2001-02-22                     Senate Journal                      Page 0476
exemptions to the limits. We now recognize the fixed percentage in                                  
our law artificially bars needy families with disabled adults from                                  
receiving essential cash assistance and services for their children. The                            
first families will begin to exceed the 60-month lifetime limit in July                             
of 2002.                                                                                            
                                                                                                    
The bill also addresses the seasonal reduction provisions for a two-                                
parent needy family by removing outdated eligibility requirements as                                
cited in a Superior Court ruling. This change permits the department to                             
apply the seasonal reduction provision to all two-parent needy families                             
in which both parents are physically and mentally able to work.                                     
                                                                                                    
Finally, the bill requires disabled parents to have self-sufficiency                                
plans. The state can better serve these parents by promoting their                                  
efforts toward self-sufficiency.                                                                    
                                                                                                    
We have seen dramatic, positive changes for poor Alaska families.                                   
Thousands of recipients have been assisted into work and the state has                              
saved millions of dollars in welfare benefit payments. The reform                                   
measures provided a durable framework for a new era of welfare in                                   
Alaska. I urge your favorable consideration for these improvements to                               
the program.                                                                                        
                                                                                                    
       Sincerely,                                                                                   
       /s/                                                                                          
       Tony Knowles                                                                                 
       Governor                                                                                     
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                        Consideration of the Calendar                                            
                                                                                                    
                        Second Reading of Senate Bills                                           
                                                                                                    
SB 16                                                                                             
SENATE BILL NO. 16 "An Act regarding oil discharge prevention                                       
and cleanup involving self-propelled nontank vessels exceeding 400                                  
gross registered tonnage and railroad tank cars and related facilities                              
and operations and requiring preparation and implementation of oil                                  
discharge contingency plans for those nontank vessels and railroad                                  
tank cars; amending the definition of 'response action' that relates to