Legislature(1995 - 1996)
03/17/1995 09:01 AM Senate HES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
March 17, 1995
9:01 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Lyda Green, Chairman
Senator Loren Leman, Vice-Chairman
Senator Mike Miller
Senator Judy Salo
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Johnny Ellis
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 98
"An Act making changes related to the aid to families with
dependent children program, the Medicaid program, the general
relief assistance program, and the adult public assistance program;
directing the Department of Health and Social Services to apply to
the federal government for waivers to implement the changes where
necessary; relating to eligibility for permanent fund dividends of
certain individuals who receive state assistance, to notice
requirements applicable to the dividend program; and providing for
an effective date."
PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION
SB 98 - See Health, Education & Social Services minutes dated
3/8/95, 3/10/95, and 3/13/95.
WITNESS REGISTER
Portia Babcock, Staff
Senator Green
State Capitol,
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182¶
POSITION STATEMENT: Reviewed the sectional analysis of SB 98.
Jim Nordlund, Director,
Division of Public Assistance
Department of Health & Social Services
P.O. Box 110640
Juneau, Alaska 99811-0640¶
POSITION STATEMENT: Discussed SB 98.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 95-16, SIDE A
SHES - 3/17/95
SB 98 PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT OF 1995
Number 001
CHAIRMAN GREEN called the Senate Health, Education and Social
Services (HESS) Committee to order at 9:01 a.m. and introduced
SB 98 as the first order of business before the committee. The
Chair called Ms. Babcock to review the sectional analysis on the
bill.
SENATOR MILLER moved that the CS for SB 98, Lauterbach 3/16/95, be
adopted in lieu of the original bill. Hearing no objection, it was
adopted.
Number 025
PORTIA BABCOCK, Staff to Senator Green, reviewed the sectional
analysis prepared by Legislative Counsel Terri Lauterbach, of
Legislative Legal Services, which was submitted to the committee.
Number 074
CHAIRMAN GREEN noted that the bill may need to be amended to
specify "are federal allowable minimum", if that is the intent of
the committee.
Number 079
MS. BABCOCK continued with her review of the sectional analysis.
Number 245
SENATOR LEMAN asked Ms. Babcock if she had checked with the
department to determine if just having the name of the parent is
sufficient for tracking responsibilities.
Number 255
MS. BABCOCK responded that the Child Support Enforcement Division
(CSED) would be required to legally establish paternity prior to
approval of benefits. That can take up to two years. She does not
believe that was the intent. Perhaps there should be clarification
that this does not mean that legal paternity must be established
prior to providing any kind of assistance. Applicants need to name
both parents on the application in order to get the process moving.
Receiving more than just a name is intended; as much information as
possible, including the last known address, should be provided.
SENATOR LEMAN asked Ms. Babcock to check on that.
Number 279
MS. BABCOCK continued with her review of the sectional analysis of
SB 98.
Number 287
SENATOR SALO asked Ms. Babcock if the examples looked at in other
states were part of statute. She suggested that outlining the
"Personal Responsibility Statement" in regulations would more
appropriate.
MS. BABCOCK could not recall if that was in statute, or in
regulation in other states. She would check on that. That section
might also be affected by legislation currently being worked on by
Congress.
Number 302
CHAIRMAN GREEN commented that perhaps the legislation needed to be
less specific on that point.
SENATOR LEMAN suggested that if the department did not want that,
then the committee may want to offer substantial guidelines.
Number 313
MS. BABCOCK continued with her review of the sectional analysis for
SB 98.
Number 392
SENATOR SALO asked Ms. Babcock where "in the project area" would
be. MS. BABCOCK pointed out that page 16, line 17 of SB 98
addresses that.
Number 417
MS. BABCOCK continued with her review of the sectional analysis for
SB 98.
Number 507
JIM NORDLUND, Director of the Division of Public Assistance, stated
that the administration just received the committee substitute last
night and would like time to review the bill in order to establish
a position. He stated that there are some sections of SB 98 the
administration finds acceptable, others they find unacceptable, and
some would merit discussion. He suggested working with committee
staff on language clarification and intent clarification. SB 98 is
a huge bill and will have a dramatic effect on the management of
programs within the Division of Public Assistance as well as some
of the other programs. He informed the committee that 200 hundred
staff hours were spent on the preparation of the fiscal note for
the governor's public aid legislation, and SB 98 is bigger than
that.
Number 533
CHAIRMAN GREEN said that was fine; the committee plans to hold the
legislation for further work anyway.
Number 542
SENATOR SALO recommended that the governor's legislation be before
the committee at the same time as SB 98 in order to juxtapose both
pieces of legislation.
CHAIRMAN GREEN announced that on Wednesday, March 22, and Friday,
March 24, the committee will hear SB 98.
Number 549
MR. NORDLUND expressed concern that SB 98 with the suggested
demonstration projects would be affected by any changes in federal
law. Demonstration projects are experimental, and care should be
taken when considering universal application. Demonstration
projects may not even serve the ends the committee is trying to
achieve. Mr. Nordlund suggested waiting until the passage of
federal legislation, and then develop programs.
Number 562
CHAIRMAN GREEN responded she understood Mr. Nordlund's concern, but
the legislature should look agressively at workfare.
Number 564
MR. NORDLUND commented that there are some programs such as
workfare that the committee would want to consider regardless.
There are some programs that may or may not work, like the
diversion project. He noted that both the administration and the
legislature think that would be a good idea. Perhaps committing to
a program on a statewide basis should not happen until it is known
whether the program would work or not.
CHAIRMAN GREEN asked Mr. Nordlund to explain again what did not
like about the workfare project.
MR. NORDLUND clarified that he was not commenting that he disliked
the workfare project. He explained that the blanket legislation
applying everything on a statewide needed to be reviewed.
Number 573
SENATOR LEMAN requested that Mr. Nordlund specify which programs he
does not think should be applied statewide for the next committee
hearing.
There being no further business before the committee, the meeting
adjourned at 9:46 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|