I have learned of a number of programs that may help you or the senior citizens you know. Alaska will spend $219 million on programs for seniors this year. This is an increase of $27 million dollars over last year. I continue to follow these issues closely and will continue to provide you with updates. I encourage you to contact the SeniorCare Information Office 1-800-478-6065 or my office for further information on services available to seniors.

I am pleased to announce that I am currently serving as a National Foundation for Women Legislators, Inc. "Heart to Heart" Veterans Affairs Team Leader. In this capacity, I am teaming up with Office Depot and students of Big Lake Elementary School to make Valentines for Veterans. As part of this program, students will make Valentine's Day cards to send to U.S. troops in the Middle East and to veterans in local Veterans Administration facilities. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to show support of our troops and teach students the importance of public service.

Understanding the CBR Sweep:
During the 1990 legislative session, the Alaska Legislature enacted a resolution to place a ballot measure before the voters to consider a constitutional amendment to establish a budget reserve fund. This measure was approved at the November 1990 general election, and the constitutional budget reserve fund (CBRF) was established on January 2, 1991 as a separate fund in the state treasury (Alaska Constitution, Article IX, Section 17).

The intent behind the creation of the CBRF was to provide a source of funds to cushion the shocks associated with a volatile oil revenue stream. In a year when anticipated revenues did not materialize, money from the CBRF would allow general fund spending to remain at the level of the prior year. Call it the State's overdraft protection account. Funds from the CBRF may be accessed in one of two ways: under Section 17(b), or under Section 17(c).

Section 17(b) allows for money to be appropriated by a simple majority vote of the legislature if the total amount of revenues available for appropriation for a fiscal year is less than the total amount that was appropriated in the prior fiscal year, and the appropriation from the CBRF does not cause the total appropriation to exceed the total appropriation of the prior fiscal year.

Section 17(c) allows an unlimited amount of money to be appropriated, for any public purpose, with a three-quarter, or super majority, vote of the legislature.

An additional constitutional provision of the CBRF is that money appropriated from the fund must be repaid. At the end of a fiscal year in which there is a balance owed to the CBRF, any subfunds of the general fund that have lapsing balances are "swept" into the CBRF. Since Alaska's Constitution prohibits the dedication of state revenues, this sweep impacts most of the state's subfunds, such as the marine highway system fund and the oil and hazardous response funds. In years past, the "CBR sweep" has been reversed by a three-quarter vote of the legislature, technically making it an appropriation from the CBRF to allow those programs to continue. This did not happen at the end of FY 2003.

Because of the significant earnings of the Permanent Fund, and the Supreme Court ruling in 1994 that Permanent Fund earnings are available for appropriation, the total amount available for appropriation has always exceeded prior fiscal year appropriations. For FY 2004, however, anticipated revenues during the year were less than what was appropriated in FY 2003, allowing a majority vote. The majority attempted, but failed, to get the minority to help with the three-quarter vote required to withdraw additional money from the CBRF in the event that revenues increased to the extent that sufficient funds could not be withdrawn from the CBR under the simple majority rule.

Senate Bill 283, which I co-sponsored with Senators Hoffman and others, solves the unintentional consequence of not obtaining a three-quarter vote for FY 2004's CBR draw. It appropriates money deposited into the CBRF from funds other than the general fund back to those funds in order to allow programs funded with that money to continue through the fiscal year.

Bills I have filed:
SB 269: Parent Access to Child's Library Records-Existing law states that parents can have access to their children's library records at public school libraries. This legislation clarifies the intent that parents have access to their children's records at any public library as well as at a public school library.
SB 270: Avalanche Awareness-In order to educate the public about the risks associated with living in avalanche areas, I have introduced legislation deeming November Avalanche Awareness month.
SB 285: Targeted Case Management-This legislation broadens the ability of the Alaska Medicaid Program to utilize targeted case management (an approach where services to individuals are coordinated in a comprehensive, cost effective and long term manner) and also changes the State definition of rehabilitative services to make it as inclusive as the federal definition.
SB 288: Emergency Child Custody Placement-This legislation is necessary to bring a state law into compliance with federal requirements that must be satisfied in order to receive federal funding. The bill mandates that the Court specifically state that continued placement in the home is "contrary to the welfare" of the child when exercising its authority to remove a child in need of aid. The Court's explicit "contrary to the welfare of the child" findings will enable the State to maximize federal Title IV-E funding for the support of children in out of home care.
SB 289: SESA Reauthorization-the Special Education Service Agency makes it possible for special education services to be delivered (in a cost effective manner) to school districts that could not otherwise hire specialists, thus allowing students to remain with their families instead of in costly out-of-district residential programs. This bill reauthorizes SESA under the sunset program.

Thank You

Lyda Green
Senate District G

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