1994-03-24                     Senate Journal                      Page 3345
SB 365                                                                       
SENATE BILL NO. 365 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                              
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                          
                                                                               
"An Act relating to the improvement of state                                  
finances and fiscal accountability by increasing fees,                         
by collecting additional revenue, by reducing certain                          
program expenditures by changing services or                                   
eligibility requirements for programs, by changing                             
certain statutory limitation periods, by providing for                         
use of certain electronic records, by making changes                           
to state agency functions or procedures including                              
certain reporting and planning procedures, and by                              
authorizing extensions for state leases for real                               
property if certain savings can be achieved; and                               
providing for an effective date."                                              
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Finance          
Committees.                                                                    
                                                                               
Fiscal notes published today from Department of Public Safety,                 
Department of Administration, Department of Environmental                      
Conservation, Department of Revenue.  Zero fiscal notes published              
today from Department of Public Safety, Department of                          
Administration, Office of the Governor, Department of Community                
and Regional Affairs, Department of Transportation and Public                  
Facilities.                                                                    
                                                                               
Governor's transmittal letter dated March 23:                                  
                                                                               
Dear Mr. President:                                                            
                                                                               
                                                                               

1994-03-24                     Senate Journal                      Page 3346
SB 365                                                                       
Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution,          
I am transmitting a bill relating to the improvement of state finances         
and fiscal accountability by increasing fees, collecting additional            
revenues, reducing certain program expenditures, and changing state            
agency functions or procedures to achieve certain savings or                   
efficiencies.  A section-by-section description of this bill is                
forthcoming.                                                                   
                                                                               
In this time of great financial concern, we must look for ways of              
streamlining state government and find ways for agencies to defray             
a greater portion of their costs through the imposition or increase of         
fees.  If there are ways to access other kinds of funds for the                
services the state provides, then we must be willing to seek those             
funds.  If there are ways to cut the expenses of the state                     
administration, we must be open to the changes necessary to achieve            
them.                                                                          
                                                                               
This bill is only one example of this administration's continued               
efforts to keep the costs of state government in check.  It, along             
with the bills I have introduced that change required reports of state         
agencies (HB 530 - SB 357) and eliminate some state multimember                
bodies (HB 531 - SB 358), can go a long way to improving the                   
operation and expense of the state.                                            
                                                                               
I urge your favorable consideration of the bill.                               
                                                                               
					Sincerely,                                                                
					/s/                                                                       
					Walter J. Hickel                                                          
					Governor