SENATE BILL NO. 147 "An Act relating to eligibility requirements of the Alaska senior benefits payment program; and providing for an effective date." 9:19:25 AM Co-Chair MacKinnon specified that the most recent version of the bill was a committee substitute from the Senate Health and Social Services Committee. SEAN O'BRIEN, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, discussed SB 147, noting that it made one change to existing law - it would bring consistency to the aspect that a person must be a United States Citizen or qualified alien in order to eligible for a senior benefits program (as stated on line 9 and line 10 of the first page). He furthered that the change would allow the division to be more consistent and catch up with the intent of the program. He thought the language should have been in the program when it was originally established. The bill would also make eligibility standards more similar across public assistance programs. Senator Bishop asked how many qualified alien residents entered the state on an annual basis. 9:22:22 AM AT EASE 9:22:55 AM RECONVENED Mr. O'Brien specified that the department did not have the requested information, however, there were currently 16 individuals that did not appear to meet the citizenship requirements as stated in the bill. He continued that 12 of the 16 individuals did not meet the 5-year waiting period, 3 people were non-immigrants, and 1 person was an illegal immigrant. He was unsure if he had the data to answer Senator Bishop's question, and stated that he would look in to the matter. Co-Chair MacKinnon stated that the committee would check back with the division for the information. She thought it might behoove the committee to seek data from the permanent fund dividend division. She wondered if the eligibility requirements in the bill were similar to those for PFD eligibility. MONICA WINDOM, POLICY DEVELOPMENT CHIEF, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, stated that most programs in the division already had the eligibility requirements, and a change was only required for the senior benefits program. Co-Chair MacKinnon asked Ms. Windom to provide information on the eligibility requirements in the bill (pertaining to residency/citizenship) as compared to those used by the permanent fund dividend division. Ms. Windom clarified that the permanent fund dividend eligibility had the same citizenship and residency requirements as the division. Co-Chair MacKinnon pointed out the applicability on page 2 of the bill, and wondered if the division would retroactively qualify the aforementioned 16 individuals if the bill was passed. Ms. Windom related that the program would have to close the cases of the 16 individuals, who would not qualify if the bill passed. She noted that the individuals were currently receiving benefits. Co-Chair MacKinnon asked how the individuals were receiving benefits if they were not United States citizens. Ms. Windom explained that when the original bill was passed to create the senior benefits program, there was no citizenship requirement written in to the bill. Senator Olson found it troubling that there were individuals who were not U.S. citizens that were receiving public assistance, and wondered how many other DHSS programs allowed for non-citizens to receive public assistance. Ms. Windom confirmed that there were no other programs under DHSS that qualified non-citizens for public assistance. Co-Chair MacKinnon OPENED public testimony. Co-Chair MacKinnon CLOSED public testimony. SB 147 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration. 9:26:32 AM AT EASE 9:27:05 AM RECONVENED