05/04/1998 03:52 PM House JUD

HB 434 - DRUG TESTING OF WELFARE RECIPIENTS                                    
                                                                               
Number 0601                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN GREEN announced the next order of business was HB 434, "An            
Act requiring drug testing for applicants for and recipients of                
assistance under the Alaska temporary assistance program; and                  
providing for an effective date."  He asked bill sponsor,                      
Representative Rokeberg, to address HB 434.                                    
                                                                               
Number 0613                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG explained the House Health, Education and              
Social Services Committee had removed the wording "elimination of              
benefits" which he considered to be the heart of the bill and                  
requested the Judiciary Committee to reinsert that wording by                  
adopting the proposed amendment P.1, Lauterbach, 5/4/98.                       
                                                                               
Number 0672                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES made a motion to adopt amendment P.1, dated               
5/4/98.                                                                        
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ objected for purposes of discussion.                  
                                                                               
Number 0696                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG explained that lines 16-17 of the amendment            
adds language to existing law and reinserts language in the title.             
It brings the language back to the original draft.                             
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE CROFT remarked, "There was reductions alone before,             
then it was changed to elimination, and now you're doing reduction             
or elimination?"                                                               
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG said he believed that was the last form of             
the bill.  That was a committee substitute presented to the House              
HESS committee.                                                                
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE CROFT inquired if that was the only substantive                 
change of the amendment.                                                       
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG confirmed that and added it inserts                    
language bringing it back to the language in the original draft.               
He said, "The reason for that is that there was testimony from the             
department that they could do that, but my objection was to make               
sure that they do it because they have what's called sanctions now.            
But this provision here would require that the person who was                  
signing a family self-sufficiency plan would (indisc.-mumbling)."              
                                                                               
Number 0839                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ withdrew his objection.                               
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN GREEN asked if there was further objection?  Hearing none,            
Amendment 1 was adopted.                                                       
                                                                               
Number 0850                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES made a motion to move CSHB 434(HES) as amended            
with individual recommendations.  There being no objection, CSHB
(JUD) was moved from the House Judiciary Standing Committee.