2019-02-20                     House Journal                      Page 0161
HB 40                                                                                                                         
HOUSE BILL NO. 40 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                    
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act making appropriations for the operating and capital                                                                
     expenses of the state's integrated comprehensive mental health                                                             
     program, including supplemental appropriations; and providing                                                              
     for an effective date."                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 14 follows:                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2019-02-20                     House Journal                      Page 0162
"Dear Chief Clerk:                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to the State's                                                                  
comprehensive mental health program for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY2020).                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Alaska Statute 37.07.020 requires that the Governor submit a budget                                                             
                                                                 th                                                             
for FY2020 to the Legislature and public by December 15 of each                                                                 
year. That law also requires that "bills identical in content" to those                                                         
                                                                           th                                                   
released in December be delivered to the Legislature before the 4                                                               
legislative day of the next regular session for introduction. AS                                                                
37.07.020(a)(1) requires the mental health bill to include both                                                                 
operating and capital appropriations. The mental health budget reflects                                                         
the requests that were put forward to the Office of Management and                                                              
Budget by the Alaska Mental Health Trust.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
My Administration is fully engaged in developing an amended budget                                                              
for FY2020 to be delivered in the coming weeks. I look forward to                                                               
working with the Legislature to finalize a FY2020 mental health                                                                 
budget.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Michael J. Dunleavy                                                                                                             
Governor"