Legislature(2023 - 2024)

2024-10-09 House Journal

Full Journal pdf

2024-10-09                     House Journal                      Page 3384
HB 270                                                                                                                        
The following was 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 3:05 p.m.,                                                             
June 5:                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
    CONFERENCE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 270                                                                                        
    "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."                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
The following letter dated May 15 to Ms. Anita Halterman, Chair,                                                                
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, was transmitted to the Office                                                             
of the Governor at 3:05 p.m., June 5:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Ms. Halterman:                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Pursuant to the requirements of AS 37.14.005(c), this letter and the                                                            
enclosed report describe the funding for FY25 Mental Health                                                                     
programs.  The appropriations contained in HB 270 follow the FY25                                                               
Mental Health Trust Authority’s 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 report.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
In HB 270 the Legislature appropriated all the FY25 Mental Health                                                               
Trust Authority recommendations.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Below are the funding differences in HB 270, relative to the                                                                    
Governor’s FY25 Mental Health Trust Authority budget proposal.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Operating                                                                                                                     
• Legislature added $50.0 GF/MH for the Alaska Autism Resource                                                                  
    Center in the Student and School Achievement allocation, which                                                              
    was absent from the Governor’s request, to match the Trust’s                                                                
    recommendation;                                                                                                             
• Legislature increased the Governor’s request of $500.0 GF/MH by                                                               
    an additional $1,000.0 GF/MH to match the Trust’s                                                                           
    recommendation to support Crisis Now in the Behavioral Health                                                               
    Treatment and Recovery Grants allocation;                                                                                   

2024-10-09                     House Journal                      Page 3385
• Legislature increased the Governor’s request of $250.0 GF/MH by                                                               
    an additional $250.0 GF/MH to match the Trust’s                                                                             
    recommendation to further support Crisis Now in the Emergency                                                               
    Programs allocation;                                                                                                        
• Legislature added $75.0 GF/MH for a Comprehensive Program                                                                     
    Planning Coordinator in the Emergency Programs allocation,                                                                  
    which was absent from the Governor’s request, to match the                                                                  
    Trust’s recommendation;                                                                                                     
• Legislature added $50.0 GF/MH for Joint Staffing on the                                                                       
    Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education, which                                                             
    was absent from the Governor’s request, to match the Trust’s                                                                
    recommendation;                                                                                                             
• Legislature added $133.5 GF/MH for a Long-Term Care                                                                           
    Ombudsman in the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, which                                                                
    was absent from the Governor’s request, to match the Trust’s                                                                
    recommendation;                                                                                                             
• Legislature added $126.1 GF/MH for personal services support in                                                               
    the Juneau Mental Health Court, which was absent from the                                                                   
    Governor’s request, to match the Trust’s recommendation.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Capital                                                                                                                       
• Legislature added $575.0 GF/MH to increase funding for the                                                                    
    Department of Health to provide Home Modifications and                                                                      
    Upgrades to assist beneficiaries with retaining housing, which was                                                          
    absent from the Governor’s request, to match the Trust’s                                                                    
    recommendation;                                                                                                             
• Legislature added $1,750.0 GF/MH to increase funding for                                                                      
    Beneficiary and Special Needs Housing through the Alaska                                                                    
    Housing Finance Corporation, which was absent from the                                                                      
    Governor’s request, to match the Trust’s recommendation;                                                                    
• Legislature added $2,850.0 GF/MH to increase funding for the                                                                  
    Homeless Assistance Program through the Alaska Housing                                                                      
    Finance Corporation, which was absent from the Governor’s                                                                   
    request, to match the Trust’s recommendation.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
The attached report provides a summary of FY25 Operating & Capital                                                              
appropriations included in HB 270. If you have questions regarding                                                              
the enclosed reports, please contact Valerie Rose of the Legislative                                                            
Finance Division at 465-5411.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                

2024-10-09                     House Journal                      Page 3386
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/             /s/                                                                                                             
Sen. Bert Stedman         Rep. DeLena Johnson                                                                                   
Conference Committee, Co-chair     Conference Committee, Co-chair"