2009-02-25                     Senate Journal                      Page 0352
SB 124                                                                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 124 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                                               
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                

2009-02-25                     Senate Journal                      Page 0353
          "An Act relating to the authorization for the                                                                         
          Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to                                                                 
          participate in the American Recovery and                                                                              
          Reinvestment Act of 2009; and providing for an                                                                        
          effective date."                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal information was published today:                                                                           
 Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Transportation and Public                                                               
  Facilities                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated February 24:                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Stevens:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of article III, section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to authorization for the                                                        
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to participate in the                                                        
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  This bill amends                                                               
the uncodified law of Alaska to authorize the Department of                                                                     
Transportation and Public Facilities to seek funding from the                                                                   
appropriations made to the United States Department of                                                                          
Transportation in Division A, Title XII and to the Department of                                                                
Homeland Security in Division A, Title VI of the federal economic                                                               
stimulus bill, known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act                                                              
of 2009, P.L. 111-5.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
The bill contains intent language in which the Department of                                                                    
Transportation and Public Facilities is encouraged to maximize the                                                              
funding it applies for and receives, while also noting that the United                                                          
States Department of Transportation has discretion in the manner in                                                             
which it allocates funds.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Sarah Palin                                                                                                                     
Governor