02/07/2018 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB170 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 170 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
February 7, 2018
1:33 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator David Wilson, Chair
Senator Natasha von Imhof, Vice Chair
Senator Cathy Giessel
Senator Peter Micciche
Senator Tom Begich
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 170
"An Act extending the Alaska senior benefits payment program."
- MOVED SB 170 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 170
SHORT TITLE: EXTEND: SENIOR BENEFITS PAYMENT PROGRAM
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) KELLY
01/31/18 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/31/18 (S) HSS, FIN
02/07/18 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
SENATOR PETE KELLY
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 170.
HEATHER CARPENTER, Staff
Senator Pete Kelly
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SB 170 on behalf of the sponsor.
MONICA WINDOM, Director
Division of Public Assistance
Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information on SB 170.
GORDON GLASER, Commissioner
Alaska Commission on Aging
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 170.
JEANETTE GRASTO, representing self
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 170.
KEN HELANDER, Advocacy Director
AARP Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 170.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:33:42 PM
CHAIR DAVID WILSON called the Senate Health and Social Services
Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:33 p.m. Present at the
call to order were Senators Giessel, von Imhoff, Begich,
Micciche, and Chair Wilson.
SB 170-EXTEND: SENIOR BENEFITS PAYMENT PROGRAM
1:34:08 PM
CHAIR WILSON announced the consideration of SB 170.
1:34:22 PM
SENATOR PETE KELLY, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of SB 170,
explained that the senior benefit program is a tiered, cash
benefit payment for people 65 and older (11,400 senior citizens
receive payments). SB 170 will extend the program, which expires
this summer, to 2023. The bill has been through many
subcommittees. It has been vetted, it is a good program, and
many people support it.
He called the committee's attention to the Senior Benefits
Program Information and Fact Sheet in their packets.
SENATOR MICCICHE asked if this will be the same benefit that was
paid out in 2018.
1:36:59 PM
HEATHER CARPENTER, Staff, Senator Pete Kelly, Alaska State
Legislature, presented SB 170 on behalf of the sponsor. She said
it is the same benefit. The bill left the tiers as is in
statute. They technically are at a higher tier level [than the
current benefit amounts]. That gives the legislature the
flexibility to change the tiers by appropriation. The tiers were
changed in 2016 because of the budget crisis. The highest income
tier, which is the lowest benefit, was lowered from $125 to $76
a month.
SENATOR MICCICHE said, to clarify, the payment would remain at
$76.
MS. CARPENTER responded yes.
SENATOR MICCICHE said it is the wrong time to allow senior
benefits to lapse. The Senate majority has focused on seniors
and those who have developmental challenges. This bill is in the
spirit of how the legislature prioritizes support.
SENATOR BEGICH asked about the New Payment Level for Top Income
Tier on page 2 of the fiscal note that shows a decrease over
time.
1:39:09 PM
MONICA WINDOM, Director, Division of Public Assistance,
Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), provided
information on SB 170. She said the top tier level in regulation
is $125 a month. The regulation was changed to handle reductions
in allocations. If not enough money is allocated, the top income
tier will be reduced, if necessary. If the allocation was low
enough to reduce the top tier distribution to zero, the next
income tier would be reduced.
SENATOR BEGICH said then the fiscal note does not show a
reduction.
MS. WINDOM said the fiscal note shows a reduction in the payment
level over time. On average, the number of recipients increases
by about two percent a year. If the funding level remains the
same, the top tier receives less money as time goes on and more
people receive payments.
SENATOR BEGICH said then the top tier will actually go down over
time.
MS. WINDOM said correct.
SENATOR BEGICH said he hopes the legislature will find a way to
hold that harmless over time, but he did not want to do anything
to prevent the bill moving forward.
1:41:10 PM
CHAIR WILSON opened public testimony.
1:41:24 PM
GORDON GLASER, Commissioner, Alaska Commission on Aging,
supported SB 170. He said the program is a way to keep people in
the community rather than needing institutionalization. For many
people $76 a month is not a lot of money, but for people right
on the margins of paying for prescriptions, rent, or
transportation, it is of critical importance. It keeps people
independent. The commission and Alaska Geriatric Exchange
Network (AgeNet), as well as the Anchorage Senior Activity
Center, are unanimous in support of this. It is a program that
reaches rural and urban areas. It keeps people independent with
a shred of dignity.
1:43:26 PM
JEANETTE GRASTO, representing self, supported SB 170. She said
before she recently retired as the hospital's Lifeline
coordinator, she saw first-hand how many seniors live at or
below poverty. This program makes such a difference in their
lives in helping them to pay for medicine, transportation, food,
and medical costs. People at poverty cannot afford these things.
This program helps keeps them independent longer.
1:45:06 PM}
KEN HELANDER, Advocacy Director, AARP Alaska, supported SB 170.
He said the Senior Benefits Program is one of the most important
in keeping seniors independent. In the 1980s, he spent about 15
years working for senior services for the Anchorage Community
Mental Health Center. He made many home visits with people
struggling to make it day to day. In those days people were
grateful for the Alaska longevity bonus. Now the senior benefits
program is means tested based on federal poverty levels. The
program and eligibility changes, but people are in the same
situation. He related a story about the anxiety of older man who
called AARP when an announcement was made that some senior
benefits were going to be reduced. The man used his car to take
his struggling neighbors to food banks. From this man's story he
heard what it takes to remain independent when older, disabled,
or infirm and how determined these older Alaskans are to do
that. The Senior Benefits Program serves more than 11,000 for a
relative drop in the bucket of the state's budget.
1:48:42 PM
CHAIR WILSON closed public testimony.
SENATOR MICCICHE said he did not mobilize the gray army in his
community, but if he had, there would not be enough time for all
the public testimony.
1:49:32 PM
CHAIR WILSON said Mat-Su also had a healthy senior advocacy
group. This is an important issue for a vulnerable population.
The state should do due diligence to help the folks who built
Alaska.
1:50:17 PM
CHAIR WILSON asked for the will of the body.
1:50:24 PM
SENATOR VON IMHOF moved to report SB 170 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).
1:50:34 PM
CHAIR WILSON announced that without objection, SB 170 is moved
from the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee,
with the understanding that Legislative Legal is authorized to
make any necessary technical and/or conforming adjustments.
1:50:46 PM
At ease.
1:52:16 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Wilson adjourned the Senate Health and Social Services
Standing Committee at 1:52 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 170 Ver A.PDF |
SHSS 2/7/2018 1:30:00 PM |
SB 170 |
| SB 170 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SHSS 2/7/2018 1:30:00 PM |
SB 170 |
| SB 170 Sectional analysis.pdf |
SHSS 2/7/2018 1:30:00 PM |
SB 170 |
| SB 170 Fiscal Note - DHSS DPA.PDF |
SHSS 2/7/2018 1:30:00 PM |
SB 170 |
| SB 170 Supporting Document - ACoA Letter.pdf |
SHSS 2/7/2018 1:30:00 PM |
SB 170 |
| SB 170 Supporting Document - SBP Fact Sheet.pdf |
SHSS 2/7/2018 1:30:00 PM |
SB 170 |