1994-09-26                     Senate Journal                      Page 4856
SB 382                                                                       
In granting preliminary approval of the settlement, the trial court            
noted as "problematic" the possibility of a party preventing the               
settlement from taking effect simply by filing an appeal.  These               
modifications eliminate that possibility and give all the terms of the         
settlement a common effective date.                                            
                                                                               
The people of Alaska will substantially benefit from the final                 
resolution of this almost 12-year-old litigation.  The proposed                
settlement offers significant advantages to the mental health                  
community, many of which could not be obtained through continued               
litigation.  In addition, settlement will enable the mental health             
community to focus its energies on the important task of delivering            
mental health services rather than on the litigation.  The rest of the         
Alaska public also will benefit from the significant savings of                
litigation expenses and from the lifting of the cloud the litigation has       
placed on development of state and private land.                               
                                                                               
I urge your prompt action on these measures.                                   
                                                                               
						Sincerely,                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
						/s/                                                                      
						Walter J. Hickel                                                         
						Governor                                                                 
                                                                               
SB 383                                                                       
SENATE BILL NO. 383 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                              
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                          
                                                                               
"An Act making and amending appropriations                                    
relating to the mental health trust fund, the mental                           
health trust income account, and the mental health                             
trust settlement income account; and providing for                             
an effective date."                                                            
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee.                 
                                                                               
See SENATE BILL NO. 382 for Governor's transmittal letter.