Legislature(2005 - 2006)
2005-01-12 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2005-01-12 Senate Journal Page 0039 SB 51 SENATE BILL NO. 51 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled: "An Act relating to contracts for the provision of state public assistance to certain recipients in the state; providing for regional public assistance plans and programs in the state; relating to grants for Alaska Native family assistance programs; relating to assignment of child support by Alaska Native family assistance recipients; relating to paternity determinations and genetic testing involving recipients of assistance under Alaska Native family assistance programs; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Community and Regional Affairs, Health, Education and Social Services and Finance Committees. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, Department of Health and Social Services Fiscal Note No. 2, Department of Health and Social Services Fiscal Note No. 3, Department of Health and Social Services Fiscal Note No. 4, Department of Health and Social Services 2005-01-12 Senate Journal Page 0040 Governor's transmittal letter dated January 11, 2005: Dear President Stevens: Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to the Alaska Native family assistance grant program. This bill would reauthorize the Alaska Native family assistance grant program, which was enacted in ch. 96, SLA 2000 as a temporary pilot program. The federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunities Reconciliation Act of 1996 (P.L.104-193) (PRWORA) gave Alaska Native and American Indian tribes the authority to assume responsibility for providing public assistance and self-sufficiency services by administering the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (TANF) independent of state welfare agencies. The law also set out the methodology for federal financing of tribal TANF programs, but did not address state financing or any state maintenance-of-effort provisions. In response, ch. 96, SLA 2000 was enacted into law, authorizing the Department of Health and Social Services (department) to award and administer federally authorized tribal TANF providers in Alaska with Native Family Assistance Program (NFAP) grants on a pilot program basis. The financing was limited to only four of the 13 Alaska Native nonprofit organizations authorized in PRWORA: Tanana Chiefs Conference, Tlingit-Haida Central Council, Association of Village Council Presidents, and the Metlakatla Indian Community of the Annette Islands Reserve. Each of these organizations, except Metlakatla, is now operating a tribal TANF program and receiving financing from the department in the form of an Alaska Native family assistance grant. This temporary law program will sunset on June 30, 2005. In addition to reauthorizing the pilot program on a permanent basis in statute, this bill also would include the other nine Alaska native nonprofit organizations authorized in federal law to operate tribal TANF programs: Arctic Slope Native Association, Kawerak, Inc., Maniilaq Association, Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Bristol Bay Native Association, Aleutian and Pribilof Island Association, Chugachmiut, Kodiak Area Native Association, and Copper River Native Association. 2005-01-12 Senate Journal Page 0041 From the outset, the State of Alaska has supported the establishment and development of the tribal TANF programs. The NFAP program affirms the state's interest in promoting regional responsibility and local control for public assistance programs in Alaska. Families served by tribal TANF programs have been successful in moving families from welfare to work. The local presence and familiarity with village and community life puts the tribal administrators in the best position to implement the program and to successfully promote self- sufficiency for their clients. Since enactment of ch. 96, SLA 2000, three Alaska Native groups not currently authorized to receive Alaska Native family assistance grants are either actively planning a tribal TANF program or have expressed interest in beginning the planning process. Cook Inlet Tribal Council plans to begin operating a tribal TANF program in July 2005 and is currently receiving technical support from the department. The Bristol Bay Native Association has submitted a letter of intent to begin operating a tribal TANF program in July 2005, and Chugachmiut has also advised the department of its interest in developing a tribal TANF program. Funding for tribal TANF program operations comes from the federal TANF block grant and is supplemented by state grant funds that would otherwise be spent to serve the same number of Alaska Native families receiving assistance from the state's temporary assistance program. Enacting this bill will not take away the state oversight of TANF program operations. Tribal providers who receive NFAP grants enter into a contractual agreement with the State of Alaska to provide timely and accurate cash assistance, eligibility services, case management and other welfare-to-work services, supportive services, child care assistance, and administrative support to all eligible families living within their service area. Furthermore, the contract requires tribal providers to report monthly to the Division of Public Assistance (DPA) and allows DPA to monitor and evaluate the tribal program to assure grant money is being used to serve eligible families. 2005-01-12 Senate Journal Page 0042 I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure. Sincerely yours, /s/ Frank H. Murkowski Governor