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Senate finance committee incorporates $5.15M for homeless assistance into mental‑health budget
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Summary
The committee adopted the Senate committee substitute for HB 265 and voted without objection to add $5,150,000 for the Homeless Assistance Program, restoring a request from the Alaska Mental Health Trust; members praised cross-agency partnerships in Anchorage.
The Senate Finance Committee adopted the committee substitute for HB 265, the mental‑health budget, after staff described minor changes from the prior version including approval of PSEA contract language.
Senator Stedman moved Amendment Number 1 to add $5,150,000 to the Homeless Assistance Program to match the Alaska Mental Health Trust request. Senator Keel (committee member) spoke in favor, highlighting partnerships between the Department of Law and the Municipality of Anchorage that combine services and enforcement in ways that, he said, can improve outcomes when paired with housing and services.
With no sustained objection, Amendment 1 was incorporated into the CS and the bill was set aside for further consideration the next day. The committee flagged coordination with municipal programs and noted the appropriation is intended to enhance direct services and local partnerships.
What happens next: HB 265, as amended with the added homeless assistance funds, will return to committee deliberations along with other budget items at the committee's next meeting.
