Signed by Governor Bill Walker

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass with amendment a bill that establishes a budget for fiscal year 2017-2018.

Highlights:

• Appropriates $1.6 billion of state and federal funds to operate Medicaid for the next fiscal year (Sec. 1).

• Appropriates $248.5 million to the Department of Education for teacher and learning support (Sec. 1).

• Appropriates $297 million to public assistance programs including senior and child care benefits (Sec. 1).

• Appropriates $127.9 million to the Alaska State Troopers to continue operations for the next year (Sec. 1).

• Appropriates $158 million to the Department of Transportation to maintain roads and highways (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that children’s services may spend up to $149 million on operations next year (Sec. 1).

• Appropriates $236.6 million for prison population management (Sec. 1)

• Appropriates $51 million to behavioral health services statewide (Sec. 1). .

• Appropriates $38 million for prison inmate health and rehabilitation programs (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits schools from receiving state aid if they do not allow recruiters for any branch of the US military on campus or if they refuse to allow the Boy Scouts to use their school facilities for meetings (Sec. 1).

• Appropriates $17.4 million to environmental health issues including food sanitation, waste management and safe drinking water (Sec. 1).

• Appropriates $3.8 million to the Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office (Sec. 1).

• Reduces the operating budget for the University of Alaska by $27 million (Sec. 1).

• Requires the expansion of internet access to be part of the state’s economic development plan (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes a budget for fiscal year 2017-2018.

Highlights:

• Appropriates a combined $1.6 billion of state and federal funds to operate Medicaid for the next fiscal year (Sec. 1).

• Appropriates $248.5 million to the Department of Education for teacher and learning support (Sec. 1).

• Appropriates $301.8 million to public assistance programs including senior and child care benefits (Sec. 1).

• Appropriates $160.4 million to the Department of Transportation to maintain roads and highways (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that children’s services may spend up to $155 million on operations next year (Sec. 1).

• Appropriates $3.8 million to the Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office (Sec. 1).

• Appropriates $38 million for inmate health and rehabilitation programs (Sec. 1).

• Appropriates $17.4 million to environmental health issues including food sanitation, waste management and safe drinking water (Sec. 1).

• Appropriates $236.6 million for prison population management (Sec. 1).

• Appropriates $126.7 million to the Alaska State Troopers for highway patrol, marine enforcement, and other public safety departments (Sec. 1).

• Appropriates $113.4 for the Knik Goose Bay Road Reconstruction project to add capacity and correct problems created by unconstrained access (Sec. 1).

• Reduces the amount of sports teams at the University of Alaska to 5 sports for men and women, 2 of which must be team sports (Sec. 1).

• Reduces the budget for the University of Alaska by $10 million (Sec. 1).

• Requires the expansion of broadband internet access to be part of the state’s economic development plan (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text