Legislature(2013 - 2014)
2013-06-24 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2013-06-24 House Journal Page 1304 HB 66 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 12:15 p.m., May 10, 2013, with a fiscal note packet and Legislative Finance letter (page 1302): CONFERENCE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 66 "An Act making appropriations for the operating and capital expenses of the state's integrated comprehensive mental health program and making a reappropriation; and providing for an effective date." Also transmitted was a copy of the following letter dated May 6, 2013, to Dr. William Doolittle, MD, Chair, Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority: 2013-06-24 House Journal Page 1305 "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 66-the FY14 Mental Health budget-differs from the FY14 Mental Health Trust Authority's (Authority) 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 FY14 Mental Health Trust Authority operating budget recommendations to the Governor's request and to the appropriations passed by the legislature. Note that, for comparison purposes, Authority recommendations include FY14 salary adjustments and base transactions requested by the Governor and the salary adjustments associated with SB 21. This brings the FY14 total recommendations to $248.8 million (column 1). The Governor requested $241.5 million (column 2), and the legislature appropriated $241.3 million (column 3). As shown in the report, the legislature's budget is $240,700 (0.2 percent) less than the Governor's request. An enclosed Transaction Comparison report shows differences between Authority recommendations and the Governor's request: "MH Rec Tot" in the second column indicates that a transaction recommended by the Authority was not forwarded to the legislature by the Governor. Highlights of requests that were not forwarded include the following: · $3 million GF/MH for Maintenance of the Alaska Initiative for Community Engagement (DCCED/Community and Regional Affairs) · $1.5 million for the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act Integration (HSS/ Behavioral Health). The Governor approved $1.5 million of the $3 million requested by the MH Trust. 2013-06-24 House Journal Page 1306 · $650,000 GF/MH for the Complex Behavior Collaborative (HSS/Behavioral Health) · $500,000 GF/MH for the Governor's Council- Employment for Alaskans with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (HSS/Senior and Disabilities Services) 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. The legislature added funding for the following projects to the Governor's request: 1. Complex behavior collaborative project: $450,000 GF/MH. The Authority requested $650,000 of GF/MH that the Governor did not forward to the legislature. 2. Project to increase employment of people with disabilities to make them less dependent on government funded programs: $150,000 MHTAAR. 3. Center on Alcohol and Addiction Studies at the University of Alaska Anchorage: $30,000 MHTAAR. The MH Trust requested $30,000 MHTAAR that was not forwarded by the Governor. The legislature denied (or revised) funding requested by the Governor for the following projects: 1. Rural Transition Services: $100,000 GF/MH. 2. Bridge Home Program Expansion: $200,000 GF/MH 3. Brain Injury-Traumatic/Acquired Brain Injury Program: $150,000 GF/MH. The legislature approved half of the $300,000 request for this purpose. 4. Dis Justice - Expand Wellness (DUI) Court Capacities to Kenai and Palmer: $476,000 GF/MH Capital Appropriations The Authority recommended a $16.1 million capital budget. The Governor's request totaled $14.05 million (a reduction of $2.05 2013-06-24 House Journal Page 1307 million). The enclosed Project Detail report shows how the Governor modified the Authority's recommendations. The legislature approved the Governor's request as submitted. 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 Alan Austerman Conference Committee Chair Senator Pete Kelly Conference Committee Vice Chair Enclosures Agency Summary Transaction Compare between MH Reg Tot & Gov Amd+ Transaction Compare between Gov Amd+ and 14Budget Capital Project Detail"