02/08/2024 01:30 PM Senate FINANCE

SENATE BILL NO. 170                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act  extending the  Alaska senior  benefits payment                                                                    
     program; and providing for an effective date."                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:26:42 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson MOVED to ADOPT the committee substitute for                                                                      
SB 170, Work Draft 33-LS1119\S (Bergerud, 2/6/24).                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
KEN ALPER, STAFF, SENATOR DONNY OLSON discussed the                                                                             
Explanation of Changes (copy on file):                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Change 1: Removes the sunset  provision from the Senior                                                                    
     Benefits program. This makes  the program permanent and                                                                    
     no     longer      needing     periodic     legislative                                                                    
     reauthorization.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Change  2:  Repeals  the still-existing  statutes  that                                                                    
     established  the  Longevity  Bonus program,  AS  47.45.                                                                    
     This  program  was  last funded  in  2002.  Also  makes                                                                    
     conforming  changes in  other  statutes that  reference                                                                    
     the longevity bonus.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson queried the effect on the senior elders who                                                                      
received the benefit in the past.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Alper replied that there was some history on the bill,                                                                      
and the legislature has not funded it for many years. There                                                                     
was zero practical implication.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:30:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  SCOTT KAWASAKI,  SPONSOR, gave  an overview  of the                                                                    
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Olson asked  about the  changes  in the  committee                                                                    
substitute.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator Kawasaki replied that the changes were appropriate.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:32:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR SHELLEY  HUGHES, SPONSOR, explained some  history of                                                                    
the bill.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson WITHDREW his OBJECTION.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson OPENED public testimony.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:34:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LESLEY  THOMPSON,  SELF, JUNEAU,  spoke  in  support of  the                                                                    
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson MOVED to REPORT  SB 170 out of committee with                                                                    
individual recommendations  and attached fiscal  note. There                                                                    
being NO OBJECTION it was so ordered.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CSSB 170  was REPORTED OUT  of committee with six  "do pass"                                                                    
recommendations,  and  with one  new  fiscal  note from  the                                                                    
Department of Health.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson acknowledged SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL.