1997-02-24                     Senate Journal                      Page 0470
SB 102                                                                       
SENATE BILL NO. 102 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                              
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                          
                                                                               
An Act relating to the eligibility of aliens for state                        
public assistance and medical assistance programs                              
affected by federal welfare reform legislation; and                            
providing for an effective date.                                               

1997-02-24                     Senate Journal                      Page 0471
SB 102                                                                       
was read the first time and referred to the Health, Education and              
Social Services, Judiciary and Finance Committees.                             
                                                                               
Fiscal notes published today from Department of Health and Social              
Services (3).  Zero fiscal notes published today from Department of            
Health and Social Services (2).                                                
                                                                               
Governors transmittal letter dated February 24:                                
                                                                               
Dear President Miller:                                                         
                                                                               
Federal welfare reform enacted in August 1996 limited the eligibility          
of certain legal immigrants for public and medical assistance benefits         
and left it up to the states whether to continue that coverage.  With          
this bill, I am asking Alaska to assure those qualified immigrants in          
need, who were here before the change in federal law, can continue             
to receive benefits.  Those arriving after the change in law would be          
subject to the new restrictions.                                               
                                                                               
The state welfare reform bill enacted in Alaska in 1996 did not                
address the eligibility of immigrants.  This bill establishes that             
Medicaid, family assistance, and adult public assistance benefits will         
be available to "qualified aliens" and that for aliens who entered the         
United States on or after August22,1996, these benefits will not be            
available for the first five years after establishing qualified alien          
status in the United States.                                                   
                                                                               
This legislation strikes an appropriate balance in services for legal          
immigrants.  By continuing to provide services to those who were               
in the country before the new federal welfare law was enacted, the             
state is acknowledging its responsibility to provide safety net                
programs for those Alaskans who need basic services and who                    
originally entered this country under conditions that would grant              
them these services.  However, those immigrants coming into the                
country after August 1996 will be aware they are subject to new                
rules and their access to services will be restricted.                         
                                                                               
						Sincerely,                                                               
						/s/                                                                      
						Tony Knowles                                                             
						Governor