Legislature(1993 - 1994)
01/28/1994 01:30 PM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
January 28, 1994
1:30 p.m.
TAPE HFC 94-19, Side 1, #000 - end.
TAPE HFC 94-19, Side 2, #000 - 494.
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Larson called the House Finance Committee to order
at 1:30 P.M.
PRESENT
Co-Chair Larson Representative Martin
Vice-Chair Hanley Representative Navarre
Representative Brown Representative Parnell
Representative Foster Representative Therriault
Representative Grussendorf
Co-Chair MacLean and Representative Hoffman were not present
at the meeting.
ALSO PRESENT
Mike Greany, Director, Legislative Finance Division; Carl L.
Rosier, Commissioner, Department of Fish and Game; Kevin
Brooks, Director, Division of Administration, Department of
Fish and Game; Frank Homan, Commissioner, Commercial
Fisheries Entry Commission; Frank Rue, Director, Division of
Habitat and Restoration; Margaret Lowe, Commissioner,
Department of Health and Social Services; Janet Clarke,
Director, Division of Administrative Services, Department of
Health and Social Services; Kimberly Busch, Director,
Division of Medical Assistance; Jan Hansen, Director,
Division of Public Assistance, Department of Health and
Social Services.
SUMMARY INFORMATION
AGENCY BUDGET OVERVIEW:
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
AGENCY BUDGET OVERVIEWS:
(*Copies meeting tapes and handouts are on file with the
Legislative Finance Division. Contact #465-3795).
Log # DISCUSSION
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
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HFC 19-1
Social Services provided members with a written
overview of the Department's budget (Attachment 1).
She read her remarks to the Committee. She noted that
the Department has not included a FY 95 COLA increase
for recipients of the Aid to Families with Dependent
Children Program. The Department is requesting
increases for formula driven programs in the Medical
Assistance Division. The Department is also requesting
increased funding for the Foster Care Program.
Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) Program
has increased. She asked for a break down of new
applicants.
Department of Health and Social Services noted that 13
percent of new applicants to AFDC have been in the
State of Alaska for 1 to 3 months and 18 percent have
been in the State for less than one year. She noted
that only approximately 50 percent of new applicants
are eligible for the program.
there were fewer applicants in FY93 than FY92.
applications for the AFDC Program. She noted that
rural areas have experienced an increase in applicants
without a corresponding increase in population growth.
She suggested that caseload increases occur as a result
of economic distress.
increased applications, in Sitka, after the mill
closed. She observed that most applicants came from
businesses servicing the mill employees.
also eligible for medicaid.
Assistance discussed medicaid eligibility and claim
increases. She noted that client costs are higher for
elderly patients than for children.
envisioned modifying existing statutes to allow cost
control in the medicaid services list.
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options be reduced.
services for medicaid must be reevaluated. He noted
that the Legislature may not want to drop the last
service added, midwifery, since it may be more cost
effective than other services.
Assistance Program has operated with supplemental
requests. Ms. Busch replied that the program does not
generally operate with cost over runs. She noted that
the Department has requested a FY95 supplemental as
result of litigation settlements. She noted that the
Governor and legislative intent have indicated that
services should not be dropped off.
Hansen reiterated reasons for increased growth in the
AFDC Program. She noted that Anchorage, Matsu and
Kenai have experienced the greatest growth in
applications to the program. She observed that the
Unemployed Parent Program has grown in rural areas.
their PFD's held harmless. He asked if dividends paid
by Native corporations are also held harmless. Ms.
Busch noted that under federal law a portion of the
dividends paid by Native corporations are exempt from
calculations for medical assistance.
Program (APA) has an increased enrollment. She added
that some new recipients may have moved to the State in
order to receive longevity bonus checks.
dropped off the AFDC Program than came on to the
program.
health insurance would reduce welfare recipients. Ms.
Hansen agreed that health insurance would impact the
welfare system. She noted that questionnaires of
clients listed health care for dependents as the
primary reason for remaining on AFDC.
pursuing cases of fraud. She observed that federal
laws allow a pregnant woman to quit a job to go on to
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welfare.
Grussendorf, Ms. Hansen noted that the average AFDC
recipient is a single unemployed parent.
Janet Clarke, Director, Division of Administrative
Services, Department of Health and Social Services
explained that a technical change of PCN allocations is
responsible for the number of new position requests.
(Tape Change, HFC 94-19, Side 2)
Institute (API). She noted that there has been a
funding shift.
Harbor View facility. Ms. Clarke discussed the Day
Treatment Program for Harbor View.
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
Game presented members with an overview of the
Department's FY 95 budget. He noted the importance of
the fishery resource to the State of Alaska.
achieved efficiencies through reorganization. The
Department's divisions have been reduced from nine to
six.
and wildlife resources as Alaska's second largest
revenue source.
receives 40 percent of their budget as general fund
dollars. He stressed that the FY 95 proposed budget
represents a 16 percent reduction in general funds from
FY 92. He asserted that further cuts will result in an
increase risk to fish and game populations.
requesting a $500.0 thousand dollar increment for the
Arctic/Yukon/Kuskokwim Chum Salmon Fishery in the
Division of Commercial Fisheries Management and
Development. The Department is also requesting a $200.0
thousand dollar base adjustment for health insurance
coverage.
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separate Division of Habitat. Commissioner Rosier
emphasized the importance of habitat resource
management. He observed that there are no endangered
fish stocks in the State of Alaska.
Frank Rue, Director, Division of Habitat and
Restoration, discussed 470 funding. He noted that the
Department receives approximately $190.0 thousand
dollars from the 470 Fund to review contingency plans.
He provided members with a summary of 470 funding
within the Department of Fish and Game (copy on file).
p.m.
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