Legislature(2003 - 2004)
2003-02-19 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2003-02-19 Senate Journal Page 0225 SB 75 SENATE BILL NO. 75 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled: "An Act making supplemental and other appropriations; amending appropriations; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee. Governor's transmittal letter dated February 18: Dear President Therriault: Today I am transmitting two supplemental appropriation bills for Fiscal Year 2003. This bill is sometimes referred to as the "fast track" supplemental bill because it includes items that have particularly tight time requirements that are not accommodated by the usual passage of supplemental appropriations later in the spring. As you know, the Legislature's staff estimated the expected supplemental would total $140 million. The two bills we are submitting total $63.3 million. Our goal was to include general fund supported requests for circumstances that were not within management's control, such as disasters, caseload growth in formula- driven programs, and increased fuel costs. We are also requesting Federal funds of $19.8 million to begin three urgently needed highway projects sooner than waiting for the Fiscal Year 2004 capital budget. Two of the fast track supplemental requests are due to programs that were short-funded in last year's budget: subsidized adoptions and foster care special needs. The subsidized adoption program was funded $2 million less than the department's 2003-02-19 Senate Journal Page 0226 projection. It now appears that a total of $2.8 million more will be needed this year to meet state obligations to parents who have adopted children with special needs. The foster care special needs program was short-funded $445,300, while now, due to additional caseload growth, a total of $615,300 is required. I request that you put this bill on a "fast track" for final action in early March. Sincerely yours, /s/ Frank H. Murkowski Governor