2023-02-06                     Senate Journal                      Page 0177
SB 59                                                                                                                         
SENATE BILL NO. 59 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                                                
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
          "An Act relating to the licensing of runaway shelters;                                                                
          relating to advisors to the board of trustees of the                                                                  
          Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority; relating to the                                                                 
          sharing of confidential health information between                                                                    
          the Department of Health and the Department of                                                                        

2023-02-06                     Senate Journal                      Page 0178
          Family and Community Services; relating to the                                                                        
          duties of the Department of Health and the                                                                            
          Department of Family and Community Services; and                                                                      
          providing for an effective date."                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Health and Social Services                                                          
Committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal information was published today:                                                                           
 Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Family and Community                                                                    
          Services                                                                                                              
 Fiscal Note No. 2, zero, Department of Health                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated February 2:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Stevens:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to the implementation of                                                        
Executive Order 121.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Executive Order 121 separated the Department of Health and Social                                                               
Services into the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of                                                              
Family and Community Services (DFCS). This bill would facilitate                                                                
administration of the resulting departments by enacting a statute to                                                            
allow the departments to share identifiable health information                                                                  
necessary for the operation of state programs. It would correct an error                                                        
wherein licensing authority for runaway shelters was assigned to                                                                
DFCS. The bill would also add the Commissioner of DFCS as a board                                                               
advisor to the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
In addition to these substantive changes, the bill contains clarifying                                                          
amendments to properly identify or assist with identification of the                                                            
new departments in statute.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor