Legislature(2011 - 2012)CAPITOL 106
01/25/2011 03:00 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB16 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | HB 16 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 16-EXTEND SENIOR BENEFITS PAYMENT PROGRAM
3:55:51 PM
CHAIR KELLER announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 16 "An Act extending senior benefits."
3:56:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE HAWKER, Alaska State Legislature, introduced
HB 16 as the bill sponsor. He explained that HB 16 proposed to
extend benefits for Alaska seniors, as this program had a sunset
clause which was due to expire on June 30, 2011. He reported
that this program provided a needs based cash assistance to
approximately 10,000 low income Alaska seniors. He clarified
that it was a tiered benefit program, based on the Federal
Poverty Guidelines (FPG) for household income. He listed the
benefit amounts: $250 per month to individuals with income of
75 percent or less of FPG; $175 per month to individuals with
income between 75 and 100 percent of FPG; and $125 per month to
individuals with income between 100 and 175 percent of FPG. He
noted that the FPG benchmark was adjusted annually. He stressed
the importance of this as a component of income for many
seniors. He opined that it was important to maintain a sunset
clause for this program, in order to keep it from becoming an
entitlement. He reflected that, given the state's strong
revenue forecast and large cash reserves, it was good public
policy to extend the senior benefits program for another four
years until June 30. 2015. He offered his belief that it would
relieve the anxiety of Alaska seniors and would demonstrate a
commitment to them.
4:01:29 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON, referring to the attached fiscal note,
asked for an explanation of the Appropriation Required for FY
2012.
REPRESENTATIVE HAWKER replied that this represented the carry
forward appropriations, which were an increment from the prior
budget year. He explained that the remainder of the fiscal note
reflected a "3 percent straight line growth curve," which he
acknowledged was only a speculation.
4:02:53 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON, reflecting on the number of beneficiaries
of the program, asked how many people were unaware of or did not
take advantage of the program.
REPRESENTATIVE HAWKER suggested that he speak to the Division of
Public Assistance.
4:03:30 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON expressed concern for the four year
extension. He pointed out that this extension would extend
through two legislatures. He asked if Representative Hawker
would object to a two year extension, which would allow for the
next legislature to assess the fiscal conditions at that time.
4:04:35 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HAWKER pointed out the difference between
authorizing legislation and appropriation of funding for an
authorized program. He deemed that this legislation extended
the existence of the program for four years, but that a separate
appropriation would still be necessary. He pointed out that
every program needed an annual appropriation. He nominated that
a four year sunset clause was consistent with established
legislative protocol, and that the appropriation was still
determined by each legislature. He affirmed his support for the
four year extension for HB 16.
4:06:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MILLETT inquired about a provision in statute
which allowed for the senior benefit to be adjusted if the
appropriation were lowered.
4:07:26 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HAWKER, in response to Representative Millett,
cited AS 47.45.301(c): "if the appropriations are insufficient
to meet the demands of the program the department may reduce or
eliminate the cash benefit available to the recipient." He
declared that this granted the statutory authority to "be nimble
in adjusting to facts and circumstances."
4:08:13 PM
RON KREHER, Acting Director, Director's Office, Division of
Public Assistance, Department of Health and Social Services
(DHSS), in response to an earlier question by Representative
Herron, stated that it was difficult to gauge the number of
potentially eligible low income seniors who had not applied for
the benefit program.
4:09:15 PM
CHAIR KELLER opened public testimony.
4:09:52 PM
DENISE DANIELLO, Executive Director, Alaska Commission on Aging,
Division of Senior and Disabilities Services, Department of
Health and Social Services (DHSS), offered support of HB 16 on
behalf of the Alaska Commission on Aging and the 10,000 Alaska
seniors who benefited from the program. She relayed that
eligibility for the program was based on age, at least 65 years
of age, and financial need. She declared that the Senior
Benefits Program provided "a crucial safety net for many
seniors." She acknowledged that, although not a large amount of
money, it could make a real difference in the ability to afford
food, housing, medicine, health care, and other basic
necessities. She relayed that less than 20 percent of seniors
participated in the program. She compared the rates of
participation among the nine regions of Alaska, noting that more
than 50 percent of seniors in the Bethel area participated in
the program. She pointed out the increased cost of living in
many rural regions. She directed attention to a slight increase
in participation in urban areas. She reported on a recent
Alaska Commission on Aging statewide survey of older Alaskans,
which gathered information on senior needs for an FY 2012-2015
state plan on senior services. She shared that more than 3000
Alaskans, aged 50 years and older, had responded. She pointed
out that financial security was an important concern for 20
percent of the respondents, many of whom had lived in Alaska for
more than 40 years. She observed that 17.5 percent of the
respondents had reported that the Senior Benefits Program was a
source of income. She explained that, although 63 percent said
that they had not had difficulty paying for items over the last
30 days, some had reported difficulty paying for basic items,
such as energy costs, medical bills, food, and housing. She
encouraged strong support for HB 16, as it was "good public
policy and that it helps seniors who are the most vulnerable to
economic stresses to live with dignity and independence which
impacts their health and well-being."
4:15:05 PM
MARIE DARLIN, Coordinator, AARP Capital City Task Force,
referred to the AARP letter of support for HB 16 [Included in
members' packets] and urged its passage.
4:17:05 PM
SUSANNAH MORGAN, Executive Director, Food Bank of Alaska,
pointed out that anti-hunger groups also supported HB 16. She
reported that 44 percent of the people who went to food
pantries, food kitchens, or shelters were over 50 years of age.
She relayed that her staff in the communities had reported that
many seniors counted on the Senior Benefits Program. She
pointed out that only one state had a higher percentage of
seniors over 75 years of age than Alaska. She expressed her
strong support for HB 16.
4:18:30 PM
MARY SULLIVAN, Program Manager, Seniors Behavioral Health
Outreach & Prevention Coalition, Akeela, Inc., expressed concern
for the cost of senior health care and medication. She declared
that the Senior Benefit Program allowed for maintenance of a
level of independence and a safety net for basic needs. She
expressed the need to focus on prevention. She urged support of
HB 16.
4:20:21 PM
CHAIR KELLER, after ascertaining there were no more questions,
closed public testimony.
4:20:58 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON asked about the significance of a four
year extension.
4:21:25 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HAWKER, in response, cited that four years was an
historical reauthorization minimum and reflected a consistency
of application to the original bill.
4:21:56 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON offered his support for HB 16.
4:22:16 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON expressed his concern with the 4 year
extension. He offered the longevity bonus as an example and
opined that this was a "promise broken." He stated that it was
important to follow through with what was promised. He
expressed support for the Senior Benefits Program, but that he
wanted the next legislature to have the freedom to fund the
program. He surmised that a sunset clause of two years would
allow for a review. He pointed out that the Senior Benefits
Program based eligibility on gross annual income, with no
consideration for personal assets. He offered his belief that a
two year sunset clause would allow the opportunity for a future
legislature to make changes, instead of "changing the program
[in] mid stream and disqualifying people."
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to adopt a conceptual amendment, as
follows: "amend line 5 to 2013 from 2015."
4:24:41 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MILLETT objected. She offered her belief that
the four year extension gave comfort to the seniors and that
seniors understood that if appropriations were not available,
then the cash benefits could be reduced, as quoted earlier in AS
47.45.301(c). She opined that this was not "tying the hands of
future legislation to adjust the asset portion." She expressed
her support for the four year extension.
4:26:22 PM
CHAIR KELLER offered his belief that although the proposed
conceptual amendment would shorten the sunset clause in HB 16
from four years to two years, this was not a change to the bill,
but a "housekeeping matter." He expressed appreciation that
Representative Seaton had spoken previously with the bill
sponsor, Representative Hawker. He encouraged for committee
members to follow this example of speaking with the sponsor
prior to the committee meeting. He expressed his opposition to
the proposed conceptual amendment.
4:27:55 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON reflected that the termination of the
longevity bonus had shown that terminating a program was not the
same as a sunset clause, and that it was viewed as a broken
promise. He opined that seniors would assume that HB 16 was
guaranteed for four years. He offered his belief that the bill
language did not give the flexibility to reduce the benefits
should assets be included in eligibility determination. He
expressed his support of the Senior Benefits Program, but voiced
his concern for a possible fiscal change in two years.
4:30:10 PM
CHAIR KELLER asked for Representative Hawker to comment on the
proposed amendment.
4:30:37 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HAWKER emphasized his support of the four year
extension, and stressed that "we, the legislature, have made it
extremely clear, in fact I would argue crystal clear" that these
programs were subject to annual appropriation. He opined that
this was a different circumstance from the senior longevity
bonus, and that low income seniors were not going to be deprived
of this program.
4:32:08 PM
CHAIR KELLER stated that he would vote against the amendment.
He offered his belief that a major crisis looming for the state
was the expansion of entitlements. He opined that having a
sunset clause defined that the Senior Benefits Program was not
an entitlement. A roll call vote was taken. Representative
Seaton voted in favor of the proposed conceptual amendment.
Representatives Millett, Herron, Dick, Miller, and Keller voted
against it. Therefore the proposed conceptual amendment failed
by a vote of 1-5.
4:33:51 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MILLETT moved to report HB 16 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 16 was reported from the
House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Support for Senior Benefits Rep Hawker-ACoA.pdf |
HHSS 1/25/2011 3:00:00 PM |
|
| Sponsor Statement HB16.docx |
HHSS 1/25/2011 3:00:00 PM |
HB 16 |
| Fiscal Note HB16.pdf |
HHSS 1/25/2011 3:00:00 PM |
|
| HB0016A.pdf |
HHSS 1/25/2011 3:00:00 PM |
HB 16 |
| Requesting Hearing HB16.docx |
HHSS 1/25/2011 3:00:00 PM |
|
| House Bill 16 Background Information.docx |
HHSS 1/25/2011 3:00:00 PM |
|
| Senior Benefit Fact Shee Updated HB16.docx |
HHSS 1/25/2011 3:00:00 PM |
|
| HB16 Backup AARp.pdf |
HHSS 1/25/2011 3:00:00 PM |
|
| Testimony-Letters HB16.pdf |
HHSS 1/25/2011 3:00:00 PM |
HB 16 |
| HB 16 AFC Support Letter.doc |
HHSS 1/25/2011 3:00:00 PM |
HB 16 |
| DHSS Priorities 2011.pdf |
HHSS 1/25/2011 3:00:00 PM |
|
| Budget Overview 2011.pptx |
HHSS 1/25/2011 3:00:00 PM |