1996-01-08                     House Journal                      Page 2377
HB 400                                                                       
The Governors transmittal letter, dated January 8, 1996, appears               
below:                                                                         
                                                                               
Dear Speaker Phillips:                                                         
                                                                               
Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am     
transmitting a bill designed to reform our welfare system, move more           
Alaskans into jobs, and save the state millions of dollars over the next       
five years.                                                                    
                                                                               
                                                                               
The bill establishes the Alaska Family Independence Program while              
repealing the former Aid to Families with Dependent Children and Job           
Opportunity and Basic Skills programs.  This plan stresses job training        
and child-care funding, but also sets a five-year limit on public              
assistance benefits and orders most welfare recipients into work or            
training programs within two years.                                            
                                                                               
                                                                               
Last years welfare reform measure that I vetoed was tough on                   
children.  Its provisions would have barred a child whose parents use          
the program from ever receiving help again in his or her lifetime.  This       
bill orders tough work requirements while protecting Alaskas children.         
                                                                               
                                                                               
Last year, I submitted a welfare reform bill that directed the                 
Department of Health and Social Services to seek approval from the             
federal government to operate waiver programs as demonstration                 
projects. This bill builds on my previous proposal and the proposal            
unanimously adopted by the House.  It also incorporates the publics            
observations as expressed in extensive public hearings conducted over          
the summer. All of the changes I propose will continue to focus on             
reshaping our public assistance programs to help families achieve              
economic independence.                                                         
                                                                               
                                                                               
This bill contains four major elements:  1) establishes a new family           
independence program that is designed to move families from                    
dependency to self-sufficiency by providing temporary assistance and           
job-related services; 2) establishes a grandparent support obligation