1996-06-03                     House Journal                      Page 4662
HB 1008                                                                      
HOUSE BILL NO. 1008 by the House Rules Committee by request of                 
the Governor, entitled:                                                        
                                                                               
An Act relating to the definition of program receipts; and                    
providing for an effective date.                                               
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee.                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
The following fiscal note applies:                                             
                                                                               
Fiscal note, Office of the Governor/Various Departments, 6/3/96                
                                                                               
                                                                               
The Governor's transmittal letter, dated June 3, 1996, appears below:          
                                                                               
Dear Speaker Phillips:                                                         
                                                                               
Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am     
transmitting a bill that would define and designate certain receipts           
earned or received by state agencies in the course of their operations.        
This bill represents a proposal made by the office of management and           
budget to the Senate Finance Committee for revision of SB 265, which           
was under consideration during the second session of the Nineteenth            
Alaska Legislature. Unfortunately, that bill failed to pass the                
legislature.                                                                   
                                                                               
                                                                               
The bill provides a valuable budgeting tool because it would                   
redesignate program receipts as not being an asset of the general fund         
of the state. This designation recognizes that these receipts do not           
affect the fiscal gap.                                                         
                                                                               
                                                                               
It places these receipts in a separate category from totally unrestricted      
general funds.  They would remain unrestricted revenue of the state in         
a segregated status, but for budgetary purposes they would be                  
designated as available for appropriation for specific purposes.               
Whether they are appropriated for the designated purpose would be              
subject to the legislature's discretion.                                       

1996-06-03                     House Journal                      Page 4663
HB 1008                                                                      
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this bill.                          
                                                                               
                                                                               
							Sincerely,                                                              
							/s/                                                                     
							Tony Knowles                                                            
							Governor