HB 236-EXTEND SENIOR BENEFITS PAYMENT PROGRAM  4:45:37 PM CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 236, "An Act extending the Alaska senior benefits payment program." 4:46:34 PM MERCEDES COLBERT, Staff, Representative Scott Kawasaki, Alaska State Legislature, paraphrased from the Sponsors Statement [included in members' packets] which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: House Bill 236 would extend the Senior Benefits Program sunset clause to 2022, ensuring another four years of support for low income seniors across Alaska. Without action, the program would end in 2018. The Senior Benefits Program protects low-income seniors by providing them with modest cash assistance to pay for expenses like food, heating, electricity, transportation and prescription medication. The program was established in 2007 and currently provides assistance to nearly 12,000 Alaskans ages 65 and older with incomes at 75 percent, 100 percent, and 175 percent of the federal poverty level. Assistance ranges from $47 to $250 a month for eligible seniors depending on income and the size of the appropriation from the Alaska State Legislature. The Senior Benefits Program is a successor to the Longevity Bonus, which was created in 1972. This important program protects seniors who have spent a lifetime building this state. It lends a small hand to low-income seniors who need assistance to help make ends meet. Terminating this program would put thousands of seniors at risk for losing means to buy essential items necessary for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 4:49:00 PM REPRESENTATIVE SULLIVAN-LEONARD asked if there was a different process for new applicants to this benefit. REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT KAWASAKI, Alaska State Legislature, acknowledged that the number of beneficiaries was not static, as people moved, died, or decided they did not want the benefit. He said the same amount had been budgeted for the last several years, about $20 million. He said that sometimes the payments would take a different effect relative to the number of recipients. 4:50:46 PM REPRESENTATIVE SULLIVAN-LEONARD asked if anyone could apply and whether there was an open enrollment period. 4:51:42 PM MONICA WINDOM, Director, Director's Office, Division of Public Assistance, Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), said that an individual could apply at any time and there was not a specific enrollment period. 4:52:34 PM KEN HELANDER, Advocacy Director, AARP, stated support for the continuation of the senior benefit program, pointing out that the program would sunset next year if not extended. He reported that his office had received many calls from seniors who were dependent on the benefit from this program. He explained that these people were not able to supplement their already low incomes with a part time job, and "really have very little capacity to cut expenses by being more frugal." He declared that these were "people who are living on the edge ... and they were struggling in independent situations, not wanting to have to leave home, have to go into a higher level of care that ultimately will cost the state a great deal more money per person than these small benefits do." He reported that the AARP policy was that state resources should go, even in times of scarcity, to the people who were most vulnerable and most needy. He added that this program was part of the safety net that the community depended upon. 4:55:27 PM DAVID BLACKETER, Chair, Alaska Commission on Aging, said that all the previous comments and testimony had "been right on." He declared support for proposed HB 236. He shared some of his personal expenses and difficulties to make ends meet, adding that there was "very little cushion" for life spending and minor emergencies. He pointed out that low income people in Alaska were similar to the state, both had reduced income and increased bills. He acknowledged that there was belt tightening but emphasized that "we're down to the end of the belt." He said that this help was very much needed, and he strongly urged passage of proposed HB 236. CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ announced that HB 236 would be held over.