00                            HOUSE BILL NO. 196                                                                          
01 "An Act relating to the supplemental nutrition assistance program; and providing for                                    
02 an effective date."                                                                                                     
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1. AS 47.25.980(a) is amended to read:                                                                   
05            (a)  The department shall                                                                                    
06                 (1)  adopt regulations necessary to carry out the food stamp program;                                   
07                 (2)  cooperate with the federal government and do all things necessary                                  
08       to continue state eligibility under the food stamp program;                                                       
09                 (3)  comply with the requirements of 7 U.S.C. 2011 - 2036d                                          
10 (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), implement categorical eligibility                                      
11 under 7 U.S.C. 2014(a), and make eligible an individual whose household income                                      
12 is not more than 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline regardless of the                                     
13 value of assets owned by the household [7 U.S.C. 2011 - 2036 (FOOD STAMP                                            
14       PROGRAM)];                                                                                                      

01 (4)  establish an electronic application for the food stamp program and                                                 
02 allow an applicant to submit an application in electronic format or in other formats                                    
03 required by state and federal law; the electronic application must inform an applicant                                  
04 that a false statement made on the application will be investigated and is punishable                                   
05 under AS 11.56.210; in this paragraph, "electronic application" means an application                                    
06 for benefits or renewal of benefits, whether the department exclusively administers the                                 
07 benefits or administers the benefits in coordination with another state agency or                                       
08 federal agency, electronically completed and submitted through the department's                                         
09       Internet website.                                                                                                 
10    * Sec. 2. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                          
11 read:                                                                                                                   
12 TRANSITION: REGULATIONS. The Department of Health may adopt regulations                                                 
13 necessary to implement the changes made by this Act. The regulations take effect under                                  
14 AS 44.62 (Administrative Procedure Act), but not before the effective date of the law                                   
15 implemented by the regulation.                                                                                          
16    * Sec. 3. Section 2 of this Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).                                    
17    * Sec. 4. Except as provided in sec. 3 of this Act, this Act takes effect July 1, 2025.