1998-02-12                     Senate Journal                      Page 2498
SB 293                                                                       
SENATE BILL NO. 293 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                              
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                          
                                                                               
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.                                               
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the Health, Education and              
Social Services and Finance Committees.                                        
                                                                               
Zero fiscal note published today from Department of Health and                 
Social Services.                                                               

1998-02-12                     Senate Journal                      Page 2499
SB 293                                                                       
Governors transmittal letter dated February 10:                                
                                                                               
Dear President Miller:                                                         
                                                                               
In accepting the challenge of reforming Alaska's welfare system, the           
state must make every effort to build a successful public assistance           
program. This bill I transmit today continues Alaska's efforts to              
implement effective and responsible welfare reform, particularly in            
rural areas. This legislation takes advantage of a provision in federal        
welfare reform allowing regional non-profit Native corporations to             
develop and implement welfare programs. Not only would this                    
promote local responsibility for program success, it will better tie           
program assistance to local economic and social conditions. Under              
the bill, the Department of Health and Social Services may contract            
with regional Native organizations for operating family assistance             
plans.                                                                         
                                                                               
The federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity                       
Reconciliation Act of 1996, established that specifically named                
Alaska Native organizations could propose to operate tribal family             
assistance plans, independent of the state plan, to serve the native           
population within a specific geographical region. A state- and                 
federally-approved tribal family assistance plan will receive, directly        
from the federal government, a portion of Alaska's allocation of the           
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant funds to                   
provide public assistance to the families the plan serves. The federal         
funds, however, will only be about half of the funds that have                 
historically been appropriated to serve this purpose. This bill                
establishes standards by which the state will provide grants to these          
organizations to match the federal funds.                                      
                                                                               
The regional plans are expected to be custom designed to meet the              
economic conditions and needs of the area. Regional plans may                  
depart from some requirements of the state assistance program, as              
long as the plans contain specifically identified program elements.            
Additional provisions in the bill address record sharing and                   
confidentiality, data reporting and financial records, program                 
termination, and procedures for appeal.                                        
                                                                               

1998-02-12                     Senate Journal                      Page 2500
SB 293                                                                       
This bill will contribute to making our public assistance programs             
more effective by considering regional conditions in plan                      
developments. I urge your support of this bill.                                
                                                                               
	Sincerely,                                                               
						/s/                                                                      
	Tony Knowles                                                             
	Governor