HB 153 ALIENS AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS                            
                                                                              
  ELMER LINDSTROM , Special Assistant to the Commissioner of the               
 Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), stated the                   
 Department supports HB 153.                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN TAYLOR  explained HB 153 brings Alaska into compliance with         
 federal law and provides for continued assistance payments to those           
 people who arrived here prior to the federal cutoff date.  The only           
 people who will be deprived by HB 153 are those people who arrive             
 in the United States as aliens after the date set by Congress.                
                                                                               
  SENATOR ELLIS  arrived.                                                      
                                                                               
  MR. LINDSTROM  agreed with Chairman Taylor.                                  
                                                                               
 There being no further testimony,  SENATOR PEARCE  moved CSHB                 
 153(FIN) from committee with individual recommendations.  There               
 being no objection, the motion carried.                                       
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN TAYLOR  thanked Mr. Lindstrom for his sterling testimony            
 and candid answers to the committee's questions.