02/15/2024 03:00 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

            HB 258-GENERAL RELIEF & BURIAL ASSISTANCE                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:34:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX announced that the next order of business would be                                                                   
HOUSE BILL NO. 258,"An Act relating to general relief and burial                                                                
assistance; and providing for an effective date."                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:35:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS moved to adopt Amendment 1 to HB 258,                                                                     
labeled 33-LS1020\B.2, Bergerud, 2/11/24, which read as follows:                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Page 4, following line 31:                                                                                                 
     Insert new bill sections to read:                                                                                          
        "* Sec. 7. AS 47.25.300(3) is amended to read:                                                                      
               (3) "needy person" means a needy resident of                                                                     
     the  state who  is not  eligible for  aid from  another                                                                    
     public agency or  department providing similar services                                                                    
     in the state  and who has personal  resources of $1,500                                                                
     or less;                                                                                                               
        * Sec. 8. AS 47.25.300 is amended by adding a new                                                                     
     paragraph to read:                                                                                                         
               (5)  "personal resources" does not include                                                                       
     credit."                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Renumber the following bill sections accordingly.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Page 5, following line 8:                                                                                                  
     Insert a new bill section to read:                                                                                         
        "* Sec. 10. 7 AAC 47.160(c)(4) is annulled."                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Renumber the following bill section accordingly.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
[REPRESENTATIVE SUMNER] objected.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  FIELDS  explained  that  Amendment  1  takes  the                                                               
current  statutory  $500 resource  threshold  and  updates it  to                                                               
$1,500.   He explained his  rationale for the amendment  and gave                                                               
examples of how general relief has been used.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:37:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER  asked the  bill sponsor for  his thoughts                                                               
on Amendment 1.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  WILL STAPP,  Alaska State  Legislature, as  prime                                                               
sponsor of  HB 258,  addressed several concerns  he had  with the                                                               
amendment.  First,  the cost of the program would  go up.  People                                                               
would qualify  for the program  who are additionally  enrolled in                                                               
other programs.  He pointed out  issues that would ensue with the                                                               
word  "credit" being  included.   He asked  Representative Fields                                                               
how he arrived at the amount of $1,500.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:38:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS  responded that  the number  was calculated                                                               
by figuring  the value of a  very old car in  Anchorage under the                                                               
scenario of people living in their car and seeking shelter.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:38:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  PRAX  asked Representative  Sumner  if  he maintained  his                                                               
objection.  [The response was in audible.]                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:39:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
A roll  call vote  was taken.   Representatives  Mina, McCormick,                                                               
and  Fields   voted  in   favor  of  Amendment   1  to   HB  258.                                                               
Representatives  Sumner,  Saddler,  and Prax  voted  against  it.                                                               
Therefore, Amendment 1 failed to be adopted by a vote of 3-3.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:39:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease at 4:39 p.m.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:40:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  FIELDS moved  to  adopt Amendment  2  to HB  258,                                                               
labeled 33-LS1020\B.3, Bergerud, 2/12/24, which read as follows:                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Page 4, following line 16:                                                                                                 
     Insert a new bill section to read:                                                                                         
        "* Sec. 5. AS 47.25.150 is amended to read:                                                                             
     Sec.  47.25.150. Application  for assistance.  A person                                                                    
     requesting  burial  assistance   shall  apply  for  it,                                                                    
     either  personally  or  through another  person,  in  a                                                                    
     format and manner prescribed  in regulations adopted by                                                                    
     the department. Regulations  adopted under this section                                                                    
     must   establish   an    electronic   application   for                                                                    
     assistance  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. If  a person has                                                                    
     been  referred   to  the  general  relief   and  burial                                                                    
     assistance program  by the  department, or  has applied                                                                    
     for  and   been  denied  assistance  under   all  other                                                                    
     programs  administered  by  the department  under  this                                                                    
     chapter,  the department  shall  determine whether  the                                                                    
     person is eligible for assistance  under AS 47.25.120 -                                                                    
     47.25.300. If  the department finds that  the person is                                                                    
     eligible  for assistance,  the  department shall  grant                                                                    
     assistance without collecting  further information from                                                                    
     the person.  In this section,  "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.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
[REPRESENTATIVE SUMNER] objected.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS explained the  rationale for Amendment 2 is                                                               
to provide  "relief of  last resort."   He suggested  the wording                                                               
makes it  more efficient  for the  department to  administer that                                                               
relief.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STAPP responded that he was not entirely sure if                                                                 
it would work that way.  He suggested that it would create more                                                                 
work for the department rather than less.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:42:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX asked Representative Sumner if he maintained his                                                                     
objection.  [The response was inaudible.]                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:42:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
A roll  call vote was  taken.  Representatives Fields,  Mina, and                                                               
McCormick   voted  in   favor   of  Amendment   2   to  HB   258.                                                               
Representatives  Ruffridge,  Saddler,   Sumner,  and  Prax  voted                                                               
against it.   Therefore, Amendment 2  to HB 258 failed  by a vote                                                               
of 3-4.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:43:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  FIELDS moved  to  adopt Amendment  3  to HB  258,                                                               
labeled 33-LS1020\B.4, Bergerud, 2/12/24, which read as follows:                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Page 4, following line 16:                                                                                                 
     Insert a new bill section to read:                                                                                         
        "* Sec. 5. AS 47.25.170 is amended to read:                                                                         
          Sec. 47.25.170. Granting of assistance. Upon the                                                                    
     completion of  its investigation, the  department shall                                                                    
     decide  whether  the  applicant  is  eligible  for  and                                                                    
     should receive  assistance promptly  under AS 47.25.120                                                                    
     - 47.25.300,  the amount of  assistance, the  manner of                                                                    
     paying  or providing  it,  and the  date  on which  the                                                                    
     assistance shall  begin. The department may  approve an                                                                
     applicant  for a  period of  up to  six months  and may                                                                
     provide the assistance in monthly  installments or as a                                                                
     lump sum. The department  shall notify the applicant of                                                                
     its decision."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Renumber the following bill sections accordingly.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SUMNER objected.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS  pointed to the extremely  low threshold of                                                               
the  general  relief  statute  and  explained  that  Amendment  3                                                               
provides  the department  authority  to meet  the overall  relief                                                               
threshold for a six-month period in a lump sum.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:44:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STAPP addressed  the mechanics  of the  utilities                                                               
assistance  and how  the department  negotiates with  third-party                                                               
providers.   However, the main  objection comes  from information                                                               
provided by staff's discussion with a homeless coordinator.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
HONOR MILLER-AUSTIN, Staff, Representative  Will Stapp, on behalf                                                               
of Representative Stapp, prime sponsor  of HB 258, described what                                                               
she  learned   from  Bryan  Wilson,  one   of  Juneau's  homeless                                                               
coordinators.    He  referenced  programs  that  worked  for  him                                                               
including  Section 8  housing,  emergency  housing vouchers,  and                                                               
emergency rental assistance programs.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:46:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MINA addressed  the need  for additional  general                                                               
relief  when  costs  for  housing   are  rising  and  people  are                                                               
struggling.   There is often  a delay in the  programs mentioned,                                                               
and people need emergency options.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:47:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STAPP said he did  not believe that time-sensitive                                                               
emergency  benefits  should go  through  the  Division of  Public                                                               
Assistance, and that is generally the nucleus of the bill.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:48:10 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DEB   ETHERIDGE,  Director,   Division   of  Public   Assistance,                                                               
Department  of  Health,  discussed   the  issue  of  payment  for                                                               
emergency  shelter.    She   talked  about  evictions,  duplicate                                                               
applications, and  the maximum allowable  amount of $120  a month                                                               
for hotels.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SADDLER   asked  Ms.  Etheridge  to   respond  to                                                               
Amendment 3  with its lump  sum payment  in light of  the monthly                                                               
benefit amount.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS. ETHERIDGE  responded that  an individual  must apply  for the                                                               
$120  benefit each  month, so  the  lump sum  would affect  their                                                               
ability to apply.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:50:34 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS explained that  the intent of the amendment                                                               
is to  allow the six-month  amount of $70 a  month to be  used at                                                               
one time.   He said  that he also  reached out to  several people                                                               
who work with  the homeless, and there is  not complete agreement                                                               
as to how best to address the problem.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:51:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SADDLER reiterated  that  the  monthly amount  of                                                               
$120  would  equal   $720.    He  enquired   whether  that  would                                                               
contradict the allowable amount of assistance of $120 a month.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STAPP  answered  that   it  might  eliminate  the                                                               
eligibility entirely  because it is  capped at a  certain amount.                                                               
He deferred to Ms. Etheridge.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS. ETHERIDGE explained that the  general relief program is not a                                                               
benefit  paid to  the individual  but rather  to a  vendor.   The                                                               
asset limit is $500.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER requested  clarification regarding whether                                                               
there are time limits to benefits paid on a monthly basis.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS.  ETHERIDGE responded  that  the  division's calculations  are                                                               
based on a monthly amount rather than a lump sum.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:53:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  PRAX  questioned  whether   the  emergency  benefits  were                                                               
available  on  a  24-hour  basis   and  how  someone  could  take                                                               
advantage of these benefits.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. ETHERIDGE  replied that the  Department of  Public Assistance                                                               
operates  on  an eight  to  five  basis, Monday  through  Friday,                                                               
taking emergency requests during those times.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:54:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS reiterated the main points of Amendment 3.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:55:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  PRAX  asked Representative  Sumner  if  he maintained  his                                                               
objection.  [The response was inaudible.]                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:55:34 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
A roll  call vote was  taken.  Representatives Fields,  Mina, and                                                               
McCormick   voted  in   favor   of  Amendment   3   to  HB   258.                                                               
Representatives  Sumner,  Ruffridge,   Saddler,  and  Prax  voted                                                               
against it.   Therefore, Amendment  3 failed  to be adopted  by a                                                               
vote of 3-4.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:56:10 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MINA  moved  to  adopt Amendment  4  to  HB  258,                                                               
labeled 33-LS1020\B.1, Bergerud, 2/10/24, which read as follows:                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Page 4, lines 26 - 31:                                                                                                     
          Delete all material and insert:                                                                                       
        "* Sec. 6. AS 47.25.300(1) is amended to read:                                                                      
               (1)  "assistance" means financial assistance                                                                     
     to or  on behalf  of a needy  person for  [, INCLUDING]                                                                
     subsistence   (food,  shelter,   fuel,  clothing,   and                                                                    
     utilities),   [AND]   transportation,  medical   needs,                                                            
     funeral   and   [(INCLUDING,   BUT  NOT   LIMITED   TO,                                                                
     HOSPITALIZATION,  NURSING,   AND  CONVALESCENT  CARE),]                                                                    
     burial expenses, and other determined needs;"                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
[CHAIR SUMNER] objected.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MINA  explained that Amendment 4  retains the rent                                                               
and utility assistance  part of general relief  while keeping the                                                               
part  of  the bill  that  addresses  the  burial services.    She                                                               
pointed out that  $120 doesn't seem like a big  amount, but it is                                                               
significant  for people  who are  at risk  of homelessness.   She                                                               
pointed  out  that the  processing  time  for these  benefits  is                                                               
nominal, so the benefits outweigh  the administrative burden.  In                                                               
addition, she referenced a letter  from the Disability Law Center                                                               
which  said deleting  the  references of  shelter  from the  bill                                                               
would affect  a different line  item which is general  relief for                                                               
assisted  living  homes.    The  referenced  general  relief  for                                                               
assisted  living is  a  last resort  for  individuals who  cannot                                                               
qualify for  a Medicaid waiver  but who  are in need  of assisted                                                               
living   services   such   as  people   being   discharged   from                                                               
corrections, psychiatric institutes, and  hospitals.  Since there                                                               
are not  enough general relief behavioral  health assisted living                                                               
homes, it is  costing the state a  lot more.  There  is a concern                                                               
that deleting this language would impact other programs.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:58:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STAPP addressed  the  two aspects  brought up  by                                                               
Representative Mina.  He explained  he is concerned with results-                                                               
based budgeting, and the cost  to deliver this nominal service is                                                               
astronomical.   Regarding the second  aspect, he thinks  there is                                                               
another amendment which would address that concern.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MINA pointed  out  that the  amendment refers  to                                                               
shelter, so  it also  addresses utilities.   She prefers  to keep                                                               
the  language  that  is  currently   in  statute  to  allow  some                                                               
flexibility in how it is administered.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
5:01:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SUMNER maintained his objection to Amendment 4.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
5:01:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
A  roll call  vote was  taken.   Representatives Fields  and Mina                                                               
voted  in  favor of  Amendment  4  to  HB 258.    Representatives                                                               
Saddler, Ruffridge,  and Prax voted against  it.  [Representative                                                               
Sumner passed.]                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
5:01:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease at 5:02 p.m.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
5:02:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX voided the roll for Amendment 4 to HB 258.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
5:02:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
A  roll call  vote was  taken.   Representatives Fields  and Mina                                                               
voted  in  favor of  Amendment  4  to  HB 258.    Representatives                                                               
Ruffridge,   Sadler,  Sumner,   and   Prax   voted  against   it.                                                               
Therefore, Amendment 4 failed to be adopted by a vote of 2-4.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
5:02:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 5:02 to 5:04 p.m.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
5:04:16 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX  moved to  adopt Amendment  5 to  HB 258,  labeled 33-                                                               
LS1020\B.5, Bergerud, 2/12/24, which read as follows:                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Page 4, line 29, following "needs,":                                                                                   
          Insert "assisted living facility expenses,"                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
There being no objection, Amendment 5 was adopted.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
5:04:57 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to report  HB 258, as amended, out                                                               
of   committee   with    individual   recommendations   and   the                                                               
accompanying fiscal notes.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
5:05:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease at 5:05 p.m..                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
5:05:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX announced there being  no objection, CSHB 258(HSS) was                                                               
reported  from  the House  Health  and  Social Services  Standing                                                               
Committee.