2019-01-16                     Senate Journal                      Page 0033
SB 21                                                                                                                         
SENATE BILL NO. 21 BY THE SENATE 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.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2019-01-16                     Senate Journal                      Page 0034
Governor's transmittal letter dated January 14:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Dear Senate President Giessel:                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
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