Legislature(2013 - 2014)
2014-09-19 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2014-09-19 House Journal Page 2857 HB 267 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 8:48 a.m., May 23, 2014: CONFERENCE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 267 "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." 2014-09-19 House Journal Page 2858 Also transmitted was a copy of the following letter dated May 12, 2014, to Mr. Mike Barton, Chair, Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority: "Dear Mr. Barton: Pursuant to the requirements of AS 37.14.005(c), this letter and the enclosed reports describe how the funding contained in HB 267-the FY15 Mental Health budget-differs from the FY15 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 FY15 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 FY15 salary adjustments and base transactions requested by the Governor. This brings the FY15 total recommendations to $238.9 million (column 1). The Governor requested $232.7 million (column 2), and the legislature appropriated $233.2 million (column 3). As shown in the report, the legislature's budget is $533,400 (0.2 percent) more than the Governor's request. An enclosed Transaction Comparison report shows differences between Authority recommendations and the Governor's request. The "15 MHT Req" in the second column indicates that a transaction recommended by the Authority was not forwarded to the legislature by the Governor and the "15GovAmd+" in the second column indicates that the Governor submitted a transaction (either an increment or a decrement) that was not requested by the Authority. Significant Authority requests not forwarded by the Governor: 2014-09-19 House Journal Page 2859 · $652,900 GF/MH for Area Health Education Centers (University of Alaska/Anchorage Campus) · $600,000 GF/MH for Traumatic/Acquired Brain Injury Case Management Expansion and Life Skills grants (DHSS/Senior Community Based Grants). · $450,000 GF/MH for the Alaska Complex Behavior Collaborative Consultation and Training (DHSS/Services to the Seriously Mentally Ill). The legislature funded this request at $525,000 GF/MH. · $345,000 GF/MH for Nutrition Transportation and Support Services grants (DHSS/ Senior Community Based Grants). The legislature funded this request at $200,000 GF/MH. The following are the Governor's requested Mental Health funding reductions that were not requested by the Authority: · $250,000 GF/MH unspecified decrement (DHSS/Services for Severely Emotionally Disturbed Youth). · $3,239,900 GF/MH decrement to reflect a projected reduction in needed Medicaid funding (DHSS/ Behavioral Health Medicaid 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 Mental Health Budget request: 1. $525,000 GF/MH for the Alaska Complex Behavior Collaborative Consultation and Training (DHSS/Services to the Seriously Mentally Ill). The MH Trust had requested $450,000 for this purpose. 2. $545,000 ($200,000 GF/MH and $345,000 of UGF) for Nutrition, Transportation, and Support Services grants. The MH Trust had requested $345,000 GF/MH for this purpose. 3. $60,000 GF/MH for Suicide Prevention and Postvention Curriculum Development, Training and Implementation (DHSS/Suicide Prevention Council). 2014-09-19 House Journal Page 2860 4. $500,000 GF/MH for a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Media Campaign (Revenue/MH Trust Operations). 5. $49,900 MHT Admin funding for additional meetings, contractual increases and cost of living adjustments. The MH Trust had requested $71,000 more than the Governor requested. The legislature denied (or revised) funding requested by the Governor for the following projects: 1. Replaced $521,500 of GF/MH for Residential Treatment Services with Federal Receipts. 2. Replaced $280,000 GF/MH Behavioral Health Grants funding with Federal Receipts. Capital Appropriations The Authority recommended a $16.15 million capital budget. The Governor's request totaled $12.35 million (a decrease of $3.8 million). The enclosed Project Detail report shows the Governor's modifications to the Authority's recommendations. Other than technical funding source adjustments, 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/ Senator Pete Kelly Conference Committee Chair Representative Alan Austerman Conference Committee Vice Chair 2014-09-19 House Journal Page 2861 Enclosures Agency Summary (Operating) Transaction Compare between 15 MH Req & 15GovAmd+ Transaction Compare between 15GovAmd+ and 15Budget Capital Project Detail"