2003-02-19                     House Journal                      Page 0248
are due to programs that were short-funded in last year's budget:                                   
subsidized adoptions and foster care special needs. The subsidized                                  
adoption program was funded $2 million less than the department's                                   
projection.  It now appears that a total of $2.8 million more will be                               
needed this year to meet state obligations to parents who have adopted                              
children with special needs.  The foster care special needs program                                 
was short-funded $445,300, while now, due to additional caseload                                    
growth, a total of $615,300 is required.                                                            
                                                                                                    
I request that you put this bill on a 'fast track' for final action in early                        
March.                                                                                              
                                                                                                    
                                Sincerely yours,                                                    
                                /s/                                                                 
                                Frank H. Murkowski                                                  
                                 Governor"                                                         
                                                                                                    
HB 108                                                                                            
HOUSE BILL NO. 108 by Representative Foster, entitled:                                              
                                                                                                    
     "An Act relating to establishing a screening, tracking, and                                    
     intervention program related to the hearing ability of newborns                                
     and infants; providing an exemption to licensure as an audiologist                             
     for certain persons performing hearing screening tests; relating to                            
     insurance coverage for newborn and infant hearing screening; and                               
     providing for an effective date."                                                              
                                                                                                    
was read the first time and referred to the Health, Education & Social                              
Services and Finance Committees.                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
HB 109                                                                                            
HOUSE BILL NO. 109 by the House State Affairs Committee,                                            
entitled:                                                                                           
                                                                                                    
     "An Act relating to the limitation on payment of state treasury                                
     warrants; and providing for an effective date."                                                
                                                                                                    
was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Finance                               
Committees.