Legislature(2007 - 2008)CAPITOL 106
02/05/2008 03:00 PM House HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB324 | |
| HB325 | |
| Traumatic Brain Injury and Military Veterans | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 324 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 325 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 324-LOW-INCOME HOUSING; HOMELESSNESS 3:05:09 PM CHAIR WILSON announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 324, "An Act relating to the Alaska housing trust fund and to the Alaska Council on the Homeless; and providing for an effective date." 3:06:39 PM BRYAN BUTCHER, Director, Governmental Affairs & Public Relations Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC), Department of Revenue, informed the committee that there were four changes made to HB 324. 3:07:10 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to adopt CSHB 324, Version 25- GH2006\C, Cook, 2/5/08, as the working document. There being no objection, Version C was before the committee. 3:07:52 PM MR. BUTCHER stated that the first change was on page 3, line 1 through 13, where language was added to allow designees to be appointed for each member of the advisory council. The second change was on page 3, line 21 and line 22, where language was changed to allow staggered three year terms for advisory council members. Next, on page 5, line 2 through 23, the addition of the definition of homelessness was added. He explained that this definition comports with that used by the U. S. Department of [Housing] and Urban Development (HUD) and the U. S. Department of Education. The final change was also on page 5, line 26 through 31, where language was added to describe the term tenures of the six public members of the advisory council. 3:09:10 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked how HUD makes the area designations of median adjusted income and how large the areas are. In addition, he asked whether there are anomalies that occur within the economic boundaries or geographic areas that are designated. 3:10:28 PM MR. BUTCHER deferred to the representative from the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (AMHTA). 3:10:37 PM JEFF JESSEE, Chief Executive Officer, Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (AMHTA), Department of Revenue, asked Representative Seaton to repeat his question. 3:11:03 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON reiterated his question. 3:11:17 PM MR. JESSEE said that he did not know. 3:11:53 PM VIVIAN HAMILTON, Communications Manager, Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, informed the committee that to determine economic or geographic areas, HUD divides the state into regions and cities, depending on population. 3:12:20 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON further asked whether there may be anomalous situations where there will be certain areas with variable incomes. He expressed concern that median income variables in a specific area will affect homeless people; for example, those who are found in a region of low median income that would set the 80 percent of median income so low that people in homelessness may not qualify. 3:15:29 PM MARK ROMICK, Director, Planning & Program, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, Department of Revenue, stated that the median incomes are provided on a boroughwide basis and are based on census data from the approximately 30 boroughs in the state. Therefore, there should not be anomalies anywhere in the state, even for census areas of low income, as this bill targets people living well below the preference levels. 3:16:48 PM MR. JESSEE acknowledged the validity of Representative Seaton's concern. He stated that an advisor from the Alaska Council on the Homeless sits on the AHFC board and that if a significant number of homeless individuals were not being served, the housing trust would become aware of the situation. Mr. Jessee assured the committee that the bill was written to address homelessness and the housing trust will request an adjustment of the income limits, if they become a barrier. 3:18:22 PM CHAIR WILSON advised that a problem with the word "shall" is best addressed now. 3:18:41 PM MR. JESSEE stated that he preferred to maintain the current language, in order to avoid the possibility that the funds may be expended for those whose incomes are above the 80 percent income level limit. 3:19:42 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON clarified that his intent was not to insert "may" but to ensure that there are no sections of the state that the housing trust could not assist. 3:20:23 PM MR. BUTCHER offered to research Representative Seaton's question. 3:20:42 PM CHAIR WILSON opened public testimony. 3:21:16 PM PAT LUBY, Advocacy Director, AARP in Alaska, expressed his organization's strong support of HB 324. He stated that many homeless people do not fit the stereotype and listed many causes for homelessness. In addition, AARP is concerned about the many children who are suffering from poor health and uncertain education due to homelessness. Mr. Luby opined that HB 324 will help homeless citizens. 3:23:11 PM RICHARD WARRINGTON, Ambassador, Brain Injury Network, informed the committee that he is a survivor of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that he suffered 30 years ago. He has lived in Alaska for 22 years and asked the committee to ensure that funding to support TBI survivors is not cut. He related the experience of a TBI survivor in Anchorage who is homeless. 3:25:31 PM CHAIR WILSON closed public testimony. 3:25:59 PM REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH asked whether the language on page 3, line 19, should read "housing development, financing, or consumers of affordable housing." 3:26:33 PM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER offered her interpretation of the language such that, of the four members, one or more has experience in the three areas of housing development, financing, and consumers of affordable housing. 3:26:55 PM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER moved to report HB 324, Version 25- GH2006\C, Cook, 2/5/08, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. Hearing no objection, CSHB 324(HES) was reported out of the House Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee.
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