Legislature(2009 - 2010)
2009-08-05 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2009-08-05 House Journal Page 1186 HB 83 The following was engrossed and enrolled, signed by the Speaker and Chief Clerk, President and Secretary of the Senate, and the engrossed and enrolled copies were transmitted to the Office of the Governor at 10:55 a.m., May 8, 2009, with a manifest error memorandum (page 1178): CONFERENCE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 83 "An Act making appropriations for the operating and capital expenses of the state's integrated comprehensive mental health program; and providing for an effective date." Also transmitted was a copy of the following letter dated May 6, 2009, to Dr. William Doolittle, MD, Chair, Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority: "Dear Dr. Doolittle: Pursuant to the requirements of AS 37.14.005(c), this letter and the attached reports outline the differences between the FY2010 Mental Health Trust Authority's funding recommendations for the state's integrated comprehensive mental health program and the funding contained in HB 83, the FY2010 Mental Health budget bill. While the statute only requires reporting of general fund expenditures, information is also included regarding expenditures of Authority receipts. The Authority has previously expressed interest in receiving reports regarding the fund sources under its control. Operating Appropriations For mental health operating program funding, we have compared the FY2010 adjusted base to the level of general funds and alcohol funds requested by the Governor and appropriated by the legislature. The FY2010 adjusted base includes FY2009 funding plus salary and other across-the-board increases that are classified as "unavoidable." In addition to the $159 million adjusted base, the Authority recommended appropriating an additional $18 million, bringing the 2009-08-05 House Journal Page 1187 FY2010 total recommendation to $177 million. From the total Authority recommendation, the Governor requested $172.3 million, and the legislature appropriated $170.8 million, including: · $2.3 million GF/MH for capacity expansion for substance and alcohol abuse treatment programs, therapeutic courts, and additional capacity for a new Fairbanks enhanced detoxification facility; · $2.2 million GF/MH for grants for community behavioral health centers, development of tribal/rural system services, and individualized services for youth experiencing a serious emotional disturbance; · $1.0 million GF/MH for early intervention/infant learning program screening and evaluation for substantiated reports of abuse or neglect of children under age three; · $950,000 GF/MH for maintaining designated evaluation and treatment of statewide psychiatric emergencies; · $400,000 GF/MH for autism resources, training, improved screening and referral, and capacity expansion for autism treatment programs. Authority recommendations that were not requested by the Governor include: · $1,400,000 GF/MH for increases to Senior Community Based grants; · $1,025,000 GF/MH for involuntary commitment to treatment under Title 47 to Salvation Army's Clitheroe Center. The legislature however did consider the above issues during the subcommittee process and appropriated $609,900 GF to maintain current levels of senior grants and services, $500,000 GF/MH for secured detox treatment, as well as a reappropriation of $500,000 from the Department of Health and Social Services to the Department of Corrections to sustain the secured detox operations of the Clitheroe Center. 2009-08-05 House Journal Page 1188 For the two funds controlled by the Authority, Mental Health Trust Authority Authorized Receipts (MHTAAR) and Mental Health Trust Admin (MHT Admin), legislative appropriations are consistent with the Authority's original recommendation except for a $545,000 increase of MHTAAR funding for projects including scholarships/loan forgiveness and treatment of therapeutic court participants. The appropriations of additional MHTAAR funds were made with the consent of the Authority's Executive Director. Details on all appropriations are shown in the enclosed comparison reports. Capital Appropriations The Authority recommended a $20.9 million capital budget. The Governor requested $17.9 million for capital projects, and the legislature appropriated $15.9 million. With the exception of the Homeless Assistance Program and the Housing Trust Pilot, the AMHTA's FY2010 capital projects were fully funded as recommended. Details are in the attached capital project reports. The Housing Trust Pilot program ($10.9 million) was combined with Trust's AHFC Homeless Assistance program ($2.0 million) during the 2009 legislative session. The Governor requested $10.0 million for the combined program and the legislature appropriated $8.0 million. Future Reporting We appreciate the good working relationship between the AMHTA and the legislature. In FY2010, the Authority continued to use the legislature's budget system to record its recommendations. In order to meet our concurrent goals of creating an efficient method for the AMHTA to submit an integrated, comprehensive plan to the legislature and using the legislature's budget system to comply with our statutory reporting requirements, the Authority must enter all recommended operating and capital budget transactions in sufficient detail into the system. This includes a description of sources and uses - including line item allocation - for all recommended operating expenditures and the inclusion of each capital project. We look forward to working with you and AMHTA to accomplish these goals. 2009-08-05 House Journal Page 1189 If you have questions, please contact Gary Zepp of the Legislative Finance Division at 465-5410. Sincerely, /s/ Representative Mike Hawker Chair /s/ Senator Lyman Hoffman Vice Chair Enclosures" Enclosed reports were transmitted to the Office of the Governor, and they are on file in the Chief Clerk's office.