HB 258-GENERAL RELIEF & BURIAL ASSISTANCE  4:34:28 PM CHAIR PRAX announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 258,"An Act relating to general relief and burial assistance; and providing for an effective date." 4:35:41 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS moved to adopt Amendment 1 to HB 258, labeled 33-LS1020\B.2, Bergerud, 2/11/24, which read as follows: Page 4, following line 31: Insert new bill sections to read:  "* Sec. 7. AS 47.25.300(3) is amended to read: (3) "needy person" means a needy resident of the state who is not eligible for aid from another public agency or department providing similar services in the state and who has personal resources of $1,500  or less;  * Sec. 8. AS 47.25.300 is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: (5) "personal resources" does not include credit." Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Page 5, following line 8: Insert a new bill section to read:  "* Sec. 10. 7 AAC 47.160(c)(4) is annulled." Renumber the following bill section accordingly. [REPRESENTATIVE SUMNER] objected. REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS explained that Amendment 1 takes the current statutory $500 resource threshold and updates it to $1,500. He explained his rationale for the amendment and gave examples of how general relief has been used. 4:37:15 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked the bill sponsor for his thoughts on Amendment 1. REPRESENTATIVE WILL STAPP, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor of HB 258, addressed several concerns he had with the amendment. First, the cost of the program would go up. People would qualify for the program who are additionally enrolled in other programs. He pointed out issues that would ensue with the word "credit" being included. He asked Representative Fields how he arrived at the amount of $1,500. 4:38:31 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS responded that the number was calculated by figuring the value of a very old car in Anchorage under the scenario of people living in their car and seeking shelter. 4:38:54 PM CHAIR PRAX asked Representative Sumner if he maintained his objection. [The response was in audible.] 4:39:00 PM A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Mina, McCormick, and Fields voted in favor of Amendment 1 to HB 258. Representatives Sumner, Saddler, and Prax voted against it. Therefore, Amendment 1 failed to be adopted by a vote of 3-3. 4:39:45 PM The committee took a brief at-ease at 4:39 p.m. 4:40:15 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS moved to adopt Amendment 2 to HB 258, labeled 33-LS1020\B.3, Bergerud, 2/12/24, which read as follows: Page 4, following line 16: Insert a new bill section to read: "* Sec. 5. AS 47.25.150 is amended to read: Sec. 47.25.150. Application for assistance. A person requesting burial assistance shall apply for it, either personally or through another person, in a format and manner prescribed in regulations adopted by the department. Regulations adopted under this section must establish an electronic application for assistance and allow an applicant to submit an application in electronic format or in other formats required by state and federal law. The electronic application must inform an applicant that a false statement made on the application will be investigated and is punishable under AS 11.56.210. If a person has been referred to the general relief and burial assistance program by the department, or has applied for and been denied assistance under all other programs administered by the department under this chapter, the department shall determine whether the person is eligible for assistance under AS 47.25.120 - 47.25.300. If the department finds that the person is eligible for assistance, the department shall grant assistance without collecting further information from the person. In this section, "electronic application" means an application for benefits or renewal of benefits, whether the department exclusively administers the benefits or administers the benefits in coordination with another state agency or federal agency, electronically completed and submitted through the department's Internet website." Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. [REPRESENTATIVE SUMNER] objected. REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS explained the rationale for Amendment 2 is to provide "relief of last resort." He suggested the wording makes it more efficient for the department to administer that relief. REPRESENTATIVE STAPP responded that he was not entirely sure if it would work that way. He suggested that it would create more work for the department rather than less. 4:42:32 PM CHAIR PRAX asked Representative Sumner if he maintained his objection. [The response was inaudible.] 4:42:38 PM A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Fields, Mina, and McCormick voted in favor of Amendment 2 to HB 258. Representatives Ruffridge, Saddler, Sumner, and Prax voted against it. Therefore, Amendment 2 to HB 258 failed by a vote of 3-4. 4:43:14 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS moved to adopt Amendment 3 to HB 258, labeled 33-LS1020\B.4, Bergerud, 2/12/24, which read as follows: Page 4, following line 16: Insert a new bill section to read:  "* Sec. 5. AS 47.25.170 is amended to read: Sec. 47.25.170. Granting of assistance. Upon the completion of its investigation, the department shall decide whether the applicant is eligible for and should receive assistance promptly under AS 47.25.120 - 47.25.300, the amount of assistance, the manner of paying or providing it, and the date on which the assistance shall begin. The department may approve an  applicant for a period of up to six months and may  provide the assistance in monthly installments or as a  lump sum. The department shall notify the applicant of its decision."  Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. REPRESENTATIVE SUMNER objected. REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS pointed to the extremely low threshold of the general relief statute and explained that Amendment 3 provides the department authority to meet the overall relief threshold for a six-month period in a lump sum. 4:44:40 PM REPRESENTATIVE STAPP addressed the mechanics of the utilities assistance and how the department negotiates with third-party providers. However, the main objection comes from information provided by staff's discussion with a homeless coordinator. HONOR MILLER-AUSTIN, Staff, Representative Will Stapp, on behalf of Representative Stapp, prime sponsor of HB 258, described what she learned from Bryan Wilson, one of Juneau's homeless coordinators. He referenced programs that worked for him including Section 8 housing, emergency housing vouchers, and emergency rental assistance programs. 4:46:54 PM REPRESENTATIVE MINA addressed the need for additional general relief when costs for housing are rising and people are struggling. There is often a delay in the programs mentioned, and people need emergency options. 4:47:38 PM REPRESENTATIVE STAPP said he did not believe that time-sensitive emergency benefits should go through the Division of Public Assistance, and that is generally the nucleus of the bill. 4:48:10 PM DEB ETHERIDGE, Director, Division of Public Assistance, Department of Health, discussed the issue of payment for emergency shelter. She talked about evictions, duplicate applications, and the maximum allowable amount of $120 a month for hotels. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked Ms. Etheridge to respond to Amendment 3 with its lump sum payment in light of the monthly benefit amount. MS. ETHERIDGE responded that an individual must apply for the $120 benefit each month, so the lump sum would affect their ability to apply. 4:50:34 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS explained that the intent of the amendment is to allow the six-month amount of $70 a month to be used at one time. He said that he also reached out to several people who work with the homeless, and there is not complete agreement as to how best to address the problem. 4:51:37 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER reiterated that the monthly amount of $120 would equal $720. He enquired whether that would contradict the allowable amount of assistance of $120 a month. REPRESENTATIVE STAPP answered that it might eliminate the eligibility entirely because it is capped at a certain amount. He deferred to Ms. Etheridge. MS. ETHERIDGE explained that the general relief program is not a benefit paid to the individual but rather to a vendor. The asset limit is $500. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER requested clarification regarding whether there are time limits to benefits paid on a monthly basis. MS. ETHERIDGE responded that the division's calculations are based on a monthly amount rather than a lump sum. 4:53:49 PM CHAIR PRAX questioned whether the emergency benefits were available on a 24-hour basis and how someone could take advantage of these benefits. MS. ETHERIDGE replied that the Department of Public Assistance operates on an eight to five basis, Monday through Friday, taking emergency requests during those times. 4:54:33 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS reiterated the main points of Amendment 3. 4:55:30 PM CHAIR PRAX asked Representative Sumner if he maintained his objection. [The response was inaudible.] 4:55:34 PM A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Fields, Mina, and McCormick voted in favor of Amendment 3 to HB 258. Representatives Sumner, Ruffridge, Saddler, and Prax voted against it. Therefore, Amendment 3 failed to be adopted by a vote of 3-4. 4:56:10 PM REPRESENTATIVE MINA moved to adopt Amendment 4 to HB 258, labeled 33-LS1020\B.1, Bergerud, 2/10/24, which read as follows: Page 4, lines 26 - 31: Delete all material and insert:  "* Sec. 6. AS 47.25.300(1) is amended to read: (1) "assistance" means financial assistance to or on behalf of a needy person for [, INCLUDING] subsistence (food, shelter, fuel, clothing, and utilities), [AND] transportation, medical needs,  funeral and [(INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, HOSPITALIZATION, NURSING, AND CONVALESCENT CARE),] burial expenses, and other determined needs;" [CHAIR SUMNER] objected. REPRESENTATIVE MINA explained that Amendment 4 retains the rent and utility assistance part of general relief while keeping the part of the bill that addresses the burial services. She pointed out that $120 doesn't seem like a big amount, but it is significant for people who are at risk of homelessness. She pointed out that the processing time for these benefits is nominal, so the benefits outweigh the administrative burden. In addition, she referenced a letter from the Disability Law Center which said deleting the references of shelter from the bill would affect a different line item which is general relief for assisted living homes. The referenced general relief for assisted living is a last resort for individuals who cannot qualify for a Medicaid waiver but who are in need of assisted living services such as people being discharged from corrections, psychiatric institutes, and hospitals. Since there are not enough general relief behavioral health assisted living homes, it is costing the state a lot more. There is a concern that deleting this language would impact other programs. 4:58:49 PM REPRESENTATIVE STAPP addressed the two aspects brought up by Representative Mina. He explained he is concerned with results- based budgeting, and the cost to deliver this nominal service is astronomical. Regarding the second aspect, he thinks there is another amendment which would address that concern. REPRESENTATIVE MINA pointed out that the amendment refers to shelter, so it also addresses utilities. She prefers to keep the language that is currently in statute to allow some flexibility in how it is administered. 5:01:11 PM REPRESENTATIVE SUMNER maintained his objection to Amendment 4. 5:01:15 PM A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Fields and Mina voted in favor of Amendment 4 to HB 258. Representatives Saddler, Ruffridge, and Prax voted against it. [Representative Sumner passed.] 5:01:51 PM The committee took a brief at-ease at 5:02 p.m. 5:02:08 PM CHAIR PRAX voided the roll for Amendment 4 to HB 258. 5:02:18 PM A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Fields and Mina voted in favor of Amendment 4 to HB 258. Representatives Ruffridge, Sadler, Sumner, and Prax voted against it. Therefore, Amendment 4 failed to be adopted by a vote of 2-4. 5:02:51 PM The committee took an at-ease from 5:02 to 5:04 p.m. 5:04:16 PM CHAIR PRAX moved to adopt Amendment 5 to HB 258, labeled 33- LS1020\B.5, Bergerud, 2/12/24, which read as follows: Page 4, line 29, following "needs,": Insert "assisted living facility expenses," There being no objection, Amendment 5 was adopted. 5:04:57 PM REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to report HB 258, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. 5:05:17 PM The committee took a brief at-ease at 5:05 p.m.. 5:05:33 PM CHAIR PRAX announced there being no objection, CSHB 258(HSS) was reported from the House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.