SENATE COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE March 17, 1999 1:35 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Tim Kelly, Chair Senator Jerry Mackie, Vice Chair Senator Randy Phillips Senator Lyman Hoffman MEMBERS ABSENT Senator Jerry Ward COMMITTEE CALENDAR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 71(CRA) "An Act establishing Kawerak, Inc., as the regional housing authority for the area that includes the Seward Peninsula, Unalakleet, and St. Lawrence Island." -MOVED CSHB 71(CRA) OUT OF COMMITTEE SENATE BILL NO. 80 "An Act relating to contracts for the provision of state public assistance to certain recipients in the state; providing for regional public assistance plans and programs in the state; relating to grants for Alaska tribal family assistance programs; and providing for an effective date." -MOVED CSSB 80(CRA) OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION CSHB 71(CRA) - No previous Senate action. SB 80 - See Community and Regional Affairs minutes dated 3/8/99. WITNESS REGISTER Larry LaBolle, Legislative Aide Office of Representative Foster Alaska State Capitol Juneau, AK 99801-1182 POSITION STATEMENT: Testified for the sponsor of CSHB 71(CRA) Mike Walleri Tanana Chiefs Conference 2518 Riverview Drive Fairbanks, AK 99709 POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of a proposed amendment to CSSB 80(CRA). ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 99-5, SIDE A Number 001 CHAIRMAN TIM KELLY called the Senate Community & Regional Affairs Committee meeting to order at 1:35 p.m. Senators Phillips, Hoffman and Chairman Kelly were present. The first order of business was CSHB 71(CRA). HB 71-KAWERAK INC AS REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY CHAIRMAN KELLY asked about the Bering Straits Native Association. LARRY LABOLLE, staff to Representative Foster, prime sponsor of HB 71, explained the Bering Straits Native Association was assumed by Kawerak, Inc. when Kawerak was created. Kawerak requested HB 71 because to appoint a member to the Housing Authority, Kawerak members must recess their meeting, reconvene as the Bering Straits Native Association, and make the appointment. CHAIRMAN KELLY announced CSHB 71(CRA) has a zero fiscal note. SENATOR HOFFMAN moved to pass CSHB 71(CRA) from committee. There being no objection, the motion carried. SB 80-PUB.ASSISTANCE:PROGRAMS/GRANTS/CONTRACTS CHAIRMAN KELLY announced a proposed committee substitute was before the committee. SENATOR MACKIE moved to adopt CSSB 80(CRA). There being no objection, it was so ordered. SENATOR HOFFMAN moved to adopt an amendment, to be explained by Mike Walleri. CHAIRMAN KELLY objected for the purpose of an explanation. Number 051 MIKE WALLERI, Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC), stated TCC's main concern is to assure that people who receive benefits from a tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program also be eligible to receive benefits from unrelated State-funded programs, such as Medicaid and food stamps. The amendment clarifies that certain state services will be available to eligigle TANF clients since those services are not funded with TANF dollars. SENATOR PHILLIPS asked Mr. Walleri to provide an example. MR. WALLERI explained some clients are not eligible for TANF cash benefits but are eligible for Medicaid. Other clients are eligible for food stamps but are not eligible for TANF cash payments. Those clients were determined to be ineligible to receive food stamps because they were not eligible for the TANF cash payments. TCC was advised by the Administration that the denial of state program services was an unintended problem. The committee took a brief at-ease. CHAIRMAN KELLY maintained his objection to the amendment on the basis that it might be too broad as written. He noted a clearer amendment could be adopted in another committee or on the floor. SENATOR HOFFMAN withdrew his motion to adopt the amendment. SENATOR MACKIE moved CSSB 80(CRA) from committee with individual recommendations. There being no objection, it was so ordered. There being no further business to come before the committee, CHAIRMAN KELLY adjourned the meeting at 1:47 p.m.