Legislature(2023 - 2024)

2023-10-16 House Journal

Full Journal pdf

2023-10-16                     House Journal                      Page 1183
HB 41                                                                                                                         
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 1:00 p.m.,                                                             
June 13:                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
    SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 41(FIN)                                                                                 
    "An Act making appropriations for the operating and capital                                                                 

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    expenses of the state's integrated comprehensive mental health                                                              
    program; and providing for an effective date."                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
The following letter dated May 25 to Ms. Anita Halterman, Chair,                                                                
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, was attached:                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Ms. Halterman:                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Pursuant to the requirements of AS 37.14.005(c), this letter and the                                                            
enclosed report describe the funding for FY24 Mental Health                                                                     
programs. The appropriations contained in HB 41 follow the FY24                                                                 
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 41 the Legislature appropriated all but two of the FY24 Mental                                                            
Health Trust Authority recommendations.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Below are the funding differences in HB 41, relative to the Governor's                                                          
FY24 Mental Health Trust Authority budget proposal.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Operating                                                                                                                       
•Legislature increased the Governor's request of $667.0 GF/MH by an                                                             
additional $333.0 GF/MH to match the Trust's recommendation to                                                                  
support Crisis Now. However, the Legislature transferred the funding                                                            
from the Behavioral Health Prevention and Early Intervention Grants                                                             
allocation to the Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery Grants                                                               
allocation to maintain continuity with a similar reallocation of funds                                                          
made in FY23;                                                                                                                   
•Legislature increased the Governor's request of $333.0 GF/MH by an                                                             
additional $167.0 GF/MH to match the Trust's recommendation to                                                                  
further support Crisis Now by providing for new funding in the                                                                  
Emergency Programs allocation;                                                                                                  
•Legislature added $100.0 GF/MH for Peer Support Certification,                                                                 
which was absent from the Governor's request, to match the Trust's                                                              
recommendation;                                                                                                                 
•Legislature approved the Governor's request for Aging and Disability                                                           
Resource Centers in Senior and Disability Services. GF/MH funding                                                               

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for these centers was originally recommended by the Trust at $250.0,                                                            
however, the amount was reduced to $0.0 in the Governor's request;                                                              
•Legislature approved the Governor's request for IT                                                                             
Application/Telehealth Service System Improvements in Senior and                                                                
Disability Services. GF/MH funding for these improvements was                                                                   
originally recommended by the Trust at $63.0, however, the amount                                                               
was reduced to $0.0 in the Governor's request.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Capital                                                                                                                         
•Legislature approved the Governor's request for Special Needs                                                                  
Housing Grants in the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation. GF/MH                                                                 
funding for this grant program was originally recommended by the                                                                
Trust at $1,750.0, however, the amount was reduced to $1,000.0 in the                                                           
Governor's request;                                                                                                             
•Legislature approved the Governor's request for Homeless Assistance                                                            
Program in the Alaska House Finance Corporation. GF/MH funding                                                                  
for this program was originally recommended by the Trust at $2,850.0,                                                           
however, the amount was reduced to $850.0 in the Governor's request.                                                            
                                                                                                                                
The attached report provides a summary of FY24 Operating & Capital                                                              
appropriations included in HB 41. If you have questions regarding the                                                           
enclosed reports, please contact Valerie Rose of the Legislative                                                                
Finance Division at 465-5411.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
/s/                                                                                                                             
Representative D. Johnson                                                                                                       
House Operating Chair                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative Edgmon                                                                                                           
House Capital Chair                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative Foster                                                                                                           
House Legislation Chair                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Enclosures                                                                                                                      
1.  FY24 Mental Health Appropriations Summary (HB 41)"                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
The following memorandum dated May 26 was received from Lora                                                                    
Brown, Enrolling Secretary, Division of Legal and Research Services:                                                            

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"In accordance with Rule 43, Uniform Rules of the Alaska State                                                                  
Legislature, I am reporting the following manifest errors in SCS                                                                
CSHB 41(FIN), which have been corrected in enrolling:                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
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