04/15/2021 03:00 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

        HB 168-ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FOR STATE BENEFITS                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
 3:12:24 PM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
 CO-CHAIR SNYDER announced that the first order of business would                                                               
 be HOUSE BILL NO. 168, "An Act requiring the Department of                                                                     
Health and Social Services to  provide and allow submission of an                                                               
electronic application for certain  state benefits; and providing                                                               
for an effective date."                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:13:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY asked Co-Chair  Snyder whether it would be                                                               
appropriate to  make some  changes to the  language in  the bill,                                                               
particularly in the  usage of words like "needy"  and "food stamp                                                               
program."   He  shared his  understanding that  these terms  have                                                               
been changed  in federal guidelines,  and asked whether  the same                                                               
changes should be made in HB 168.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SNYDER  replied that her  office spoke  with Legislative                                                               
Legal Services and put in an  initial request to change the terms                                                               
"needy" and  "food stamps"  but explained  that she  was informed                                                               
that  making  those  changes within  HB  168  specifically  would                                                               
create inconsistencies in legislative  language.  She shared that                                                               
the  recommendation was  for that  to  be pursued  in a  separate                                                               
piece of  legislation.   She said  she would  be happy  to pursue                                                               
that and that it is a worthy avenue.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:14:57 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  SNYDER  opened  public  testimony on  HB  168.    After                                                               
ascertaining that  there was  no one who  wished to  testify, she                                                               
closed public testimony.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:15:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  ZULKOSKY  commented  that  she  believes  the  proposed                                                               
legislation will  save the state money,  and that it is  a timely                                                               
piece of  legislation.  She  noted that Representative  Kurka had                                                               
mentioned that many Alaskans are  applying for the permanent fund                                                               
dividend  (PFD)   online,  and   there  are   likely  a   lot  of                                                               
similarities  about Alaskans  being able  to apply  for necessary                                                               
supports  online.    This  provides  a  greater  opportunity  for                                                               
access, she opined, and she stated that she supports HB 168.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:16:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR ZULKOSKY  REPRESENTATIV moved  to report  HB 168  out of                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations and  the accompanying                                                               
fiscal  notes.   There being  no objection,  HB 168  was reported                                                               
from the House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.