2023-02-06                     Senate Journal                      Page 0175
SB 57                                                                                                                         
SENATE BILL NO. 57 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                                                
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
          "An Act relating to medical assistance for recipients                                                                 
          of Medicaid waivers; establishing an adult care home                                                                  
          license and procedures; providing for the transition of                                                               
          individuals from foster care to adult home care                                                                       
          settings; and providing for an effective date."                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Health and Social Services                                                          
and Finance Committees.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal information was published today:                                                                           
     Fiscal Note No. 1, Department of Health                                                                                    
 Fiscal Note No. 2, Department of Health                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated February 2:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Stevens:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill to allow individuals to be                                                               
licensed to operate an adult care home and receive payment under                                                                
Medicaid for the provision of assisted living services for elderly adults                                                       
and adult foster children in a home-like environment.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under this bill, an adult care home would be limited to a non-business                                                          
site where the head of household lives and provides 24-hour care for                                                            
no more than two individuals. The Department of Health (DOH)                                                                    
would be able to adopt regulations that allow for care of up to three                                                           
individuals based on certain circumstances.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The bill would authorize DOH to pay for services under the state’s                                                              
Medicaid program associated with a licensed adult care home. DOH                                                                
would also be authorized to license and develop rules for the operation                                                         
of an adult care home.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                

2023-02-06                     Senate Journal                      Page 0176
This bill will allow Alaskans to continue to care for family members in                                                         
their homes while providing access to financial support to offset the                                                           
cost of the care. This bill will encourage foster families to remain                                                            
together when special needs recipients age out of foster care and desire                                                        
to remain with their foster family.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor