SENATE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE                                
                          May 8, 1997                                          
                           4:52 p.m.                                           
                                                                               
                                                                               
  MEMBERS PRESENT                                                              
                                                                               
 Senator Lyda Green, Chairman                                                  
 Senator Jerry Ward, Vice-Chairman                                             
 Senator Jerry Mackie                                                          
                                                                               
  MEMBERS ABSENT                                                               
                                                                               
 Senator Mike Miller                                                           
 Senator Jim Duncan                                                            
                                                                               
  COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                           
                                                                               
 HOUSE BILL NO. 241 am                                                         
 "An Act relating to payment assistance for costs of residing in the           
 Alaska Pioneers' Home, and providing that certain income and assets           
 of a resident shall be disregarded in determining payment                     
 assistance, including income from any source in an amount equal to            
 at least $100, cash dividends and other income equal to at least              
 $2,000 received under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, a              
 permanent fund dividend, an amount for burial expenses of the                 
 resident, the resident's spouse and dependents of the resident, the           
 primary residence of the resident's spouse or a dependent of the              
 resident, and other property equal to at least a total value of               
 $5,000; and providing for an effective date."                                 
                                                                               
  -- STATE AFFAIRS SCS ADOPTED & MOVED OUT OF COMMITTEE                        
                                                                               
 SENATE BILL NO. 183                                                           
 "An Act relating to voter qualification, disqualification, and                
 registration; to voter registration officials; to election notices;           
 to mail elections; to certain voting procedures; to the                       
 transportation of ballots; and to the official election pamphlet              
 and certain immunity from liability regarding claims arising from             
 publication of the official election pamphlet."                               
                                                                               
  -- SB 183 WAS REMOVED FROM THE COMMITTEE AGENDA THIS DATE.                   
                                                                               
 SENATE BILL NO. 185                                                           
 "An Act relating to the maintenance of voter lists and to the                 
 inactivation and cancellation of voter registration; and providing            
 for an effective date."                                                       
                                                                               
  -- SB 185 WAS REMOVED FROM THE COMMITTEE AGENDA THIS DATE.                   
                                                                               
  PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION                                             
                                                                               
  HB 241 - No previous action to record.                                       
                                                                               
    ACTION NARRATIVE                                                           
 TAPE 97-27, SIDE A                                                            
 Number 001                                                                    
                                                                               
       HB 241 am PAYMENT OF COSTS ALASKA PIONEERS' HOME                      
                                                                               
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN GREEN  called the Senate State Affairs Committee to order           
 at 4:52 p.m.  She brought HB 241 before the committee as the only             
 order of business, and directed attention to a proposed amendment             
 for consideration.                                                            
                                                                               
  SENATOR WARD  moved adoption of the following amendment to HB 241:           
                                                                               
 Amendment No. 1                                                             
                                                                               
 Page 1, line 9, following "$5,000;" insert: "relating to claims               
 against the estate of a beneficiary of the Pioneers' Homes                    
 program;"                                                                     
                                                                               
 Page 3, following line 1, insert a new bill section to read:                  
  "*Sec. 1.  AS 47.55 is amended by adding a new section to                    
 read:                                                                         
   Sec. 47.55.095.  Limitation on enforcement of claims                        
 against estate.  Notwithstanding AS 47.55.080 and AS 47.55.090,               
 upon the death of a Pioneers' Home resident or of a recipient of              
 day care or respite services, a state claim for unpaid debt owed to           
 the Pioneers" Homes may be satisfied only out of the decedent's               
 estate.  The state may not pursue a claim to the extent doing so              
 would work undue hardship, as determined by regulation of the                 
 Department of Administration, on the surviving spouse of dependent            
 of the decedent.  Family portraits and heirlooms of the type                  
 identified under AS 09.38.020(a)(3), without regard to value, amy             
 not be taken by the state in satisfaction of a debt to the                    
 Pioneers' Home."                                                              
                                                                               
 Renumber the following section accordingly.                                   
                                                                               
 Hearing no objection to the adoption of Amendment No. 1,  CHAIRMAN            
 GREEN  stated the amendment was adopted and would be incorporated             
 into a State Affairs SCS.                                                     
                                                                               
 Number 034                                                                    
                                                                               
  SENATOR MACKIE  commented that it was his understanding that this            
 amendment would address a concern Senator Sharp had with the                  
 legislation.   CHAIRMAN GREEN  acknowledged that was correct, and             
 then asked for the pleasure of the committee.                                 
                                                                               
  SENATOR MACKIE  moved SCS HB 241(STA) be passed out of committee             
 with individual recommendations.  Hearing no objection, it was so             
 ordered.                                                                      
                                                                               
 There being no further business to come before the committee,                 
  CHAIRMAN GREEN  adjourned the meeting at 4:54 p.m.