Legislature(2021 - 2022)DAVIS 106
04/13/2021 03:00 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB168 | |
| HB103 | |
| SB21 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 168 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 103 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 21 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 168-ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FOR STATE BENEFITS
3:09:56 PM
CO-CHAIR SNYDER announced that the first order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 168, "An Act requiring the Department of
Health and Social Services to provide and allow submission of an
electronic application for certain state benefits; and providing
for an effective date."
3:10:20 PM
CO-CHAIR SNYDER took a brief at-ease to pass the gavel to Co-
Chair Zulkosky.
3:11:16 PM
CO-CHAIR SNYDER, as prime sponsor, presented HB 168. She
explained the bill would require the addition of an online
submission option for public assistance applications through the
state's internet site, but nothing in the bill would change
current options for applying for public assistance. Current
options include mailing, faxing, dropping off in person, and in
some instances downloading, completing, and sending the
application as an email attachment. She noted that during a
budget subcommittee meeting, the Division of Public Assistance
(DPA), Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), stated
that it is working to get the online submission option up and
running. Thus, HB 168 would put the division's work into
statute, thereby protecting it into the future.
CO-CHAIR SNYDER related that HB 168 would apply to a variety of
public assistance programs, including Medicaid for chronic and
acute medical assistance; supplemental nutrition assistance
through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP);
adult public assistance; senior benefits program; heating
assistance; Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program; and the
Commodity Supplemental Food Program that is for seniors over 60
who need access to supplemental food; along with renewals and
recertifications.
3:13:58 PM
CO-CHAIR SNYDER discussed the three primary points of motivation
for adding an online application submission as an option for
these programs. She said the first motivation is that it
modernizes the process to reflect typical current practices.
For example, the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA),
which administers SNAP, has been providing guidance to states on
best practices for online SNAP applications since at least 2006.
Alaska is one of a small number of states that does not yet have
the online application option. Even before the COVID-19
pandemic, adding online submission options has been the trend
because it addresses the other two motivations of HB 168.
CO-CHAIR SNYDER related that the second motivation is to remove
barriers to access. She explained that the purpose of public
assistance programs is to help Alaskans get through a
challenging time in their lives, and the fewer barriers put in
front of that path the faster folks can achieve positive
outcomes. While some barriers may not seem large, they can be a
big deal. For example, having a printer is necessary when a
signature on the application is required and cannot be done
online. In Alaska's rural areas there may be issues with the
frequency and consistency of postal service, adding excess time
to the submission of an application.
CO-CHAIR SNYDER conveyed that the third motivation is improved
efficiency for the division through online applications. She
said paper processing is slow and takes up much staff time,
contributing to backlogs and long review times. The governor's
budget, in anticipation of efficiencies that will be provided by
online applications, included cuts of nearly $1 million in
reduced needs for postage and supplies and the elimination of
dozens of positions that would be unnecessary with online
applications. She said a fiscal note has not yet been received
but will be shared as soon as it is available.
CO-CHAIR SNYDER summarized that HB 168 would put the division's
current modernization work into statute and the addition of an
online submission option for public assistance would remove
barriers to access and improve processing efficiencies, saving
money and time for the state.
3:18:07 PM
ARIELLE WIGGIN, Staff, Representative Liz Snyder, Alaska State
Legislature, provided a sectional analysis for HB 168 on behalf
of Representative Snyder, prime sponsor. She paraphrased from
the written sectional analysis titled, "SECTIONAL ANALYSIS, HB
168: ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FOR STATE BENEFITS, Ver. W," which
read [original punctuation with some formatting changes]:
Sec. 1: Adds a new subsection (19) to AS 47.05.010
Duties of Department requiring the Department of
Health and Social Services to create and provide an
entirely online application process for individuals
applying for public assistance and defines an online
application. It does not mandate applicants apply
online or remove the written option.
Sec. 2: Amends AS 47.08.150(b) Assistance For Chronic
or Acute Medical Conditions by adding language
requiring the Department of Health and Social Services
to establish an entirely online application process
for individuals applying for the Chronic and Acute
Medical Assistance program.
Sec. 3: Adds a new subsection (6) to AS 47.25.001(a)
Powers and Duties that requires the department
establish an entirely online application process and
allows applicants to apply in any form required by
state and federal law.
Sec. 4: Adds a new section (7) to AS 47.25.071(e)
Child Care Grant Program that requires the department
establish an entirely online application process for
assistance under the Child Care Grant Program.
Sec. 5: Amends AS 47.25.095 Definitions For Day Care
Assistance and Child Care Grant Programs to define
electronic application.
Sec. 6: Amends AS 47.25.150 Application For Assistance
by adding language requiring the Department of Public
Assistance to establish an entirely online application
process for individuals applying for assistance from
the department and defines an online application.
Sec. 7: Amends AS 47.25.440 Application For Assistance
by adding language requiring the Department of Health
and Social Services to establish an entirely online
application process for individuals applying to
receive Adult Public Assistance and defines an online
application.
Sec. 8: Adds a new subsection (4) to AS 47.25.622
Alaska Affordable Heating Program requiring the
Department of Health and Social Services to create and
provide an entirely online application process for
individuals applying for the Alaska Affordable Heating
Program and defines an online application.
Sec. 9: Adds a new subsection (4) to AS 47.25.980(a)
Duties of Department requiring the Department of
Public Assistance to create and provide an entirely
online application process for individuals applying
for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and
defines an online application.
Sec. 10: Amends AS 47.27.020(a) Application
Requirements by adding language requiring the
Department of Public Assistance to establish an
entirely online application process for individuals
applying for the Alaska Temporary Assistance Program.
Defines online application.
Sec. 11: Amends AS 47.45.302(a) Cash Assistance
Benefits by adding language requiring the Department
of Health and Social Services to establish an entirely
online application process for individuals applying
for the cash assistance program. Defines online
application.
Sec. 12: Adds a new section to the uncodified law of
the State of Alaska allowing the Department of Health
and Social Services to adopt regulations needed to
create and implement online applications.
Sec. 13: Requires Section 12 to take effect
immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).
Sec. 14: Provides an effective date of July 1, 2022.
3:19:26 PM
CO-CHAIR ZULKOSKY opened invited testimony.
3:19:48 PM
ROBBI MIXON, Executive Director, Alaska Farmers Market
Association, Executive Director, Alaska Food Policy Council,
provided invited testimony in support of HB 168. She stated
that electronic public assistance applications would create
greater government efficiencies and expand the number of people
able to access these benefits. These benefits are a vehicle for
accessing healthy food and allow for making healthier food
choices. It also provides funds for local produce and quality
proteins that are often outside of some people's budgets,
providing more equity in accessing healthy foods.
MS. MIXON noted that programs like SNAP increase recipients'
purchasing power and allows them to access local foods or
programs like farmers market SNAP and doubling programs.
Bolstering opportunities like this for local farmers is in
direct alignment with Governor Dunleavy's declared interest in
expanding Alaska's agricultural industry. Increasing access to
public food assistance benefits would also support Alaska's
growing food sectors, increasing sales for Alaska's farmers and
food producers. Every dollar spent in SNAP generates about
$1.80 in economic activity for local economies.
MS. MIXON added that allowing for electronic applications would
go a long way in creating greater food security in Alaska, which
is important given one in six Alaskan children go to bed each
night food insecure. The bill holds many potential benefits
with very low costs, she stated in conclusion.
3:22:34 PM
CARA DURR, Director of Public Engagement, Food Bank of Alaska,
provided invited testimony in support of HB 168. She related
that the Food Bank hopes the bill will ensure that the division
has the support and resources needed to achieve its goal of
providing an online application. She said she oversees the Food
Bank's SNAP Outreach Program, a federally funded program done in
partnership with the state. Broadly, her program's charge is to
provide education, outreach, application assistance, and case
status updates for current and potential SNAP clients.
MS. DURR noted that Alaska has a lower participation index for
SNAP, about 76 percent, which speaks to the number of people who
are eligible and able to access the program. According to the
USDA, she continued, about 25 percent of the people in Alaska
who are eligible are not accessing the program. Some of the
reasons for this can be addressed and some cannot. One barrier
is access and the lack of options on how to apply, and an online
application would improve this. The current paper application
requires a "wet" or "pen-to-paper" signature. The division is
working on some alternative signature options, like an e-
signature or a telephonic signature. The Food Bank has recently
received a waiver from USDA specific to COVID-19 flexibilities,
which allows the Food Bank to be an authorized representative
and sign on behalf of clients who aren't able to see the Food
Bank in person. Since it is tied to COVID-19 it is unknown how
long this will last, but these are important flexibilities to
continue because the more options the better.
MS. DURR stated that given COVID-19, many DPA offices are
closed, plus many communities don't have DPA offices; therefore,
people don't have a way to get applications. Some clients don't
have access to the online PDF document, some don't have printing
or mailing capabilities, and some need help with understanding
the questions that are asked on the 28-page application. The
Food Bank is helping people over the phone by asking questions
of the client and filling out the application on the Food Bank's
end. If a client doesn't have printing capabilities, the Food
Bank then mails the application to the client with a pre-paid
return envelope, the client then reviews, signs, and mails back
the application. This process can take weeks for clients in
rural communities and many times the application doesn't get
submitted for one reason or another. She said she knows that if
clients had access to the internet and could self-submit, even
with guidance from the Food Bank over the phone, it would be a
great option for them and would save the mailing time and
associated costs.
MS. DURR said another benefit of an online application is that
it can simplify the application per client. Currently clients
can apply for multiple benefits at the same time, but that
results in a long application and some of the questions are not
always relevant. When helping clients, the Food Bank Outreach
Team knows which questions are required and which aren't, which
simplifies the daunting process for clients. She suggested
making the online application predictive so it could allow
clients to just answer the questions that are relevant to the
programs they are applying for and could even provide further
explanation of the information needed. She concluded by
expressing the Food Bank's support for the bill.
3:27:57 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KURKA drew attention to Section 5 of the bill and
noted that the State of Alaska already has infrastructure for
electronic signatures in the myAlaska system, a seemingly
natural infrastructure from which to build this. He interpreted
the bill's language as directing the department to have the
application submitted through the department's website. He
asked whether the bill would be building a competitive
infrastructure.
CO-CHAIR SNYDER replied that the interest is in whatever is
necessary to create an efficiency. She said the language in the
bill came from talking with the department and Legislative Legal
Services. She deferred to the department to further answer the
question.
3:30:08 PM
SHAWNDA O'BRIEN, Director, Division of Public Assistance (DPA),
Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), responded that
DPA has been exploring options to use myAlaska as the platform
for validation and verification of an individual's identity
given that that platform would be the most efficient and
advantageous way to move forward. However, she explained, the
division has been unable to get the USDA to allow using the
myAlaska single sign-on for the application because it requires
the individual to have an email address as a means for
contacting them, and that goes against USDA's regulatory
oversight. Therefore, DPA will most likely have to pursue
another platform for folks to apply for SNAP benefits. The
division is continuing to see if there is something else that
would still enable taking advantage of myAlaska because that
would make more sense. She added that DPA has used the argument
that Alaska is unique in that most individuals applying for a
permanent fund dividend (PFD) have a myAlaska account, which
means that people are familiar with that already.
REPRESENTATIVE KURKA asked whether the bill's current language
would preclude DPA from using myAlaska if the division is able
to make it work through the department's website.
MS. O'BRIEN answered that she does not believe the language in
the bill would prohibit DPA from doing whatever means it needed
to make that happen. She said she reads the bill as giving DPA
the flexibility to use any internet type platform as long as the
recipients are not in any way excluded from participating.
REPRESENTATIVE KURKA inquired about the percentage of Alaskans
who use myAlaska versus other options to apply for the PFD.
MS. O'BRIEN offered her understanding that more Alaskans use it
to apply for their PFD than not, but she doesn't know the
number.
3:33:29 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ asked whether DPA's work to create an
online application process is being done in-house or through
contracting.
MS. O'BRIEN replied that DPA has been communicating with the
vendor that did the PFD application, as well as the document
management system, for the Department of Revenue. She stated
that this vendor also developed and implemented DPA's document
management system, and that DPA has been working with the vendor
to ensure that the division's document management system and its
workflow management system are aligned to receive all those
documents electronically. Right now, she continued, DPA is
entering into the initial procurement stages of that project and
hopes to have the procurements approved and work underway in the
next couple months. The work the vendor has done with the PFD
includes the ability of the application to be predictive so that
it streamlines and limits the types of questions an individual
is made to respond to when applying, for example, for just SNAP.
This is advantageous to DPA and will be beneficial for both the
user and DPA staff. She pointed out that the USDA funding
currently being made available to states is a good opportunity
for DPA to maximize its federal funding sources to fund this
project. The division is trying to take advantage of that, so
it is using less state general funds from its capital projects
to accomplish this.
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ remarked that it seems the predictive
application could be constructive because some people may not
understand that they don't need to fill out every page of the
application. She noted that people can already apply for
Medicaid at myAlaska.gov. She asked whether there are any
provisions in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) that
might be used in addition to the USDA funding.
MS. O'BRIEN answered that there is funding under the ARPA to
cover 100 percent of the administrative costs, so DPA has been
working to identify what documentation is necessary to take
advantage of that funding going forward for as long as that
funding will be available. She added that the division is
getting close to having those answers.
3:37:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ offered her understanding that an email
address is needed on the USDA's SNAP application and that the
state could potentially apply for a waiver to the USDA. She
inquired whether there are any other programs that would require
some special permission from the federal government to do this.
MS. O'BRIEN replied that it is the reverse the USDA
requirements would not allow DPA to require that an individual
provide an email address as a part of the authentication and
that is what DPA is has been trying to work through. She stated
that because DPA wants to get this going and get something in
place sooner than later, the division is proceeding as if it
will not be able to take advantage of the myAlaska platform for
SNAP benefits. She said there aren't any restrictions in place
for the other programs that would be prohibitive that way.
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ asked whether DPA is proceeding as if a
waiver won't be received for using myAlaska, or whether DPA is
assuming that it cannot get a waiver and is not going to try.
MS. O'BRIEN responded that in this case there is not an option
for DPA to apply for a waiver. She related that she has put in
writing to USDA the argument that many of the recipients in
Alaska are already using myAlaska for applying for the PFD.
Using that logic she was hoping to persuade USDA to give DPA
permission to use the myAlaska platform and still have options
for folks who don't have an email address to use some other
platform.
3:40:21 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY asked whether the USDA is giving DPA any
solutions for not being able to use myAlaska or when people
don't have an email address.
MS. O'BRIEN answered that the USDA requires a mailing address
for communicating with recipients, so DPA would have an option
for folks to elect to communicate with the division; however,
DPA cannot require folks to have an email and that is where the
difference is. She said myAlaska requires individuals to have
an email address as a means for communication or identification,
but DPA cannot use that for the purposes of the application for
SNAP; DPA has to have the mailing address as the primary means
of communication and notification. Responding further to
Representative McCarty, she confirmed that DPA must require a
mailing address but cannot require an email address.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY inquired about checks and balances for
fraud given that multiple people may use the same mailing
address.
MS. O'BRIEN confirmed that multiple individuals may share a
single mailing address. She stated that for purposes of the
program, validation of the residence or the mailing address
being used on record is something DPA's fraud unit would look
into if there were reasons to suspect that an individual was
fraudulently using the system. Regarding the application, she
said many folks may use the same mailing address for various
reasons, but she cannot speak to what the requirements are for
USDA's purposes in terms of validating an individual based on a
mailing address versus an email address. She offered to get
additional information to the committee.
3:43:49 PM
CO-CHAIR SNYDER stated that the addition of an online
application does not affect the possibility of some misuse in
addition to what is already possible with the other forms of
application, and therefore it is a separate question. She said
the level of misuse and abuse is a single digit percentage and
that [DPA] has been working over the years to address that, such
as using electronic benefit transfer cards.
MS. DURR agreed with Co-Chair Snyder's summation. She said SNAP
has very low rates of fraud, waste, and abuse, and she doesn't
see an online application as inviting more fraud. Fraud is
taken seriously, she added, because the program is important and
DPA doesn't want to see people misusing it.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY stated that he likes making things easier
to process but asked what is being done in the electronic system
to recognize red flags.
CO-CHAIR ZULKOSKY responded that this is a related but separate
question that can be discussed when the committee again
considers HB 168. She said the bill focuses on creating an
online application system, not on conflating the two issues.
3:46:56 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX inquired whether this idea could be
accomplished without passing a statute.
CO-CHAIR SNYDER answered that part of the motivation is to
provide statutory support for this work that has begun but has
taken quite a long time to achieve. She said procurement is
required which has an associated cost, and that has been
addressed in the budget. But the number one reason is because
if [the state] is going to invest and get this best practice
operational in this department, having it in statute protects
the online application option from being easily removed by
future administrations. As seen with other states that have
adopted this, it is a good plan, improves efficiency, saves
time, and removes barriers to access these programs, and having
it in statute protects that.
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked whether a fiscal note will be
associated with the bill given it is a project with a beginning
and an end and a cost somewhere.
CO-CHAIR SNYDER replied that a fiscal note is being awaited and
will be provided to the committee as soon as it is received.
She concurred that a cost is anticipated but said it is expected
that the cost will be balanced out with some of the proposed
cuts that foresee the savings generated by putting it online.
3:49:13 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX noted that the word "needy" is used several
times throughout the bill. He maintained that this word is
unnecessary and asked whether this language could be cleaned up.
CO-CHAIR SNYDER offered her understanding and suggested that it
is an amendment the committee could consider. She noted that
the bill also references the outdated term "food stamps," which
has been brought to the attention of DHSS as a possible change.
3:50:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KURKA conveyed that 15.16 percent of PFD
applications are through paper, 8.07 percent are online paper
signature, and 76.77 percent are the online electronic signature
process. He stated that procuring and having a mailing address
would be more difficult than an email address but qualified that
this is not meant as an argument with DHSS.
CO-CHAIR ZULKOSKY announced that public testimony on HB 168 will
be heard on 4/15/22.
[HB 168 was held over.]
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 103 Transmittal Letter 2.17.21.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM HSTA 3/18/2021 3:00:00 PM |
HB 103 |
| HB 103 Sectional Analysis Version GH 1675 A.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM HSTA 3/18/2021 3:00:00 PM |
HB 103 |
| HB 103 Version 32-GH1675 A.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM HSTA 3/18/2021 3:00:00 PM |
HB 103 |
| HB0103 Fiscal Note 1-2-021821-DHS-N.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM HSTA 3/18/2021 3:00:00 PM |
HB 103 |
| HB 103 Additional Information - Final Rule 42 CFR 441.301c.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM HSTA 3/18/2021 3:00:00 PM |
HB 103 |
| HB 103 Additional Information - HCBS Transition Plan (DHSS).pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM HSTA 3/18/2021 3:00:00 PM |
HB 103 |
| HB 103 Hearing Request.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM HSTA 3/18/2021 3:00:00 PM |
HB 103 |
| HB 103 Letter of Support - All Ways Caring.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM HSTA 3/18/2021 3:00:00 PM |
HB 103 |
| 09 HB 103 Letter of Support - LTCO 3.16.21.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM HSTA 3/18/2021 3:00:00 PM |
HB 103 |
| HB 103 One Page Summary (003).pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM |
HB 103 |
| HB 103 Final Rule 42 CFR 441.301c.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM |
HB 103 |
| HB 103 FAQ on Final Rule prepared by Coalition for Community Choice.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM |
HB 103 |
| HB 103 Additional Information - Final Rule 42 CFR 441.301c.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM HSTA 3/18/2021 3:00:00 PM |
HB 103 |
| HB 103 Additional Information - One Page Summary by SDS.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM HSTA 3/18/2021 3:00:00 PM |
HB 103 |
| HB 103 Letter of Support - ACoA 3.8.21.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM HSTA 3/25/2021 3:00:00 PM |
HB 103 |
| HB 103 Letter of Support - Colony Assisted Living Home 3.24.21.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM HSTA 3/25/2021 3:00:00 PM |
HB 103 |
| HB 103 Letter of Support - MSHF 3.26.21.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/1/2021 3:00:00 PM |
HB 103 |
| HB 103 Letter of Support - AK Regional Hospital 3.26.21.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/1/2021 3:00:00 PM |
HB 103 |
| SB 89 AARP Support HB103 and SB89.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM HHSS 4/29/2021 3:00:00 PM SFIN 4/7/2021 9:00:00 AM |
HB 103 SB 89 |
| SB 21 version B.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM SHSS 3/2/2021 1:30:00 PM |
SB 21 |
| SB 21 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM SHSS 3/2/2021 1:30:00 PM |
SB 21 |
| SB 21 Fiscal Note DHSS.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM SHSS 3/2/2021 1:30:00 PM |
SB 21 |
| SB 21 Fiscal Note DCCED.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM SHSS 3/2/2021 1:30:00 PM |
SB 21 |
| SB 21 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM SHSS 3/2/2021 1:30:00 PM |
SB 21 |
| SB 21 Point Paper.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM SHSS 3/2/2021 1:30:00 PM |
SB 21 |
| SB 21 Updated Sectional Analysis 3.1.21.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM |
SB 21 |
| SB 21 v. B Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM SL&C 3/15/2021 1:30:00 PM |
SB 21 |
| SB 21 v. B.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM SL&C 3/15/2021 1:30:00 PM |
SB 21 |
| HB 168 Sectional Analysis, Ver W..pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM |
HB 168 |
| HB 168, Ver W..PDF |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM |
HB 168 |
| HB 168 Sponsor Statemen.pdf |
HHSS 4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM |
HB 168 |