Legislature(2007 - 2008)BUTROVICH 205
02/21/2007 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB81 | |
| SB4 | |
| Overview: Public School Funding Formula | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 81 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| = | SB 4 | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 4-SENIOR CARE PROGRAM
1:56:07 PM
CHAIR BETTYE DAVIS announced SB 4 to be up for consideration.
ELLIE FITZJARRALD, Acting Director for the Division of Public
Assistance (DPA), said that she was available for questions on
the fiscal notes of SB 4.
JANET CLARK, Assistant Commissioner for the Department of Health
and Social Services (DHSS), said that the governor introduced a
senior care bill, SB 90, that morning and that she could provide
a comparison of the two.
MS. FITZJARRALD said that the current Senior Care Program (SCP)
provides $120 a month to seniors whose income is under 135
percent of the 2005 federal poverty levels. The governor's bill
maintains the $120 payment, raises the income qualifying limit
to 135 percent of the 2007 poverty level, and allows it to
increase proportionally each year; SB 4 increases the payment to
$150 and maintains the former income qualifying levels. Both
bills eliminate the little-used prescription drug benefit. In
addition, the governor's proposal doesn't allow for a person to
receive both senior care and the longevity bonus; although the
provision is not included in SB 4, the intent is the same.
She added that 5040 seniors will qualify for the governor's
proposal. For SB 4, the number would be 4835. The total cost of
benefit payments under the governor's bill would be $7,002,557,
and $8,000,701 under SB 4. SB 90 would allow for a five-year
extension, while SB 4 does not provide a sunset date.
2:00:31 PM
SENATOR OLSON said that he was not an expert on the governor's
proposal and could only comment on his own bill.
CHAIR DAVIS said she had not expected the governor's bill to be
seen by the committee that day, and she asked Senator Olson to
try and combine some of the differences between his and the
governor's bill.
2:02:48 PM
MS. CLARK said that the governor's plan would cost $7.3 million,
while SB 4 would cost $8.7 million. The main differences are
that SB 4 increases the benefit amount, and the governor's
proposal increases the income eligibility.
SENATOR COWDERY asked where the governor's funding would come
from.
MS. CLARK said that a provision currently in the budget would
fund the proposal.
SENATOR COWDERY commented that he would like to see the
longevity bonus funding taken from Permanent Fund earnings.
2:05:03 PM
SENATOR ELTON said that it appeared that more seniors would opt
for senior care than he expected, and asked for an explanation.
MS. CLARK said that 2500 individuals are eligible for the senior
care payment but not the longevity bonus.
2:06:59 PM
SENATOR OLSON said that he is willing to work with the
administration on changes in his bill, and that the main
priority is to care for Alaska's seniors as best and quickly as
possible. Most of the issues between the two bills may be best
brought up in the finance committee.
2:08:43 PM
SENATOR ELTON made a motion to move SB 4 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).
SENATOR DYSON commented that he would have preferred to hear the
governor's bill before deciding on the sunset date, and said
that he objected to passing the bill from committee.
A roll-call vote was taken, and Senators Cowdery, Elton, Thomas,
and Chair Davis voted yea; Senator Dyson voted nay. Therefore,
SB 4 passed from committee.
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