05/02/1996 02:00 PM House FIN

  SENATE BILL 98                                                               
                                                                               
       "An Act making changes  related to the aid to  families                 
       with dependent children  program, the Medicaid program,                 
       the general  relief assistance program,  and the  adult                 
       public assistance program; directing the Department  of                 
       Health  and  Social Services  to  apply to  the federal                 
       government for waivers  to implement the changes  where                 
       necessary; relating  to eligibility for  permanent fund                 
       dividends  of  certain  individuals who  receive  state                 
       assistance, to  notice requirements  applicable to  the                 
       dividend program; and providing for an effective date."                 
                                                                               
  LAUREE  HUGONIN,  EXECUTIVE  DIRECTOR,   ALASKA  NETWORK  ON                 
  DOMESTIC  VIOLENCE  AND SEXUAL  ASSAULT, JUNEAU,  stated, in                 
  reviewing  the   proposed  legislation,  she   requested  to                 
  comment.  The  first concern was  the benefit reductions  in                 
  the months of July,  August and September.  She  pointed out                 
  that in those  months, people needed to take off  work to do                 
  their subsistence  activities, recommending that the  cap be                 
  removed.                                                                     
                                                                               
  The largest concern  for the  Network was  with the  benefit                 
  time limits.   Of particular  concern is the  10% "hardship"                 
  criteria.   Ms.  Hugonin  continued,  an additional  concern                 
  would  be  the  provision  which  requires  participants  to                 
  perform unsubsidized work in order to receive benefits.                      
                                                                               
  Representative Brown requested further information regarding                 
  the facts submitted  by Ms. Hugonin and the 10%  limit.  Ms.                 
  Hugonin  responded that victims  of domestic  violence often                 
  have  to  leave  whatever economic  resources  they  have to                 
                                                                               
                                5                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
  escape  the  violence.   Often  they have  to go  on  Aid to                 
  Families  with Dependent Children  (AFDC) to receive initial                 
  assistance while  trying to disentangle themselves  from the                 
  violence.  They could need more than 24 months within a five                 
  year period.                                                                 
                                                                               
  CATHERINE  MASSA,  (TESTIFIED VIA  TELECONFERENCE), STUDENT,                 
  UNIVERSITY  OF ALASKA, ANCHORAGE, spoke in  support of SB 98                 
  used in addition  to the Governor's FY97  proposed operating                 
  budget.                                                                      
                                                                               
  LOUISE  CHARLES,  JOBS  PROGRAM COORDINATOR,  TANANA  CHIEFS                 
  CONFERENCE, INC., FAIRBANKS,  provided the Committee  with a                 
  letter written by Ed Singler, Deputy Regional Administrator,                 
  Tanana Chiefs Conference, Fairbanks.  [Copy on file].                        
                                                                               
  She emphasized how effectively the  JOBS program was working                 
  for those people trying to get off AFDC.  She suggested that                 
  if wages were  reduced during summer months,  the reductions                 
  should  be  reinvested  for  those  families  to  help  them                 
  throughout the remainder of the year to "get off" AFDC.                      
                                                                               
  SB 98 was HELD in Committee for further consideration.