03/12/1998 01:50 PM House FIN

HOUSE BILL NO. 325                                                             
                                                                               
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and                            
loan program expenses of state government, for certain                         
programs, and to capitalize funds; making                                      
appropriations under art. IX, sec. 17(c), Constitution                         
of the State of Alaska, from the constitutional budget                         
reserve fund; and providing for an effective date."                            
                                                                               
RESULTS BASED GOVERNMENT - PROGRAM REVIEW                                      
ALASKA TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ATAP)                                     
                                                                               
JIM NORDLAND, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH,                             
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, noted that the                       
Department had reworked the performance measures discussed                     
at a previous Committee work session.  The Department                          
discovered that many of the measures could be consolidated                     
to those indicated on the handout.  [Copy on File].  Mr.                       
Nordland stated that the Division supports all the                             
performance measures except #3, "ATAP cases closed due to                      
earnings without child support".                                               
                                                                               
VAL HORNER, PROGRAM OFICIER, QUALITY ASSESSMENT, DIVISION                      
OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL                          
SERVICES, recommended that item #3 was a direct measurement                    
of the Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) activities.                     
She suggested that it was an interim measure to insure that                    
Public Assistance was partnering up with CSEA, however,                        
would not directly measure performance activities within                       
the ATAP program.                                                              
                                                                               
Co-Chair Hanley responded that the addition of that                            
language resulted from a concern of Representative Martin's                    
as indication of an overall caseload decline.  Ms. Horner                      
replied that regardless of the activities established by                       
ATAP, all referrals go to CSEA for collection.  The                            
Division has no direct role in what is collected.  Co-Chair                    
Hanley suggested that it would indicate the caseload                           
percentage decreased because of child support.                                 
                                                                               
Mr. Nordlund agreed that the information was important for                     
ATAP to have access to, but to suggest that the Division                       
has effect over that information is questionable.  Ms.                         
Horner strongly disagreed with tying it to ATAP's budget                       
when measuring success.                                                        
                                                                               
Representative J. Davies stipulated for the record that the                    
Division of Public Assistance does not carry the entire                        
responsibility but instead must work with CSEA.                                
Representative J. Davies MOVED to adopt the proposed ATAP                      
mission statement including the above-mentioned                                
stipulation.  There being NO OBJECTION, it was adopted.                        
                                                                               
HB 325 was HELD in Committee for further consideration.