Legislature(2023 - 2024)BUTROVICH 205

02/13/2024 03:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

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03:31:57 PM Start
03:32:24 PM SB149
04:35:51 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
*+ SB 149 FOOD STAMP PROGRAM ELIGIBILTY TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
              SB 149-FOOD STAMP PROGRAM ELIGIBILTY                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:32:24 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 149                                                                 
"An Act relating to the supplemental nutrition assistance                                                                       
program; and providing for an effective date."                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:32:47 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GIESSEL, speaking as sponsor of SB 149, gave the                                                                        
following bill introduction:                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     This bill would  put in place a new  way of authorizing                                                                    
     individuals to  get food  assistance by  implementing a                                                                    
     broad-based  categorical  eligibility  (BBCE)  standard                                                                    
     for qualifying  for nutritional  supplementation. Right                                                                    
     now,  we   have  what's   known  as   the  Supplemental                                                                    
     Nutrition Assistance  Program (SNAP). It serves  one in                                                                    
     eight Alaskans. As we all  know, it's been in the paper                                                                    
     that there's  difficulty with the Department  of Health                                                                    
     in  getting these  SNAP payments  out  to Alaskans  for                                                                    
     multiple  reasons,  none  of   which  are  due  to  any                                                                    
     untoward intent  by that department. The  department is                                                                    
     working  hard  to  get those  out  but  faces  multiple                                                                    
     challenges.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     By  moving to  the BBCE,  we will  be joining  42 other                                                                    
     states  and two  territories that  use this  method for                                                                    
     distributing   nutritional    supplements.   It   helps                                                                    
     streamline  the  administrative issues,  decreases  the                                                                    
     asset tests, and  just makes it a whole  lot easier for                                                                    
     the department and for the families to apply.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Now, Mr. Chairman,  at some point, someone  is going to                                                                    
     ask  if   this  will  cost  us   more  since  increased                                                                    
     eligibility might  lead to more applicants.  Of course,                                                                    
     we  have  a  fiscal  note.  The  fiscal  note  mentions                                                                    
     needing  two additional  people,  but  Mr. Chairman,  I                                                                    
     would  call  your  attention   to  the  Senate  Finance                                                                    
     Committee   table,   which   got  feedback   from   the                                                                    
     Department of Health. It points  out the $3 million UGF                                                                    
     appropriation  in  supplemental appropriations  to  the                                                                    
     department  for  grant  funding  for  food  banks.  The                                                                    
     ongoing  backlog of  SNAP  payments  leaves food  banks                                                                    
     needing   assistance.  So,   the  supplemental   budget                                                                    
     includes  a $3  million UGF.  The  FY 25  budget has  a                                                                    
     proposed one-time appropriation of  $1.5 million to the                                                                    
     Department of Health to work  toward bulk purchases for                                                                    
     food banks  and pantries. Not  doing this will  cost us                                                                    
     millions and leave people without food.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:35:58 PM                                                                                                                    
PAIGE BROWN, Staff, Senator Cathy Giessel, Alaska State                                                                         
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, Offered the following sectional                                                                    
analysis for SB 149.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                    Senate Bill 149 (Vsn A)                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                       Sectional Analysis                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
         "An Act relating to the supplemental nutrition                                                                         
       assistance program; and providing for an effective                                                                       
                             date."                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Section 1. Amends AS. 47.25.980(a)(3):                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     This section  updates the reference  to the  chapter of                                                                    
     United   States   code   governing   the   Supplemental                                                                    
     Nutrition Assistance Program  (SNAP). This section also                                                                    
     increases  the household  income  limits  for the  SNAP                                                                    
     program from 130  percent to 200 percent  of the Alaska                                                                    
     poverty  standard and  eliminates  the household  asset                                                                    
     test.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Section  2.  Amends  uncodified law  by  adding  a  new                                                                  
     section:                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     This section provides the  authority for the Department                                                                    
     of  Health  to  adopt   the  necessary  regulations  to                                                                    
     implement this Act.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Section 3.  Provides for an effective  date for Section                                                                  
     2:                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Section 2 has an immediate effective date.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Section 4. Provides for an effective date.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Except as  provided in  sec. 3,  the effective  date of                                                                    
     this Act is July 1, 2025.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:36:47 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  TOBIN asked  how many  department staff  currently process                                                               
SNAP benefits.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:37:07 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. BROWN deferred the question.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:37:25 PM                                                                                                                    
DEB   ETHERIDGE,  Director,   Division   of  Public   Assistance,                                                               
Department of  Health (DOH), Juneau,  Alaska, replied  that there                                                               
are  approximately  229  individuals processing  eligibility  who                                                               
could handle a SNAP benefit.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:37:46 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR TOBIN said the fiscal  note indicates that the department                                                               
estimates needing  two positions  to implement BBCE  changes. She                                                               
asked  if  the  department  anticipates the  changes  creating  a                                                               
reduction in  the number  of positions  required to  process SNAP                                                               
applications.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:38:04 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. ETHERIDGE  replied that the change  allows for administrative                                                               
simplification in  the SNAP  program and  can decrease  the error                                                               
rate by  removing the asset  requirement. However, the  impact on                                                               
participation rates is unknown, making  it difficult to project a                                                               
need for  fewer eligibility technicians.  The fiscal notes  in SB
149 relate to the broad-based  categorical eligibility being tied                                                               
to  eligibility   for  a   non-cash  benefit   through  Temporary                                                               
Assistance for Needy Families (TANF),  this is a new requirement.                                                               
The two  requested positions  are for  training and  oversight of                                                               
eligibility technicians and internal  quality case reviews, which                                                               
result  in  ongoing  education   and  training  for  staff.  This                                                               
additional oversight  and training benefits not  only eligibility                                                               
technicians  but ensures  the division  appropriately administers                                                               
the SNAP program and provides the correct benefits.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:39:44 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  TOBIN asked  how many  employees currently  process TANF                                                               
applications.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS. ETHERIDGE  stated that most  eligibility technicians  work on                                                               
all  programs,  though  a  small number  were  brought  on  board                                                               
specifically  to   process  Medicaid  to  assist   with  Medicaid                                                               
unwinding. These are  single-program eligibility technicians. She                                                               
clarified  that the  non-cash TANF  benefit isn't  an eligibility                                                               
program they  would process. Instead,  it provides  education and                                                               
training  that meets  the  goals of  TANF  to SNAP  participants.                                                               
There are four goals within TANF  that they would have to provide                                                               
the non-cash benefit  to, and in some states,  this benefit could                                                               
be an  education and training  brochure with  available resources                                                               
to individuals to meet the purpose of TANF.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:41:24 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  TOBIN  noted  that  the  fiscal  note  projects  ongoing                                                               
support  and sought  clarification.  She asked  if  the need  for                                                               
policy, training, and updates identified  by the department would                                                               
continue  in   addition  to  the  229   existing  positions.  She                                                               
acknowledged  that the  SB 149  aims to  streamline and  decrease                                                               
complexity  in  processing  applications  and  ease  eligibility,                                                               
potentially  increasing the  number of  qualifying Alaskans.  She                                                               
expressed difficulty  understanding the ongoing fiscal  impact of                                                               
this  program if  potential cost  savings could  be realized  and                                                               
asked for further explanation.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:42:12 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. ETHERIDGE  explained that this  is a layered  approach within                                                               
the division,  additional work  has a  significant impact  due to                                                               
the high  turnover rate of  eligibility technicians.  The ongoing                                                               
requirement is  necessary because training and  education efforts                                                               
in the first  year will not suffice for  future years. Continuous                                                               
monitoring of  quality is also  essential. This approach  aims to                                                               
build  capacity within  the division  to properly  administer the                                                               
program on an ongoing basis.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:43:03 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  WILSON recalled  Commissioner  Hedberg's discussion  about                                                               
the department's  multiple backlogs.  He asked  if SB  149 became                                                               
law with an immediate effective  date, what would be a reasonable                                                               
timeframe for its implementation.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MS.  ETHERIDGE replied  that  the  milestones timeframe  involves                                                               
shifting   the  SNAP   eligibility  program   from  the   current                                                               
eligibility  information  system  to a  cloud-based  module.  The                                                               
estimated date  of implementation is  July 1, 2025,  which aligns                                                               
with the planned  transition. She noted that  no additional funds                                                               
were  requested  for  system   changes  because  the  legislature                                                               
supported these changes last year.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:44:17 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON announced a presentation on SB 147.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:44:34 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. BROWN moved to slide 2 and said:                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     SNAP Background                                                                                                          
   • 1964, U.S. established the Food Stamp Program                                                                              
   • In 1971, Alaska joined SNAP (renamed 2008)                                                                                 
   • The mission is to address food insecurity, and provide                                                                     
      financial assistance for low-income individuals and                                                                       
       families, as well as encourage economic stability                                                                        
     community-wide                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:44:59 PM                                                                                                                    
MS.  BROWN  moved to  slide  3  and  said  there are  three  food                                                               
security issues in Alaska:                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Food Security Issues in AK                                                                                               
   • Food   Supply   in    Alaska       Transportation   and                                                                    
     Distribution                                                                                                               
   • Dependency on Imports  Vulnerable to supply chain                                                                          
     disruptions, lack of locally grown food                                                                                    
   • SNAP Backlog  Residents are waiting up to 10 months                                                                        
     for SNAP benefits, Old Computer System                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:45:34 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. BROWN moved to slide 4 and read the following:                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Current SNAP requirements:                                                                                                    
   • Household Income Limit   130%  of the current Alaska poverty                                                               
     standard                                                                                                                   
   • Household Resource Limit  Asset Test                                                                                       
   • Citizenship and Residency   Resident of the state of Alaska                                                                
   • Work Requirements    Must register  for work,  accept offers                                                               
     of employment, cannot quit a job.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:45:56 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. BROWN moved to slide 5 and said broad based categorical                                                                     
eligibility would provide the following:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Broad Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE):                                                                                   
   • Income Flexibility:  Extends flexibility to  households with                                                               
     income up to 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline.                                                                 
   • Asset Simplification:  Asset test is relaxed,  focusing more                                                               
     on income as a determinant.                                                                                                
   • Streamlined  Process:  Reduces  administrative  burden  with                                                               
     less emphasis on asset documentation.                                                                                      
   • Alignment  with  Federal  Guidelines: Adopts  guidelines  to                                                               
     streamline SNAP access                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:46:22 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. BROWN moved to slide 6 and said BBCE is used in 42 states                                                                   
and 2 territories.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:46:30 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. BROWN moved to slide 7 and shared the following benefits:                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Benefits of BBCE                                                                                                         
     • Simplified Application Process       long-term cost                                                                      
        savings in administration                                                                                               
       • Economic Stimulus      directs funds into local                                                                        
        economies                                                                                                               
        • Eliminates the "Benefits Cliff"  less risk of                                                                         
       losing more value of benefits than raise in income                                                                       
       • Eliminates the asset test          saves time on                                                                       
        application                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:46:54 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR TOBIN  said she noticed  that 42 other states  have moved                                                               
to broad-based eligibility.  She asked if there  is any anecdotal                                                               
or   quantitative  data   on   whether   this  change   increased                                                               
departmental needs  to support applications  and if there  was an                                                               
increase  in   usage  that  created   an  undue  burden   on  the                                                               
departments processing these applications.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:47:32 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. BROWN deferred the question.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:47:57 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON announced invited testimony on SB 149.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:48:12 PM                                                                                                                    
RON MEEHAN,  Director, Government  Affairs, Food Bank  of Alaska,                                                               
Anchorage, Alaska,  stated he is  also the manager of  the Alaska                                                               
Food Coalition.  The Alaska Food  Coalition represents  more than                                                               
180 food banks, food  pantries, tribal organizations, faith-based                                                               
groups, and educational  groups across the state.  He stated that                                                               
he  supports of  SB  149 and  the  implementation of  broad-based                                                               
categorical  eligibility (BBCE)  because  it could  significantly                                                               
increase government  efficiency, allow  Alaskans to save  and get                                                               
off  the program,  and provide  economic security  to hardworking                                                               
Alaskan families.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
He  stated  that  SNAP  is the  most  effective  food  assistance                                                               
program in the United States,  helping more than 92,000 Alaskans,                                                               
or 1  in 8,  put food  on the table.  The program  stimulates the                                                               
economy,   particularly   for    local   businesses   and   rural                                                               
communities, with  the U.S. Department of  Agriculture estimating                                                               
that  for  every federal  $1  spent  in  SNAP benefits  $1.50  is                                                               
generated  in economic  activity. He  emphasized that  during the                                                               
recent SNAP  backlog, Alaskans in  need turned to food  banks and                                                               
food  pantries,  which  are already  stretched  thin  and  seeing                                                               
record levels of use.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:50:12 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. MEEHAN  argued that  SB 149 would  improve the  SNAP program.                                                               
SNAP,  a  federal  program  administered  by  the  state,  allows                                                               
significant  latitude in  administration. BBCE  would enable  the                                                               
state  to eliminate  the  asset test  and  raise the  eligibility                                                               
threshold from  130 percent  to 200 percent  of the  base poverty                                                               
level.  Asset verification  is  time-consuming, error-prone,  and                                                               
difficult,   involving  items   like   homes,  properties,   bank                                                               
accounts, equipment, vehicles, and subsistence tools.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MS.  MEEHAN   said  eliminating  the  asset   test  would  reduce                                                               
administrative  time,  save  money,  and allow  the  division  to                                                               
process  applications faster.  Currently, households  cannot have                                                               
more than $2,750  in the bank, or $4,250 for  those with at least                                                               
one elderly  or disabled family  member. Allowing people  to save                                                               
without  losing benefits  helps them  become self-sufficient.  He                                                               
noted that  Alaska is  one of  only nine states  that do  not use                                                               
BBCE, while 41  states and two U.S.  territories have effectively                                                               
utilized  it to  help  people  get out  of  poverty  and off  the                                                               
program.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR. MEEHAN said  raising the income limit and  removing the asset                                                               
test  would   enable  SNAP  participants  to   achieve  financial                                                               
security  by accepting  pay raises,  saving for  the future,  and                                                               
gradually reducing benefits rather  than facing a benefits cliff.                                                               
This  approach would  prevent the  state  from punishing  working                                                               
Alaskans for  becoming more  economically independent,  raise the                                                               
income  level,  and  provide targeted  assistance  to  low-income                                                               
working  families and  seniors,  enhancing government  efficiency                                                               
and program functioning.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:52:16 PM                                                                                                                    
CARA  DURR, CEO,  Food Bank  of Alaska,  Anchorage, Alaska,  said                                                               
broad-based  categorical eligibility  (BBCE)  is  a state  option                                                               
that will help reduce administrative  costs and incentivize long-                                                               
term economic security for families  and individuals. BBCE allows                                                               
the state  to do two things:  eliminate the asset test  and raise                                                               
the gross income limit for  certain households. She focused first                                                               
on  the benefits  of removing  the  asset test,  noting it  would                                                               
provide significant cost savings to  the state, especially as the                                                               
SNAP agency struggles with capacity issues.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
She  said  assets are  difficult  and  time-consuming to  verify,                                                               
which  is why  40  states, regardless  of political  affiliation,                                                               
have  eliminated the  SNAP asset  test  to reduce  administrative                                                               
burdens. The  only recent  exception is  Iowa, which  required an                                                               
asset test  in 2023. Iowa's  fiscal note estimated it  would take                                                               
an additional 28  minutes per case to verify  assets. Given their                                                               
caseload of 135,000 households, they  would need 47 new full-time                                                               
employees  (FTEs)  at a  cost  of  over  $2.8 million  per  year.                                                               
Applying  this  logic  to  Alaska's   caseload  of  about  22,000                                                               
households, she  estimated Alaska  could spend at  least $450,000                                                               
annually in staff time to check assets for SNAP households.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS. DURR  said while  Alaska might have  initial costs  for staff                                                               
training, long-term  savings are  likely to accrue,  allowing FTE                                                               
time  to  be  redeployed  to critical  casework  like  preventing                                                               
future  application backlogs  and  reducing  the state's  payment                                                               
error rate.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:54:42 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. DURR  said currently,  Alaska uses  the federal  baseline for                                                               
asset which  is $2,750  for most  households. This  doesn't allow                                                               
for meaningful  savings or emergency funds.  For example, someone                                                               
with $5,000 in the bank trying to  save for a car would be denied                                                               
SNAP benefits  but could  qualify if they  spent the  money down.                                                               
This   system  discourages   savings,  which   is  critical   for                                                               
transitioning out  of poverty. Without BBCE,  low-income Alaskans                                                               
are  disincentivized to  save,  encouraging temporary  assistance                                                               
over financial stability.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
She said the  second benefit of BBCE is the  ability to raise the                                                               
gross income  limit, which primarily benefits  low-income working                                                               
families  with children.  Without  BBCE, SNAP  recipients face  a                                                               
benefit cliff where  a small raise at work  could disqualify them                                                               
from benefits,  leaving them at  a net loss. BBCE  eliminates the                                                               
benefit cliff  by tapering  down SNAP  benefits as  income rises,                                                               
incentivizing work and career advancement.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS.  DURR  acknowledged  the   Division  of  Public  Assistance's                                                               
efforts to clear the backlog  and commended Commissioner Hedberg,                                                               
Director  Etheridge,  and their  team  for  their thoughtful  and                                                               
transparent work.  However, she noted that  many positive changes                                                               
would   take   time  to   show   results   and  that   additional                                                               
administrative    burdens    remain   when    interviewers    are                                                               
reimplemented. BBCE  will create efficiencies, reduce  the burden                                                               
for  DPA eligibility  workers,  and help  Alaskans  in need  find                                                               
relief. She encouraged the committee to move SB 149 forward.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:56:46 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  TOBIN  asked  when broad-based  categorical  eligibility                                                               
(BBCE) was first introduced and  if there is data showing whether                                                               
it resulted in an increased  need for additional staff to process                                                               
applications  in the  departments  responsible for  it in  states                                                               
where  it has  been enacted.  She also  inquired if  there was  a                                                               
significant  increase in  eligibility  and  the associated  costs                                                               
borne by the populous.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:57:22 PM                                                                                                                    
MS.  DURR  replied  that  she didn't  have  a  definitive  answer                                                               
regarding when BBCE was first  implemented and suggested it might                                                               
have been  a state option all  along, noting that there  are many                                                               
state  options for  SNAP.  She  said she  wasn't  sure about  the                                                               
impact   on  enrollment   but  mentioned   that  the   population                                                               
benefiting  from  BBCE  is typically  narrow,  primarily  working                                                               
families  with children  who have  significant expenses.  BBCE is                                                               
not  expected to  "open the  floodgates"  since recipients  still                                                               
must meet the net income limit.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS. DURR mentioned that while  there is some data indicating that                                                               
SNAP  recipients generally  do not  have significant  assets, she                                                               
could  gather more  information  for the  committee. Seniors  are                                                               
hesitant  to disclose  assets, even  when not  substantial. There                                                               
could  be a  small increase  in enrollment,  but she  argued that                                                               
those  needing  benefits  would  receive  them,  which  would  be                                                               
positive for  the overburdened network.  She concluded  by saying                                                               
that BBCE is  largely seen as a cost-saving  measure and concerns                                                               
about  increased  enrollment  have  not been  a  major  point  of                                                               
discussion.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MR. MEEHAN added  that the assistance provided  to new recipients                                                               
under BBCE  is very targeted.  He noted  that, in the  long term,                                                               
this  would enable  people to  save  and eventually  get off  the                                                               
program.  This  potential  outcome   should  be  considered  when                                                               
evaluating the number of people utilizing BBCE.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:59:27 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR TOBIN  said she  took a  quick glance  at the  MIT Living                                                               
Wage Calculator,  which indicates  that a family  of four  in the                                                               
Anchorage Municipality  needs to  earn a  little over  $60,800 to                                                               
make a  living wage.  She asked  for thoughts  on how  BBCE would                                                               
help families currently earning less than $60,000 in Anchorage.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:00:41 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. DURR  replied that  BBCE would  help low-income  families who                                                               
are working but currently earn  above the income level to qualify                                                               
for SNAP  benefits. She  acknowledged that  SNAP benefits  have a                                                               
low qualification  threshold and  are supplemental,  meaning they                                                               
are not sufficient  by themselves. While more  could certainly be                                                               
done to  support these families, she  sees BBCE as a  good start.                                                               
It  helps those  with  significant expenses  who  are working  by                                                               
opening  the door  for  them. She  emphasized  the importance  of                                                               
finding ways  to support those who  fall into the gap  where they                                                               
are  over the  income  limit  for many  benefits  but still  need                                                               
assistance, which unfortunately  represents a significant portion                                                               
of the population.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:01:28 PM                                                                                                                    
MR.  MEEHAN   responded  that  the  current   structure  of  SNAP                                                               
disincentivizes work.  By allowing  families to  save to  get off                                                               
the  program  and  eliminating  the  benefits  cliff,  BBCE  will                                                               
incentivize and enable  working families to take a  second job or                                                               
accept  raises. Currently,  earning even  $1 more  can result  in                                                               
losing benefits and ultimately leaving families worse off.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:02:03 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON concluded invited testimony on SB 149.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:02:16 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON opened invited testimony on SB 149.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:02:52 PM                                                                                                                    
SCOTT LINGLE,  CEO, Beans Café,  Anchorage, Alaska,  testified in                                                               
support  of SB  149.  He  expressed strong  support  for SB  149,                                                               
stating  that it  would bring  significant  positive changes  and                                                               
benefit communities.  He shared  stories of families  losing SNAP                                                               
benefits due  to minor income  increases, emphasizing  that these                                                               
small amounts could  help with unexpected expenses.  He urged the                                                               
committee to support  SB 149, highlighting its  potential to make                                                               
a lasting impact on many individuals in the state.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:07:16 PM                                                                                                                    
AUTUMN SMITH-AMY, Owner, Northwest  Regional Relative and Kinship                                                               
Providers,  Anchorage, Alaska,  testified in  support of  SB 149.                                                               
She said Northwest  Regional Relative and Kinship  Providers is a                                                               
grassroots  community group  serving  BIPOC  families. The  group                                                               
provides  representation  in  administrative appeals  for  denied                                                               
SNAP  benefits and  supports broad-based  categorical eligibility                                                               
(BBCE). She  emphasized that eliminating asset  limits encourages                                                               
families to  save, increases economic independence,  and improves                                                               
employment     retention.     Highlighting    successful     BBCE                                                               
implementation in  Virginia and Colorado, she  argued that Alaska                                                               
could  save  millions  and  reduce  the  backlog.  She  expressed                                                               
concern about  potential financial liabilities for  Alaska due to                                                               
overpayment errors and  urged support for BBCE  to enhance fiscal                                                               
responsibility and reduce long standing challenging backlogs.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:12:20 PM                                                                                                                    
MILENA  SEVIGNY,  Executive  Director,  Kids  Cupboard,  Wasilla,                                                               
Alaska, testified  in support of SB  149. She said she  wanted to                                                               
highlight some  differences that  might not have  been discussed,                                                               
particularly concerning communities off  the road system or those                                                               
with limited access.  For example, in areas like  Skwentna on the                                                               
Yentna River, people rely on  boats or snowmachines to reach town                                                               
and  get  food.  Owning  these   modes  of  transportation  could                                                               
disqualify them from  SNAP due to the asset  test. She emphasized                                                               
that  this issue  also affects  those on  the road  system, where                                                               
poor road conditions  in the spring force residents  to use four-                                                               
wheelers  instead of  cars.  She argued  that  Alaska has  unique                                                               
asset needs and urged the implementation  of Senate Bill 149 as a                                                               
unique solution for the state.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:14:06 PM                                                                                                                    
GREG  MEYER,  Executive  Director,  Kenai  Peninsula  Food  Bank,                                                               
Soldotna, Alaska,  testified in support  of SB 149. He  said that                                                               
his food  bank has worked hard  to keep neighbors fed  during the                                                               
backlog,  covering   the  entire   Kenai  Peninsula   through  46                                                               
different  pantries and  a direct  service center.  He noted  the                                                               
struggle many  neighbors face  in accessing  services, especially                                                               
older adults  who struggle with  technology. The goal is  to help                                                               
families move  toward sustainability, but the  asset test creates                                                               
setbacks. He shared an example of  a family where the mother quit                                                               
her job after  receiving a car, which pushed them  over the asset                                                               
limit so she  quit her job. He argued that  eliminating the asset                                                               
test  would help  families  save for  necessities  like rent  and                                                               
still  feed their  families. He  urged support  for changes  that                                                               
would help Alaskan families and improve service efficiency.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:15:57 PM                                                                                                                    
EDDIE  EZELLE, Executive  Director,  Mat-Su  Food Bank,  Wasilla,                                                               
Alaska, testified  in support  of SB 149.  He said  that although                                                               
his food  pantry does not  handle SNAP sign-ups or  coupons, they                                                               
are distributing more food to  more people. Currently, they serve                                                               
about 149  people a day, five  days a week. The  number of people                                                               
served  has  increased,  recently  reaching  around  9,500.  This                                                               
rising demand affects their operations,  and he urged support for                                                               
SB  149.  He  offered  his pantry's  assistance  in  any  further                                                               
efforts  and  emphasized that  the  impact  extends beyond  those                                                               
directly handling SNAP.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:17:43 PM                                                                                                                    
ERIN  WALKER-TOLLES,   Executive  Director,   Catholic  Community                                                               
Services (CCS), Juneau,  Alaska, testified in support  of SB 149.                                                               
She  said  that Catholic  Community  Service  (CCS) provides  hot                                                               
meals for seniors  free of charge five days a  week, serving over                                                               
2,000  seniors and  delivering over  131,000 meals  last year  in                                                               
Southeast, Alaska. Many seniors rely  on these meals due to fixed                                                               
incomes  and rising  costs, sometimes  having  to choose  between                                                               
food  and  other  essentials.  She  emphasized  that  broad-based                                                               
categorical  eligibility (BBCE)  would help  more seniors  access                                                               
SNAP benefits, improve their health,  and save communities money.                                                               
She also mentioned  her 14 years of experience with  the State of                                                               
Alaska Division of  Public Assistance, working five  years as the                                                               
SNAP director.  Supporting BBCE  is a  simple policy  change that                                                               
would simplify eligibility work and save the state money.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:21:16 PM                                                                                                                    
ROBIN DEMPSEY, CEO, Catholic  Social Services, Anchorage, Alaska,                                                               
testified in  support of  SB 149. She  said that  Catholic Social                                                               
Services supports vulnerable Alaskans  on their path to permanent                                                               
stability  and  self-sufficiency.  In 2023,  they  assisted  over                                                               
16,000 children  and adults  through various  programs, including                                                               
St. Francis House, one of  the state's largest food pantries. She                                                               
noted a  significant rise in  food insecurity, with a  30 percent                                                               
increase in  individuals served in  FY 2023.  Implementing broad-                                                               
based  categorical  eligibility  (BBCE)  for  SNAP  would  expand                                                               
access,  primarily benefiting  working  families  and seniors  by                                                               
removing the asset test and  reducing administrative burdens. She                                                               
urged support for the bill.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:23:36 PM                                                                                                                    
CLAY VENETIS,  Representative, Alaska Food  Coalition, Fairbanks,                                                               
Alaska, testified  in support  of SB 149.  He said  he represents                                                               
small farmers  and previously  represented SNAP  beneficiaries at                                                               
Alaska  Legal Services  in Anchorage,  Bethel, and  Fairbanks. He                                                               
emphasized the  urgent need to  address food  insecurity, sharing                                                               
that  many  Alaskans  are  struggling,  including  a  client  who                                                               
couldn't feed her daughters on  Christmas Eve due to delayed SNAP                                                               
payments. SB  149 would  help by  allowing beneficiaries  to save                                                               
and reducing  administrative burdens. He concluded  by expressing                                                               
his desire  to live in a  state that ensures everyone  has enough                                                               
to eat, supporting broad-based  categorical eligibility (BBCE) as                                                               
a vital step.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:25:52 PM                                                                                                                    
KEVIN KNOWLTON, Emergency  Preparedness Specialist, Kawerak Inc.,                                                               
Nome, Alaska,  testified in support  of SB 149. He  said Kawerak,                                                               
Inc.  represents 20  tribes in  the Bering  Straits region,  from                                                               
Shishmaref down  to Stebbins,  and supports  Senate Bill  149. He                                                               
emphasized that broad-based  categorical eligibility (BBCE) would                                                               
streamline  application processes  by combining  information from                                                               
different  programs  like  Medicaid  and SNAP,  saving  time  for                                                               
individuals and  departments. He  noted that  while one  in eight                                                               
families in  Alaska are  on SNAP,  the number  is much  higher in                                                               
western Alaska, where six or seven  out of eight families rely on                                                               
SNAP  because   there  are  no   alternatives  and   limited  job                                                               
opportunities.  Delayed  SNAP  benefits force  families  to  find                                                               
alternative resources,  often making them choose  between heating                                                               
their homes and buying food. He  urged support for SB 149 to help                                                               
resilient  Alaskans  who  face increasing  challenges  with  food                                                               
insecurity.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:30:31 PM                                                                                                                    
SUMMER SWEET,  Representative, Alaska Food  Coalition, Anchorage,                                                               
Alaska, testified in support of SB  149.  She said she also works                                                               
at  the University  of  Alaska Anchorage  as  a health  promotion                                                               
specialist,  focusing  on  health and  wellness,  including  food                                                               
insecurity and  lack of  basic needs.  Surveys at  the university                                                               
show that 43  to 45 percent of students face  food insecurity and                                                               
10  percent  face  homelessness.   The  campus  food  pantry  and                                                               
emergency  food  bags  provide  short-term  relief  but  rely  on                                                               
multiple   fund-raising  efforts   plus  donations,   which  will                                                               
eventually run  out. This situation  forces students  to consider                                                               
taking multiple  jobs or dropping out.  Many students, supporting                                                               
families or  working multiple jobs,  may not qualify for  SNAP or                                                               
other   assistance.  She   highlighted   the  struggles   younger                                                               
populations face  in meeting  basic needs  and the  importance of                                                               
support and education.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:33:28 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON closed public testimony on SB 149.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:33:52 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GIESSEL  expressed  thanks to  everyone  who  testified,                                                               
appreciating their  stories and the  data shared. She  noted that                                                               
the  testimonies highlighted  the  widespread  need for  support,                                                               
affecting  all Alaskans,  from seniors  to college  students. She                                                               
mentioned that the  fiscal note for SB 149 is  less than $300,000                                                               
a year  but will serve  a large population. She  also highlighted                                                               
that the  state is  already appropriating  $4.5 million  over the                                                               
next two  fiscal years  to address  SNAP issues,  suggesting that                                                               
implementing  broad-based  categorical eligibility  (BBCE)  could                                                               
save money  by ensuring food  security for everyone.  She thanked                                                               
the chairman and committee members for hearing the bill.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:35:12 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON held SB 149 in committee.                                                                                          

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
SB 149 Version A.pdf SHSS 2/13/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 149
SB149 Sponsor Statement Version A 2.2.24.pdf SFIN 4/22/2024 1:30:00 PM
SHSS 2/13/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 149
SB 149 Sectional Analysis version A 2.2.24.pdf SFIN 4/22/2024 1:30:00 PM
SHSS 2/13/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 149
SB 149 DOH FN DPA Quality Control.pdf SHSS 2/13/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 149
SB 149 DOH FN DPA PAFS.pdf SHSS 2/13/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 149
SB 149 Supporting Document - Alaska Food Coalition.pdf SFIN 4/22/2024 1:30:00 PM
SHSS 2/13/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 149
SB 149 Letters of Support as of 2.2.24_Redacted.pdf SHSS 2/13/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 149
SB 149 SHSS Presentation 2.12.24.pdf SHSS 2/13/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 149