Legislature(2011 - 2012)
2011-06-24 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2011-06-24 House Journal Page 1266 HB 109 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 10:50 a.m., June 8, 2011, with a manifest error memorandum (page 1264): CONFERENCE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 109 "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." 2011-06-24 House Journal Page 1267 Also transmitted was a copy of the following letter dated May 24, 2011, 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 enclosed reports describe how the funding contained in HB 109-the FY12 Mental Health budget-differs from the FY12 Mental Health Trust Authority's funding recommendations for the state's integrated comprehensive mental health program. While the statute requires reporting only on general fund expenditures, information regarding expenditures of Authority receipts is also included in the attached reports. Operating Appropriations For mental health operating program funding, the Agency Summary report compares the FY12 Mental Health Trust Authority recommendations to the Governor's request and to appropriations. Note that Authority recommendations include FY12 salary adjustments requested by the Governor, which bring the FY12 total recommendations to $219.9 million (column 1). The Governor requested $208.3 million (column 2), and the legislature appropriated $209.4 million (column 3). An enclosed Transaction Comparison report shows differences between Authority recommendations and the Governor's request: "MH Rec" in the second column indicates that a transaction recommended by the Authority was denied or modified; "GovAmend+" indicates a transaction that was added or modified by the Governor. Highlights include the following reductions: · $880,000 in K-12 based programs; · $5.6 million in Behavioral Health programs; · $545,000 in Children's Services; · $917,000 in Public Health programs; · $2.3 million in Senior and Disabilities Services; and · $445,200 in the Mental Health Trust Land Office. 2011-06-24 House Journal Page 1268 The legislature treated the Governor's request as a starting point for budget deliberations; Authority recommendations excluded from the Governor's request were not deliberated. A second Transaction Comparison report shows differences between the Governor's request and the appropriations incorporated in the Mental Health bill. As shown in the report, the legislature only denied a request for $202,000 for an Alaska Psychiatric residency program. The legislature restored all or partial funding for the following projects or programs: · Complex behavior collaborative project; · Substance abuse treatment and recovery services for parents; · Traumatic/acquired brain injury program; and · Mental Health Trust Land Office. 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 as follows: · A $112,000 increase in MHTAAR funding for the Alaska Autism Resource Center grant in the Department of Education and Early Development/Student and School Achievement. The legislature substituted $112,000 of MHTAAR funding for the GF/MH that was requested. · A reduction of $58,500 in the Mental Health Trust Land Office. · A $39,100 increase in the Court System as part of a $78,200 increment ($39,100 of UGF was also approved) to continue funding for a part-time domestic violence coordinator due to an expiring federal grant. MHTAAR appropriations exceed the requested amount by $131,400. Capital Appropriations The Authority recommended a $15.48 million capital budget. The Governor's request totaled $14.945 million (a reduction of $585,000). The enclosed Project Detail report shows how the Governor modified the Authority's recommendations. The legislature approved the Governor's request as submitted. 2011-06-24 House Journal Page 1269 We appreciate the good working relationship between the Authority and the legislature. If you have questions regarding the enclosed reports, please contact Amanda Ryder of the Legislative Finance Division at 465-5411. Sincerely, /s/ Representative Bill Thomas Conference Committee Chair /s/ Senator Lyman Hoffman Conference Committee Vice-Chair Enclosures Agency Summary Transaction Comparisons Capital Project Detail" Enclosed reports were transmitted to the Office of the Governor, and they are on file in the Chief Clerk's office.