02/09/2012 01:30 PM House FINANCE

HOUSE BILL NO. 285                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "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."                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:36:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KAREN  REFELD, DIRECTOR,  OFFICE OF  MANAGEMENT AND  BUDGET,                                                                    
OFFICE  OF   THE  GOVERNOR,  discussed   that  HB   285  was                                                                    
incorporated in  the budget books  and in  subcommittee work                                                                    
for  the  operating and  capital  budgets.  The bill  was  a                                                                    
collaborative effort between the  Alaska Mental Health Trust                                                                    
Authority  (AMHTA),  AMHTA  beneficiary  groups,  and  state                                                                    
agencies  (Department   of  Administration,   Department  of                                                                    
Corrections, Department of  Education and Early Development,                                                                    
Department  of Health  and  Social  Services, Department  of                                                                    
Labor  and  Workforce  Development,  Department  of  Natural                                                                    
Resources, Department of Revenue,  University of Alaska, and                                                                    
the  Court  system); it  provided  a  comprehensive look  at                                                                    
programs  and services  for AMHTA  beneficiaries. The  total                                                                    
budget was $249,376,500; the  operating component was $236.5                                                                    
million  and  the  capital   component  was  $12.9  million.                                                                    
Unrestricted   general  funds   made   up  $212.4   million,                                                                    
designated  general  funds  were $20.1  million,  and  other                                                                    
funds represented $16.8 million.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Rehfeld relayed  that AMHTA  settlement income  account                                                                    
funds were  zero based. The  trust operating funds  from the                                                                    
current year were reversed and  built back in dependent upon                                                                    
the  trust's recommendation;  the  trust budgeted  on a  two                                                                    
year cycle. Letters that  included AMHTA recommendations and                                                                    
the governor's budgeted  items were included in  a letter in                                                                    
member's packets.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
HB  285  was  HEARD  and   HELD  in  committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.