00                             SENATE BILL NO. 90                                                                          
01 "An Act establishing the Office of Citizenship Assistance; and providing for an effective                               
02 date."                                                                                                                  
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1.  AS 24 is amended by adding a new chapter to read:                                                    
05                  Chapter 52.  Office of Citizenship Assistance.                                                       
06            Sec. 24.52.010.  Office created.  (a)  There is created in the legislative branch                          
07       the Office of Citizenship Assistance.                                                                             
08            (b)  The office shall                                                                                        
09                 (1)  provide information, including referrals to public and private                                     
10       resources, to persons in the state who have become naturalized citizens of the United                             
11       States or are about to become naturalized citizens of the United States;                                          
12                 (2)  act as a liaison, upon request, between a naturalized citizen and the                              
13       office of the ombudsman established under AS 24.55; and                                                           
14                 (3)  act as a liaison, upon request, between a naturalized citizen and the                              
01       State Commission for Human Rights established under AS 18.80.                                                     
02            (c)  The ombudsman appointed under AS 24.55 shall appoint a director for the                                 
03       office.  The director may contract with other persons to perform the duties of the                                
04       office.                                                                                                           
05            Sec. 24.52.020.  Persons eligible for services.  The following are eligible to                             
06       request information and referrals from the office:                                                                
07                 (1)  persons who live in the state who have become naturalized citizens                                 
08       of the United States; and                                                                                         
09                 (2)  persons who live in the state who are eligible for United States                                   
10       citizenship and who can demonstrate that they are actively in the process of becoming                             
11       naturalized citizens of the United States.                                                                        
12            Sec. 24.52.030.  Information available.  A person who is eligible for the                                  
13       assistance of the office under AS 24.52.020 may request information and referrals for                             
14       services, including information and services relevant to the following areas:                                     
15                 (1)  immigration services, including how to help the person's relatives                                 
16       or friends to obtain visas, to immigrate to the United States, or to become naturalized                           
17       citizens;                                                                                                         
18                 (2)  employment services, such as job placement services and                                            
19       information about how labor unions, administrative agencies, and court actions may be                             
20       used to deal with claims or charges of job discrimination, illegal termination of                                 
21       employment, sexual harassment, and unsafe working conditions;                                                     
22                 (3)  affordable legal services;                                                                         
23                 (4)  affordable medical care;                                                                           
24                 (5)  affordable housing;                                                                                
25                 (6)  education, including the availability of scholarships and loans;                                   
26                 (7)  credit counseling and disputes with credit card companies;                                         
27                 (8)  law enforcement.                                                                                   
28            Sec. 24.52.090.  Definition.  In this chapter, "office" means the Office of                                
29       Citizenship Assistance established under this chapter.                                                            
30    * Sec. 2.  AS 24.52.010, 24.52.020, 24.52.030, and 24.52.090 are repealed June 30, 2006.                           
31    * Sec. 3.  This Act takes effect July 1, 2001.