2019-02-13                     Senate Journal                      Page 0273
SB 21                                                                                                                         
SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR 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; and providing                                                                    
          for an effective date."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated February 12:                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Giessel:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, and in accordance with Alaska Statute 37.07.070(2), I                                                             
am transmitting a sponsor substitute for SB 21: Approp: Mental Health                                                           
                                       st                                                                                       
Budget for consideration by the 31 Alaska State Legislature.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                

2019-02-13                     Senate Journal                      Page 0274
The purpose of this legislation is to improve the care of disabled                                                              
youth, provide training for court staff to improve coordination with                                                            
community behavioral health services, and addresses access to mental                                                            
health and substance abuse services. The Mental Health Trust (MHT)                                                              
recommendations for expenditure of MHT funds are largely                                                                        
unchanged in this sponsor substitute. The MHT put forward a job                                                                 
center liaison for correctional facilities in the Department of Labor and                                                       
Workforce Development (DOLWD). This position was not included                                                                   
due to duplication of services already offered by DOLWD.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
It has become common practice that the MHT also puts forward                                                                    
recommendations for general fund appropriations for capital projects                                                            
that are not proposed to be funded in whole by MHT dollars. These                                                               
recommendations were received and evaluated alongside the                                                                       
Department-identified capital needs for the relevant agencies, and the                                                          
MHT budget includes only MHT funds.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Alaska Statute 37.07.020(a)(1) requires the mental health bill to                                                               
include both operating and capital appropriations. The sponsor                                                                  
substitute for the mental health budget includes $2.1 million of MHT                                                            
capital expenditures, $17.1 million MHT and $201.2 million General                                                              
Fund operating. I look forward to engaging with the Legislature to                                                              
pass the FY 2020 mental health budget.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Michael J. Dunleavy                                                                                                             
Governor