Legislature(2023 - 2024)ADAMS 519

05/13/2024 10:00 AM House FINANCE

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
-- Recessed to 5/14/24 at 9 AM --
+= HB 400 CORRESPONDENCE STUDY PROGRAMS; ALLOTMENTS TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSHB 400(FIN) Out of Committee
+ SB 205 AHFC AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE BUILDING TELECONFERENCED
Moved SB 205 AM Out of Committee
-- Public Testimony --
+= SB 170 EXTND SR BENEFITS; REPEAL LONGEVITY BONUS TELECONFERENCED
Moved HCS CSSB 170(FIN) Out of Committee
-- Public Testimony --
+ SB 151 MISSING/MURDERED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE;REPORT TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
-- Public Testimony --
+ SB 259 COMPENSATION FOR CERTAIN STATE EMPLOYEES TELECONFERENCED
Moved HCS CSSB 259(FIN) Out of Committee
-- Public Testimony --
+ SB 183 WORKERS' COMP BENEFITS GUARANTY FUND TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
-- Public Testimony --
+= SB 34 CITIZEN ADVISORY COMM ON FEDERAL AREAS TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
+= SB 29 CIVICS EDUCATION TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
+= HB 275 SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAMINATION KITS/TRACKING TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
+= SB 99 FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAM IN SCHOOLS TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
+= HB 149 NURSING: LICENSURE; MULTISTATE COMPACT TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
+= HB 159 REGISTER INTERIOR DESIGNERS TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
+= HB 196 FOOD STAMP PROGRAM ELIGIBILTY TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
+ SB 24 PUBLIC SCHOOLS: MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
-- Public Testimony --
+ SB 12 ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY PROGRAM TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
-- Public Testimony --
+ SB 204 CERT. OF FITNESS: PLUMBERS/ELECTRICIANS TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
-- Public Testimony --
+= HB 259 COUNCIL ON HUMAN AND SEX TRAFFICKING TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
+= HB 174 STATE FUND FIDUC DUTY:SOCIAL/POL INTEREST TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
+= HB 190 ALASKA SUNSET COMMISSION TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
+ HB 397 ELIMINATE VACANT STATE POSITIONS TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
-- Public Testimony --
+ HB 396 DNR BIG GAME GUIDE PERMIT PROGRAM TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
-- Public Testimony --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 170(FIN)                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to the Alaska longevity bonus program                                                                     
     and the Alaska senior benefits payment program; and                                                                        
     providing for an effective date."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
10:27:42 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster noted  the bill  had  been heard  previously                                                                   
[April 12, 2024].                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  SCOTT  KAWASAKI,  SPONSOR,  reviewed  the  bill.  He                                                                   
recapped  that  SB  170  would  extend  the  Senior  Benefits                                                                   
Program indefinitely.  The program aids over  10,000 Alaskans                                                                   
aged 65  and older with incomes  at 75, 100, and  175 percent                                                                   
of the federal  poverty level. The assistance  can range from                                                                   
$76.00  to   $250.00  a  month   for  eligible   seniors.  He                                                                   
mentioned how many  seniors benefitted in various  regions of                                                                   
the  state. He  noted  that the  program  had historical  and                                                                   
current bipartisan support.                                                                                                     
Co-Chair Foster OPENED public testimony.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
10:30:12 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster requested a review of the fiscal notes.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
COURTNEY   ENRIGHT,   LEGISLATIVE  LIAISON,   DEPARTMENT   OF                                                                   
HEALTH. She  discussed the  fiscal notes.  She turned  to the                                                                   
Department of Health  (DOH) (FN1 (DOH) fiscal  note allocated                                                                   
to  the Senior  Benefits  Payment  Program dated  January  1,                                                                   
2024.  The projected  total  senior benefit  expenditure  for                                                                   
the next fiscal  year was $23,542.3 million  and increased by                                                                   
one percent in the outyears.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
10:31:05 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster moved to amendments.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 1:                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, following line 5:                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
          Insert a new bill section to read:                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
          "*  Sec.  4.  Section  4,  ch. 1,  FSSLA  2007,  as                                                                   
          amended  by sec. 5,  ch. 6, SLA  2011, sec.  1, ch.                                                                   
          113,  SLA 2014,  and sec.  1, ch.  8, SLA 2018,  is                                                                   
          amended to read:                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
          Sec. 4. AS 09.38.015(a)(11); AS 47.45.301,                                                                            
          47.45.302, 47.45.304, 47.45.306, 47.45.308, and                                                                       
          47.45.309 are repealed June 30, 2029 [2024]."                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
          Renumber the following bill sections accordingly.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
          Page 2, lines 10 - 11:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
          Delete all material.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
          Renumber the following bill section accordingly.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative Josephson OBJECTED.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Stapp discussed  the amendment. He  explained                                                                   
that the  amendment added  a sunset  provision back  into the                                                                   
bill.  The  payments  were  in fixed  amounts  and  a  future                                                                   
legislature might  want to revisit  the issue due  to factors                                                                   
like inflation or to make changes to the program.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Josephson asked why  he selected some  of the                                                                   
date  references  and  not  others.  He  asked  for  clarity.                                                                   
Representative Stapp  explained it was how  Legislative Legal                                                                   
drafted  the  amendment.   He  assumed  it  applied   to  the                                                                   
entirety of the bill.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative Josephson  asked for the sponsor's  opinion of                                                                   
the  amendment. Senator  Kawasaki  replied  that the  current                                                                   
legislation  had been  in effect  and  unchanged since  2007.                                                                   
The  fiscal note  reflected  increments  in the  outyears  to                                                                   
allow  a  larger  number  of  seniors  coverage.  The  Senate                                                                   
Finance Committee  eliminated the sunset date  via amendment.                                                                   
He thought  that whether to add  it back was  the committee's                                                                   
decision.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative Hannan  cited Senator Kawasaki  statement that                                                                   
the current  program was unchanged  since 2007.  She wondered                                                                   
if  the payouts  had  not changed  or  just the  eligibility.                                                                   
Senator Kawasaki  answered that  the program had  not changed                                                                   
since  2007, but  the income  limits  were adjusted  annually                                                                   
through  regulation.  Representative  Hannan  reiterated  her                                                                   
question  regarding  the monthly  payouts.  Senator  Kawasaki                                                                   
replied  that it  depended on  the number  of enrollees,  but                                                                   
the underlying  bill and  regulations  had not changed  since                                                                   
2007.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
GRIFFEN SUKKAEW,  STAFF, SENATOR  SCOTT KAWASAKI,  added that                                                                   
the    payout   levels    were    subject   to    legislative                                                                   
appropriation.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
10:36:10 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Ortiz asked  if the current  sunset  date was                                                                   
the  first  time   there  had  been  one.   Senator  Kawasaki                                                                   
answered  that there  had been  sunsets  since the  program's                                                                   
inception  in the  1970s.  He  deferred to  the  will of  the                                                                   
committee regarding the amendment.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Coulombe   asked  why  Representative   Stapp                                                                   
chose 2029. Representative  Stapp answered that  the date did                                                                   
not  matter to  him. He  considered the  high inflation  rate                                                                   
over  the prior  3  years  and chose  a  5 year  sunset.  The                                                                   
program  had always  had a sunset  date. He  did not  believe                                                                   
the legislature  would reconsider a program due  to inflation                                                                   
if a  sunset was  not included  in the  program. The  current                                                                   
fixed  amounts in  the bill might  want to  be readjusted  in                                                                   
the future.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
10:38:34 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Edgmon  thought  there  was an  adjustment  due  to                                                                   
regulation  and  changing  federal   poverty  guidelines.  He                                                                   
deduced that it would be adjusted  over time moving forward.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Ortiz  asked what  action  was  taken in  the                                                                   
prior  committee. Senator  Kawasaki replied  that the  Senate                                                                   
Finance  Committee  had  removed the  sunset  completely.  He                                                                   
delineated  that  there was  a  2  percent escalator  in  the                                                                   
fiscal  note  and  the  historical  2  percent  increase  was                                                                   
already in statute.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Galvin   understood   that  there   may   be                                                                   
fluctuation  in terms  of  percentages  of household  income,                                                                   
but  the amount  of  the payout  was  not  changing over  the                                                                   
years. Senator Kawasaki  pointed to a fact  sheet document in                                                                   
members  files ["Senior  Benefits Program  - Information  and                                                                   
Fact Sheet"  updated January 2024,  DOH] (copy on  file) that                                                                   
showed  examples of  the payout  changing due  to changes  in                                                                   
the federal  poverty guidelines. In  addition, on page  3 the                                                                   
total  number  of  recipients   had  changed  over  time  and                                                                   
actually  decreased  in 2022.  He  felt that  the  underlying                                                                   
policy  was  that senior  benefits  remained  available  when                                                                   
seniors needed them.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
10:41:35 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Galvin  strongly  supported the  program  and                                                                   
bill. She  wanted to understand  the reason for  the proposed                                                                   
amendment. She wondered  whether it was warranted  to examine                                                                   
the issue  again in  five years to  determine if  the monthly                                                                   
payment  amount was  sufficient  or if  it  needed an  upward                                                                   
adjustment.  She wanted  to understand  the mechanism  of the                                                                   
program and  how the payout  was calculated. She  wondered if                                                                   
the  payout  was something  that  the  legislature  adjusted.                                                                   
Senator  Kawasaki  stated  the   program  was  in  place  and                                                                   
budgeted  annually   based  on   prior  annual   numbers.  He                                                                   
believed that the adjustments were already built in.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
10:42:55 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp  provided wrap up for the  amendment. He                                                                   
cited the sponsor  statement related to the  fixed amount and                                                                   
read the following:                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Subject to appropriation from the Alaska State                                                                             
     Legislature, assistance can range from $76 to $250 a                                                                       
     month for eligible seniors.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Stapp   elaborated   that  the   2   percent                                                                   
projected  growth  noted  in  the  fiscal  note  was  due  to                                                                   
Alaska's  aging   population.  In  addition,   regarding  the                                                                   
federal  poverty  limit,  the qualification  adjusts  at  the                                                                   
federal  guidelines. Therefore,  more or  less seniors  would                                                                   
be eligible  for benefits, but  the amounts of payout  do not                                                                   
change unless  the legislature changes the  appropriation. He                                                                   
reiterated  that  the purpose  of  the sunset  amendment  was                                                                   
that  the program  always  had  a sunset  and  if any  member                                                                   
believed that  the amount of  $76.00 to $250.00  was adequate                                                                   
to the  end of  time, then  he advised  not to  vote for  the                                                                   
amendment.  He  believed  that the  legislature  would  never                                                                   
revisit  the  bill without  a  sunset.  He favored  a  sunset                                                                   
every   5  or   6  years   to   encourage  consideration   of                                                                   
legislative changes to the program.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
10:44:14 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative Josephson maintained the objection.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
IN FAVOR: Coulombe, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Cronk, Foster                                                                           
OPPOSED: Hannan, Ortiz, Josephson, Galvin, Edgmon                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Failed 5/5                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Johnson was absent from the vote.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster  RECESSED  the  meeting  to a  call  of  the                                                                   
chair.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
10:45:57 AM                                                                                                                   
RECESSED                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
12:01:40 PM                                                                                                                   
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster noted the committee had left off on                                                                             
considering Amendment 2 for SB 170.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
12:02:14 PM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative Hannan MOVED Amendment 2 to SB 170:                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Page 1, line 2, following "program;":                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Insert "relating to the supplemental nutrition                                                                             
     assistance program;"                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, following line 5:                                                                                                  
     Insert a new bill section to read:                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     "* Sec. 4. AS 47.25.980(a) is amended to read:                                                                             
     (a) The department shall                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
          (1)  adopt  regulations necessary to  carry out the                                                                   
          food stamp program;                                                                                                   
          (2)  cooperate  with the federal government  and do                                                                   
          all    things   necessary    to   continue    state                                                                   
         eligibility under the food stamp program;                                                                              
          (3)    comply with  the  requirements  of 7  U.S.C.                                                                   
          2011  -  2036d (Supplemental  Nutrition  Assistance                                                                   
          Program),  implement categorical eligibility  under                                                                   
          7 U.S.C.  2014(a), and make eligible  an individual                                                                   
          whose  household  income   is  not  more  than  200                                                                   
          percent   of   the    federal   poverty   guideline                                                                   
          regardless  of the  value  of assets  owned by  the                                                                   
          household  [7  U.S.C.   2011  -  2036  (FOOD  STAMP                                                                   
          PROGRAM)];                                                                                                            
          (4)   establish an  electronic application  for the                                                                   
          food  stamp  program  and  allow  an  applicant  to                                                                   
          submit  an application in  electronic format  or in                                                                   
          other  formats required by  state and  federal law;                                                                   
          the   electronic   application   must   inform   an                                                                   
          applicant  that  a  false  statement  made  on  the                                                                   
          application    will   be   investigated    and   is                                                                   
          punishable  under AS 11.56.210; in  this paragraph,                                                                   
          "electronic  application" means an  application for                                                                   
          benefits  or  renewal   of  benefits,  whether  the                                                                   
          department  exclusively  administers  the  benefits                                                                   
          or  administers the  benefits in coordination  with                                                                   
          another    state   agency   or    federal   agency,                                                                   
          electronically  completed   and  submitted  through                                                                   
          the department's Internet website."                                                                                   
     Renumber the following bill sections accordingly.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 12:                                                                                                           
     Delete all material and insert:                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "* Sec. 7. Section 4 of this Act takes effect July 1,                                                                      
     2025.                                                                                                                      
     * Sec. 8. Except as provided in sec. 7 of this Act,                                                                        
     this   Act    takes   effect   immediately    under   AS                                                                   
     01.10.070(c)."                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp OBJECTED.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hannan  explained  that the  amendment  would                                                                   
add HB  196 (Food  Stamp Program Eligibilty)  to SB  170. The                                                                   
bill had  two prior hearings  [May 1,  2024 and May  2, 2024]                                                                   
in  the House  Finance Committee.  She believed  that it  was                                                                   
the   stage  in   session  when   efficiency  measures   were                                                                   
necessary.  The  legislation would  expand  the  Supplemental                                                                   
Nutrition Assistance  Program (SNAP)  and help feed  Alaskans                                                                   
by  broadening  broad  based   categorical  eligibility.  The                                                                   
program would help  elevate people out of poverty  and was  a                                                                   
federal  flexibility  that  was adopted  in 42  states and  2                                                                   
territories.  She explained  that the  amendment allowed  the                                                                   
state to increase  income limits from 130 percent  of poverty                                                                   
to 200  percent of  the poverty  limit. However,  it was  not                                                                   
mandating  an increase  to 200  percent, but  it allowed  for                                                                   
expansion and  the development  of new regulations  to expand                                                                   
up  to 200  percent. In  addition,  it allowed  the state  to                                                                   
waive  the  asset  test,  which  aided  disqualification  via                                                                   
ownership of  vehicles, etc. The  amendment would  also allow                                                                   
the state to  phase down eligibility for working  families as                                                                   
their economic status  increases. She reported  that SNAP was                                                                   
an economic driver  in rural communities since,  every dollar                                                                   
spent  on  SNAP  generated $1.70  in  communities.  The  bill                                                                   
increased  the administrative  burden and  had the  potential                                                                   
to save the state money.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
12:04:50 PM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Stapp  MOVED   Conceptual  Amendment   1  to                                                                   
Amendment 2.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, following line 5:                                                                                                  
     Insert a new bill section to read:                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     "* Sec. 4. Section 4, ch. 1, FSSLA 2007, as amended by                                                                     
     sec. 5, ch. 6, SLA 2011, sec. 1, ch. 113, SLA 2014,                                                                        
     and sec. 1, ch. 8, SLA 2018, is amended to read:                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Sec. 4. AS 09.38.015(a)(11); AS 47.45.301, 47.45.302,                                                                      
     47.45.304, 47.45.306, 47.45.308, and 47.45.309 are                                                                         
     repealed June 30, 2029 [2024]."                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     Renumber the following bill sections accordingly.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, lines 10 - 11:                                                                                                     
     Delete all material.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Renumber the following bill section accordingly.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative Hannan OBJECTED.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Stapp explained  that conceptual Amendment  1                                                                   
would reduce  the 200  percent of  the federal poverty  limit                                                                   
to 150  percent. He stated that  there were many  reasons why                                                                   
he thought it was  a wise decision, but he  had questions for                                                                   
the  department.  He  asked  whether   the  department  could                                                                   
determine  how many  new  individuals  would become  eligible                                                                   
with the poverty limit increased.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
12:06:04 PM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
DEB  ETHERIDGE,  DIRECTOR,  DIVISION  OF  PUBLIC  ASSISTANCE,                                                                   
DEPARTMENT  OF HEALTH (DOH)  (via teleconference),  responded                                                                   
that projecting  the number  of individuals  who would  apply                                                                   
and take  advantage of  the SNAP program  at 200  percent was                                                                   
complex. She  discerned that approximately   11.5  percent of                                                                   
Alaskans  were  under  100 percent  of  the  federal  poverty                                                                   
level,  and 13.6  percent were  between 100  percent and  199                                                                   
percent  of  the  poverty  level.   She  disclosed  that  the                                                                   
statistics were  from the Kaiser  Family Foundation  in 2024.                                                                   
Representative  Stapp asked  if there  was a specific  number                                                                   
rather  than a  percentage  she  could offer.  He  calculated                                                                   
that  it was  roughly  10  thousand Alaskans.  Ms.  Etheridge                                                                   
answered  that the  number sounded  correct.  She added  that                                                                   
the preliminary  numbers of individuals  in the  SNAP program                                                                   
in March 2024  was 77,197. Representative Stapp  thought that                                                                   
the asset  test reduction  was a good  thing and it  made the                                                                   
department's  processing  more   efficient.  He  feared  that                                                                   
there  could  be   an  increase  of  10,000   applicants.  He                                                                   
inquired  as  to  how many  applications  were  part  of  the                                                                   
departments   second  backlog.  Ms.  Etheridge  replied  that                                                                   
[audio  cut  out]  the  backlog was   a  little  over  8,000                                                                    
individuals  but  she  was  not the  director  at  the  time.                                                                   
Representative  Stapp  understood   that  the  bill  did  not                                                                   
require the  department to  adopt the  entire 200  percent of                                                                   
the poverty  limit and had  some discretion in  the increase.                                                                   
He asked  whether the  department would  set the  eligibility                                                                   
at 200 percent  if the the  bill were to pass,  Ms. Etheridge                                                                   
answered   that  the   department   would   likely  set   the                                                                   
percentage at 200  percent of the federal poverty  limit. She                                                                   
indicated  that  there  were proposed  regulations  for  TANF                                                                   
Temporary Assistance  for Needy  Families that would  require                                                                   
SNAP at  200 percent  FPL. The department  would not  want to                                                                   
duplicate  work if  it could  be prevented.  She voiced  that                                                                   
the  decision   was  up  to   the  will  of   the  committee.                                                                   
Representative  Stapp  relayed that  he  was aware  that  the                                                                   
department  would  increase  the  limit to  200  percent.  He                                                                   
asked if the  bill were to pass whether there  was confidence                                                                   
that  there would  not be  another backlog  in the  following                                                                   
year. Ms.  Etheridge answered  that she would  adopt measures                                                                   
to  avoid   a  backlog  by   taking  a  phased   approach  to                                                                   
implementation.   Representative  Stapp   thought  that   150                                                                   
percent was a  good start for implementation  and yielded for                                                                   
questions from the committee.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
12:11:00 PM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative Hannan  cited the statistic that  13.6 percent                                                                   
of  Alaskans were  between  100 percent  and  199 percent  of                                                                   
FPL.  She  asked  whether  she  was  correct.  Ms.  Etheridge                                                                   
replied   in    the   affirmative.   Representative    Hannan                                                                   
calculated  that  out of  the  13 percent  eligible  Alaskans                                                                   
some  were already  eligible  and  or receiving  the  benefit                                                                   
because  they were  between 100  percent and  130 percent  of                                                                   
the  poverty  guidelines.  Ms.  Etheridge  responded  in  the                                                                   
affirmative.  Representative  Hannan  was  in  opposition  to                                                                   
conceptual  amendment  2.  She  believed that  a  20  percent                                                                   
addition  was not  enough and  if the  TANF program  mandated                                                                   
200 percent FPL  it would create eligibility  requirements in                                                                   
two   different   programing   levels  with   two   different                                                                   
evaluations; SNAP at 150 percent and TANF at 200 percent.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
12:13:01 PM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Josephson  recalled   that  HB  196  had  one                                                                   
fiscal  note  that  would  cost   the  state's  treasury  $69                                                                   
thousand.  He asked  if the amount  would  help more than  10                                                                   
thousand   more  Alaskans   pay  for   food.  Ms.   Etheridge                                                                   
responded  that the  amendment  would  require an  additional                                                                   
fiscal  note  from  the  division.  Representative  Josephson                                                                   
believed that there  was only one fiscal note for  HB 196. He                                                                   
asked if  there was  an additional  expense if the  amendment                                                                   
merged  into the  senior benefits  bill other  than what  was                                                                   
contained in  the fiscal note.  Ms. Etheridge  responded that                                                                   
the senior  benefits bill, SB 170  had a fiscal note  and the                                                                   
broad-based categorical  eligibility had two  separate fiscal                                                                   
notes.  She  disclosed  that   the  department  had  prepared                                                                   
fiscal notes  in the  event that  the amendment was  adopted;                                                                   
they  were largely  identical  to the  original fiscal  notes                                                                   
for HB  196. Representative Josephson  noted that SB  170 had                                                                   
two  fiscal notes  that totaled  approximately $140  thousand                                                                   
combined. He  asked if the  state spent $140  thousand, could                                                                   
it  assist  in   feeding  10  thousand  more   Alaskans.  Ms.                                                                   
Etheridge responded in the affirmative.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Galvin recalled that  many other  states were                                                                   
at 200 percent  of the poverty level and asked  for the exact                                                                   
number   of  states.   Ms.  Etheridge   responded  that   the                                                                   
statistics  came  from  the  sponsor  of  the  bill  and  she                                                                   
offered to follow up.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
12:17:22 PM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GENEVIEVE  MINA, SPONSOR, answered  that there                                                                   
were  approximately  25  states  at 200  percent  of  poverty                                                                   
level and listed the name of each state.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Galvin understood that  the funding  was from                                                                   
federal dollars. She  asked if there was some  portion of the                                                                   
funding  that paid  for the  administration  of the  program.                                                                   
Ms. Etheridge  affirmed  that the food  stamps benefits  were                                                                   
federal  pass  through funds  and  additional  administrative                                                                   
costs were included in the attached fiscal note.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Cronk  worried about receiving a  lot of phone                                                                   
calls  regarding  a  SNAP  backlog if  the  program  was  not                                                                   
phased  in.  He was  concerned  that  it  was  a set  up  for                                                                   
failure. He favored Representative Stapp's amendment.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Stapp  provided  wrap  up  comments.  He  was                                                                   
offering the  amendment because  he felt  it was unwise  that                                                                   
once the  department cleared the  SNAP backlog it   created a                                                                   
backlog for  Medicaid and  a half  dozen other programs."  He                                                                   
worried  about creating  backlogs  and believed  that at  200                                                                   
percent FPL it would create another SNAP backlog.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
12:21:12 PM                                                                                                                   
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
12:21:29 PM                                                                                                                   
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster  indicated  that  the motion  was  to  adopt                                                                   
Conceptual  Amendment 1  for  Amendment 2  and  asked if  the                                                                   
objection was maintained.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative Hannan maintained the objection.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
12:21:51 PM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
IN FAVOR: Cronk, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Coulombe                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
OPPOSED: Hannan, Josephson, Galvin, Ortiz, Edgmon, Foster                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
The MOTION FAILED (4/6).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
12:22:40 PM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp  asked whether the sponsor  of Amendment                                                                   
2   checked  with   Legislative   Legal  Services   regarding                                                                   
compliance  with  the  single  subject  rule.  Representative                                                                   
Hannan  replied that  she did  not  receive a  memo from  the                                                                   
drafter regarding an issue with the single subject rule.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
12:23:00 PM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster  indicated  that  the motion  was  to  adopt                                                                   
Amendment 2.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp maintained the objection.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
IN FAVOR:  Hannan, Josephson,  Galvin, Ortiz, Cronk,  Edgmon,                                                                   
Foster                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
OPPOSED: Stapp, Tomaszewski, Coulombe                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
The MOTION PASSED (7/3).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
12:23:57 PM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Edgmon  Co-Chair Edgmon MOVED  to REPORT SB  170 out                                                                   
of  committee   with  individual   recommendations   and  the                                                                   
accompanying   and  forthcoming   fiscal   notes  and   allow                                                                   
Legislative Legal  Services the  authority to make  technical                                                                   
and conforming changes.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
12:25:10 PM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Stapp OBJECTED  for discussion.  He hoped  he                                                                   
would be wrong  a year from now, but in the  event that there                                                                   
was another SNAP backlog it would be unfortunate.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp WITHDREW the objection.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
There being no further objection, it was so ordered.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HCS CSSB  170(FIN) was REPORTED  out of committee  with eight                                                                   
"do  pass" recommendations  and  two "amend"  recommendations                                                                   
and with two  new fiscal impact notes from  the Department of                                                                   
Health and one  previously published fiscal impact  note: FN1                                                                   
(DOH).                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
12:26:34 PM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
SB 259 Amendment #1 Foster 051324.pdf HFIN 5/13/2024 10:00:00 AM
SB 259
SB 205 Public Testimony Rec'd by 050724.pdf HFIN 5/13/2024 10:00:00 AM
SB 205