesses.                                                                                  
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
The capital budget passed by the legislature includes most of the                                   
department projects I proposed last December and, with the exception                                
of my accelerated transportation initiative, a large share of the school                            
and public facility bond projects I submitted during the session.  I am                             
especially pleased that we are making substantial progress on the                                   
priority lists for school major maintenance and construction projects                               
and that we have finally resolved and funded replacement of the aging                               
Alaska Psychiatric Institute. I have not made any changes to the bill as                            
passed.                                                                                             
                                                                                                    
                                            Sincerely,                                             
                                          /s/                                                       
                                          Tony Knowles                                              
                                             Governor"                                             
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
HB 71                                                                                             
A message dated July 3, 2001, was received stating the Governor has                                 
signed the following bill and is transmitting the engrossed and enrolled                            
copies to the Lieutenant Governor's office for permanent filing: