1997-01-16                     Senate Journal                      Page 0063
SB 48                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 48 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                               
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                          
                                                                               
An Act making appropriations for the operating                                
expenses of the state's integrated comprehensive                               
mental health program; and providing for an                                    
effective date.                                                                
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the Health, Education and              
Social Services and Finance Committees.                                        
                                                                               
The following report was received and is attached to the bill and on           
file in the Office of the Secretary of the Senate:                             
                                                                               
Report explaining the reasons for the differences between the                  
Governor's proposed FY98 operating budget and the Alaska Mental                
Health Trust Authority's recommendations,                                      
from Annalee McConnell, Director, Office of Management and                     
Budget                                                                         
in accordance with AS 37.14.003 and AS 37.14.005.                              
                                                                               
Governor's transmittal letter dated January 16:                                
                                                                               
Dear President Miller:                                                         
                                                                               
As part of the budget package I am presenting to the legislature               
today, I am transmitting  this separate appropriation bill for the             
states  integrated,  comprehensive  mental  health  program.  I have           
                                                                               

1997-01-16                     Senate Journal                      Page 0064
SB 48                                                                        
included a report explaining the differences between the appropriation         
bill and the recommendations of the Alaska Mental Health Trust                 
Authority.                                                                     
                                                                               
This bill provides $114,993,700 for mental health programs                     
throughout the state.  Included in this amount is $6,097,200 from the          
Trust Authoritys authorized and administration receipts which would            
be administered by various state agencies according to the mental              
health bill appropriations listed in Section 3.  Section 2 of the bill         
provides that if these mental health trust receipts fall short of the          
estimates, the Section 3 appropriations will be reduced by the                 
amount of the shortfall.                                                       
                                                                               
The mental health trust litigation settlement included a requirement           
that mental health program appropriations be made through a bill               
separate from the rest of the operating budget and consider the Trust          
Authority recommendations.  This is the second year in which the               
authority and four beneficiary planning boards (the Advisory Board             
on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, the Alaska Mental Health Board,                  
the Alaska Commission on Aging, and the Governors Council on                   
Disabilities and Special Education) have worked together to develop            
recommendations for the mental health program.                                 
                                                                               
This bill reflects the progress being made toward a truly                      
comprehensive and integrated mental health plan because of the                 
partnership forged between the state, the Trust Authority, the                 
planning boards and the mental health trust beneficiaries.                     
                                                                               
						Sincerely,                                                               
						/s/                                                                      
						Tony Knowles                                                             
						Governor                                                                 
                                                                               
SENATE BILL NO. 49 and SENATE BILL NO. 50 were introduced                      
on January 15 (page 50).