ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
      HOUSE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                     
                       February 24, 2024                                                                                        
                           3:02 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Mike Prax, Chair                                                                                                 
Representative Justin Ruffridge, Vice Chair                                                                                     
Representative CJ McCormick                                                                                                     
Representative Dan Saddler                                                                                                      
Representative Jesse Sumner                                                                                                     
Representative Genevieve Mina                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Zack Fields                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 275                                                                                                              
"An   Act   relating   to  sexual   assault   examination   kits;                                                               
establishing the sexual assault  examination kit tracking system;                                                               
and providing for an effective date."                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 264                                                                                                              
"An  Act  requiring  the  Department   of  Family  and  Community                                                               
Services to  adopt a uniform  screening tool;  requiring shelters                                                               
for runaway  minors to screen  minors for  victimization relating                                                               
to  sexual   abuse,  sex   trafficking,  and   commercial  sexual                                                               
exploitation; requiring  the Department  of Family  and Community                                                               
Services  to screen  children in  need of  aid for  victimization                                                               
relating to sexual abuse, sex  trafficking, and commercial sexual                                                               
exploitation;  and relating  to  the duty  of  the Department  of                                                               
Family and  Community Services to investigate  the experiences of                                                               
missing children in need of aid who have been located."                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED CSHB 264(HSS) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 196                                                                                                              
"An  Act  relating  to   the  supplemental  nutrition  assistance                                                               
program; and providing for an effective date."                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 275                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAMINATION KITS/TRACKING                                                                           
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
01/18/24       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
01/18/24       (H)       HSS, FIN                                                                                               
01/30/24       (H)       HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106                                                                               
01/30/24       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
01/30/24       (H)       MINUTE(HSS)                                                                                            
02/22/24       (H)       HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106                                                                               
02/22/24       (H)       -- Public Testimony --                                                                                 
02/24/24       (H)       HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 264                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: CHILD TRAFFICKING SCREENING                                                                                        
SPONSOR(s): VANCE                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
01/16/24       (H)       PREFILE RELEASED 1/12/24                                                                               
01/16/24       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
01/16/24       (H)       HSS, FIN                                                                                               
01/30/24       (H)       HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106                                                                               
01/30/24       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
01/30/24       (H)       MINUTE(HSS)                                                                                            
02/08/24       (H)       HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106                                                                               
02/08/24       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/08/24       (H)       MINUTE(HSS)                                                                                            
02/22/24       (H)       HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106                                                                               
02/22/24       (H)       -- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be                                                                 
                         Set> --                                                                                                
02/24/24       (H)       HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 196                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: FOOD STAMP PROGRAM ELIGIBILTY                                                                                      
SPONSOR(s): MINA                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
05/08/23       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
05/08/23       (H)       HSS, FIN                                                                                               
02/22/24       (H)       HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106                                                                               
02/22/24       (H)       Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled                                                                       
02/24/24       (H)       HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
LISA PURINTON, Director                                                                                                         
Division of Statewide Services                                                                                                  
Legislative Liaison                                                                                                             
Department of Public Safety                                                                                                     
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 275.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
KATY BOTZ, representing self                                                                                                    
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 275.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
LAUREE MORTON, representing self                                                                                                
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 275.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MOLLIE MONTAGUE, Director                                                                                                       
State Legislative Affairs                                                                                                       
Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN)                                                                                  
New York, New York                                                                                                              
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 275.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
TARA HENRY, representing self                                                                                                   
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Expressed concern with the seven-day                                                                     
deadline.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MAXINE DOOGAN, President                                                                                                        
Community United for Safety & Protection                                                                                        
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in opposition to HB 275.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
BURCU SAGIROGLU, Policy and Advocacy Associate                                                                                  
Joyful Heart Foundation                                                                                                         
New York, New York                                                                                                              
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 275.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SARAH VANCE                                                                                                      
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  As prime sponsor, presented HB 264.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
DELAYNA WEST, representing self                                                                                                 
Homer, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 264.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
KAT MCELROY                                                                                                                     
No address provided                                                                                                             
POSITION STATEMENT:  Had her testimony read by Terra Burns.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
TERRA BURNS, Advocate                                                                                                           
Community United for Safety & Protection                                                                                        
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 264.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
TATIANA ROTHCHILD, Volunteer                                                                                                    
Community United for Safety & Protection                                                                                        
Providence, Rhode Island                                                                                                        
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of Amendment 5 to HB                                                                
264.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
AMBER NICKERSON, representing self                                                                                              
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of Amendment 5 to HB                                                                
264.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
BRENDA EDENS, representing self                                                                                                 
Homer, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 264.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MAXINE DOOGAN, President                                                                                                        
Community United for Safety & Protection                                                                                        
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of Amendment 5 to HB                                                                
264.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
BOB BALLINGER, Staff                                                                                                            
Representative Sarah Vance                                                                                                      
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Explained an amendment to HB 264 on behalf                                                               
of Representative Vance, prime sponsor.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SHANNON DILLEY, Director                                                                                                        
Division of Juvenile Justice                                                                                                    
Department of Family and Community Services                                                                                     
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of Amendment 1 to HB                                                                
264.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
KIM GUAY, Director                                                                                                              
Office of Children's Services                                                                                                   
Department of Family and Community Services                                                                                     
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of Amendment 1 to HB                                                                
264.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GENEVIEVE MINA                                                                                                   
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  As prime sponsor, presented HB 196.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
KATY GIORGIO, Staff                                                                                                             
Representative Genevieve Mina                                                                                                   
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Presented the sectional analysis of HB 196                                                               
on behalf of Representative Mina, prime sponsor.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
RON MEEHAN, Director of Government Affairs                                                                                      
Food Bank of Alaska;                                                                                                            
Manager                                                                                                                         
Food Bank Coalition                                                                                                             
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 196.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
ERIN WALKER-TOLLES, Executive Director                                                                                          
Catholic Community Services                                                                                                     
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 196.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
DEB ETHERIDGE Director                                                                                                          
Division of Public Assistance                                                                                                   
Department of Health                                                                                                            
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Answered questions from the committee                                                                    
regarding HB 196.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:02:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX called  the House Health and  Social Services Standing                                                             
Committee  meeting  to order  at  [3:02  p.m.].   Representatives                                                               
McCormick, Saddler,  Mina, Prax, Ruffridge  (via teleconference),                                                               
and  Sumner (via  teleconference)  were present  at  the call  to                                                               
order.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
        HB 275-SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAMINATION KITS/TRACKING                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:04:24 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX  announced that the  first order of business  would be                                                               
HOUSE  BILL  NO.   275,  "An  Act  relating   to  sexual  assault                                                               
examination  kits; establishing  the  sexual assault  examination                                                               
kit tracking system; and providing for an effective date."                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:05:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LISA   PURINTON,  Director,   Division  of   Statewide  Services,                                                               
Legislative  Liaison,  Department  of  Public  Safety,  spoke  in                                                               
support of HB 275.  She  explained the bill would codify existing                                                               
processes  and streamline  the  requirements  for processing  the                                                               
sexual assault examination kit.   It would require the Department                                                               
of  Public Safety  to develop  and  maintain a  system where  the                                                               
sexual  assault kits  are tracked  from the  manufacturer through                                                               
completion  of  the  testing  at   the  state  crime  lab.    The                                                               
department  has  sought federal  funding  and  has purchased  and                                                               
implemented this  tracking kit system.   It is in place,  and the                                                               
department has  worked with medical  services and  providers, law                                                               
enforcement  agencies, and  prosecutors to  implement and  employ                                                               
the  system statewide.   The  benefit of  the system  is that  it                                                               
allows accountability  and also allows victims  of sexual assault                                                               
to identify  the location  and the  completion of  the test.   It                                                               
sets timelines for lab processing;  timelines for law enforcement                                                               
to collect the  kits; and timelines for the  medical providers to                                                               
complete the kits and notify law enforcement.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:08:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX opened public testimony on HB 275.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:08:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KATY BOTZ,  representing self,  testified in  support of  HB 275.                                                               
She described it  as a good clean bill and  victim oriented.  She                                                               
discussed the  trauma of sexual  assault and shared  her personal                                                               
experience.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:10:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LAUREE  MORTON, representing  self,  testified in  support of  HB                                                               
275.  She explained that originally,  she had planned to speak in                                                               
her role  as deputy  director of the  Alaska Network  on Domestic                                                               
Violence  and Sexual  Assault (ANDVSA),  which also  supports the                                                               
bill; however, she decided to testify  for herself.  She shared a                                                               
personal experience  and described how  difficult it is  to speak                                                               
and  how control  is taken  away.   Being able  to track  the kit                                                               
would be  using technology  to bring comfort  and a  semblance of                                                               
autonomy.   She appreciates the  bill giving a victim  rights and                                                               
allowing them to have agency over  what happens to them and about                                                               
them.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MS. MORTON also spoke in  an official capacity briefly describing                                                               
the work of the Network.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:15:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER  asked whether the tracking  kits are also                                                               
a benefit for victims of domestic violence.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS.  MORTON  explained  that   under  victims'  rights,  domestic                                                               
violence victims have opportunities  to keep informed through the                                                               
prosecutor's office.  The system  is supposed to be responsive to                                                               
victims of  domestic violence.   The Department of  Public Safety                                                               
is  working to  improve  access to  those  rights through  victim                                                               
navigator services.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:17:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SADDLER commented  that there  had been  a system                                                               
for gathering sexual assault evidence.   The genesis of this bill                                                               
is the  realization that processing  those kits is  not happening                                                               
in  a timely  fashion.    He questioned  whether  the system  for                                                               
domestic violence is working.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS.  MORTON  replied that  things  can  always  be better.    She                                                               
expanded  by explaining  that parts  are better  and pointed  out                                                               
opportunities for improvement.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:18:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MCCORMICK  asked about the deficiencies  in access                                                               
to   services  for   individuals   living  in   rural  and   Bush                                                               
communities.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. MORTON touched upon some of  her early work in Bethel.  There                                                               
is an  awareness of law enforcement  deficiencies, response times                                                               
are  difficult, and  weather plays  a  part.   She described  the                                                               
network's advocacy programs are  the emergency departments in the                                                               
system.   They  need to  be available  and fully  equipped, fully                                                               
staffed 24/7,  365 days a  year.  They  catch people as  they are                                                               
falling.   She  explained that  not enough  is done  to fund  and                                                               
support  victim  services and  said,  "We  are still  doing  bake                                                               
sales."   In the broader  context, the criminal  justice response                                                               
is necessary,  but the  vision of  what is  possible needs  to be                                                               
expanded  to reach  the Alaska  women who  are victims  of sexual                                                               
assault and/or domestic violence.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:23:16 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MCCORMICK  expressed his appreciation of  the work                                                               
done to assist Alaska women in crises.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:23:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MOLLIE  MONTAGUE,  Director,  State  Legislative  Affairs,  Rape,                                                               
Abuse, & Incest National Network  (RAINN), spoke in support of HB                                                               
275.   She  discussed  the history  of RAINN  and  its work  with                                                               
victims and  survivors.   She provided  examples relating  to the                                                               
importance of  transparency and timely  processing of  rape kits,                                                               
and mentioned other states that are employing similar ideas.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:26:12 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SADDLER   expressed  his  appreciation   for  the                                                               
national  perspective  and  asked  whether other  states  have  a                                                               
similar tracking system to the one proposed by this bill.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. MONTAGUE  replied that she  would look at  her organization's                                                               
research and get back to the committee.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:27:01 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TARA HENRY, representing  self, explained that the  concept of HB                                                               
275  is good  but  would have  unintended negative  consequences.                                                               
She described  the difficulty of  meeting the  seven-day deadline                                                               
and  the  difficulties  for  nursing  and  medical  staff.    She                                                               
described  the  steps  medical  staff must  follow  in  order  to                                                               
complete the kits  and stated it was unreasonable  to legislate a                                                               
time   limit   without   discussion  with   Alaska's   healthcare                                                               
providers.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:31:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MINA asked what the  average turnaround time would                                                               
be for a  forensic nurse to process a  sexual assault examination                                                               
kit.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MS. HENRY  discussed a  number of factors  that would  affect the                                                               
time  to  process  a  kit  and gave  examples  of  issues.    She                                                               
speculated that  the busier programs might  take approximately 10                                                               
days,  but  there was  not  enough  information for  an  informed                                                               
opinion.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:33:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked  whether Ms. Henry was  aware of any                                                               
other  states that  have similar  tracking requirements  and what                                                               
time frames they have.  The  committee would like to stay current                                                               
with  best practices  and would  like  to know  how other  states                                                               
approach these timelines.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. HENRY  replied that some  other states have timelines.   Best                                                               
practices are as soon as  possible, ideally within three business                                                               
days.   But  there are  not many  statutes in  other states  that                                                               
mandate  time frames.   Most  of the  time frames  range from  24                                                               
hours  to a  couple  weeks  to release  that  information to  law                                                               
enforcement.   Things  to take  into consideration  are what  the                                                               
processes  are in  specific  communities,  what documentation  is                                                               
required,  and the  volume  of caseloads.    Because Alaska  just                                                               
started the tracking  system, there is not a lot  of data at this                                                               
time.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:37:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MAXINE  DOOGAN,   President,  Community   United  for   Safety  &                                                               
Protection, spoke  in opposition to  HB 275.  She  explained that                                                               
her  organization's members  are  Alaska current  and former  sex                                                               
workers,  sex  trafficking  victims,   and  their  allies.    She                                                               
expressed  concern regarding  privacy  and  that law  enforcement                                                               
might  be  able  to  keep  the DNA  of  rape  victims  for  other                                                               
purposes.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:39:02 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 3:29 to 3:40 p.m.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:40:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BURCU  SAGIROGLU, Policy  and  Advocacy  Associate, Joyful  Heart                                                               
Foundation,  spoke  in  favor  of  HB  275.    He  explained  the                                                               
organization he works  with has a top priority  of processing the                                                               
backlog  of   untested  rape   kits.     He  discussed   how  law                                                               
enforcement, hospitals,  and medical  facilities have  dealt with                                                               
rape  kits.   He  provided  information  regarding deadlines  for                                                               
various   states.     He  also   discussed   the  importance   of                                                               
transparency and being able to track  the progress of the kits as                                                               
they are being processed.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:43:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX, after  ascertaining there was no one  else who wished                                                               
to testify, closed public testimony on HB 275.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:43:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX announced HB 275 was held over.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:44:26 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 3:44 to 3:46 p.m.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
               HB 264-CHILD TRAFFICKING SCREENING                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:46:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX  announced that  the next order  of business  would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL  NO. 264, "An  Act requiring the Department  of Family                                                               
and  Community  Services  to  adopt  a  uniform  screening  tool;                                                               
requiring  shelters  for  runaway  minors to  screen  minors  for                                                               
victimization  relating to  sexual  abuse,  sex trafficking,  and                                                               
commercial  sexual  exploitation;  requiring  the  Department  of                                                               
Family and Community  Services to screen children in  need of aid                                                               
for victimization relating to sexual  abuse, sex trafficking, and                                                               
commercial sexual exploitation;  and relating to the  duty of the                                                               
Department of  Family and Community  Services to  investigate the                                                               
experiences  of missing  children in  need of  aid who  have been                                                               
located."                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:46:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SARAH  VANCE, Alaska  State Legislature,  as prime                                                               
sponsor,  described HB  264  as  an act  that  would require  the                                                               
Department of Family and Community  Services to adopt a screening                                                               
tool  for   the  purposes  of   screening  children   for  sexual                                                               
exploitation.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:47:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  PRAX  reopened  public testimony  on  HB  264  [previously                                                               
closed on 2/8/24].                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
DELAYNA WEST, representing self, testified in support of HB 264.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:49:05 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KAT MCELROY  had her testimony  read by  Terra Burns.   Ms. Burns                                                               
read  that Ms.  McElroy has  served on  the Nenana  City Assembly                                                               
since 2008, has greatgrandchildren, and  is a registered voter in                                                               
Alaska.   Ms.  McElroy  worked  for 3  decades  as an  addictions                                                               
counselor for vulnerable populations  and learned that asking the                                                               
wrong  questions  can illicit  "bad  information."   Ms.  McElroy                                                               
wrote  that HB  264 "would  do  exactly that"  and requested  the                                                               
committee vote  no on HB  264, as written, and  support Amendment                                                               
5.                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:50:09 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TERRA  BURNS,  representing  self,  explained  that  HB  264,  as                                                               
written,  would  result  in   false  and  misleading  definitions                                                               
leading to  false statistics.   She  encouraged the  committee to                                                               
[adopt] Amendment 5.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:51:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 3:51 to 3:52 p.m.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:52:03 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TATIANA  ROTHCHILD,  Volunteer,  Community United  for  Safety  &                                                               
Protection, explained that  she was a PhD  candidate in Political                                                               
Science  at Northeastern  University and  a volunteer  researcher                                                               
with Community  United for Safety  & Protection.  She  has worked                                                               
in  the  anti-trafficking movement  for  over  a decade  and  her                                                               
research explores  how different institutional  structures engage                                                               
in anti-human-trafficking  work.   She specifically  examined how                                                               
different definitions have been  used by different organizations.                                                               
She  shared that  her support  of Amendment  5 comes  from seeing                                                               
negative  results  of  misleading definitions  which  criminalize                                                               
minors who are victims.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:55:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
AMBER NICKERSON,  representing self, Community United  for Safety                                                               
& Protection,  spoke in support  of Amendment 5  to HB 264.   She                                                               
described  her personal  experience  and reviewed  the result  of                                                               
poor definitions  in previous bills,  resulting in  victims being                                                               
treated as  criminals.  In its  current form, she warned,  HB 264                                                               
is part  of a "foster care  to prison pipeline," but  Amendment 5                                                               
would add the criminal definition of sex trafficking and                                                                        
prostitution of minors.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:58:16 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BRENDA EDENS, representing self, spoke in support of HB 264.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:59:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MAXINE  DOOGAN,   President,  Community   United  for   Safety  &                                                               
Protection, testified  in opposition to  [HB 264] in  its current                                                               
form because  the definitions  would lead  to bad  public policy.                                                               
The   organization  she   represents  supports   the  definitions                                                               
proposed in Amendment 5.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:01:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX, after ascertaining no one else wished to testify,                                                                   
closed public testimony on HB 264.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:01:24 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 4:01 to 4:06 p.m.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:06:36 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER moved to adopt Amendment 1 to HB 264,                                                                    
labeled 33-LS1126\S.4, Bergerud, 2/15/24, which read as follows:                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Page 1, lines 1 - 2:                                                                                                       
          Delete "adopt a uniform screening tool"                                                                             
        Insert "develop a shared screening methodology"                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, lines 5 - 6:                                                                                                       
         Delete "uniform screening tool adopted under"                                                                          
          Insert "screening methods developed in"                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, lines 17 - 23:                                                                                                     
          Delete all material and insert:                                                                                       
          "(u)  The department shall work with agency                                                                           
     partners  and  advocacy   organizations  to  develop  a                                                                    
     shared screening methodology  to appropriately identify                                                                    
     whether  a  child is  a  victim  of sexual  abuse,  sex                                                                    
     trafficking,  or  commercial sexual  exploitation.  The                                                                    
     methods  shall  support  the  trafficking  information-                                                                    
     gathering efforts  in the  state. The  department shall                                                                    
     screen  a child  committed to  the department  upon the                                                                    
     child's initial  commitment to the department  and when                                                                    
     the  department  receives information  indicating  that                                                                    
     the  child  may  be  a  victim  of  sexual  abuse,  sex                                                                    
     trafficking, or commercial sexual exploitation."                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, following line 31:                                                                                                 
          Insert a new bill section to read:                                                                                    
        "*  Sec.  5. The  uncodified  law  of the  State  of                                                                
     Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                                         
     TRANSITION.  The  Department  of Family  and  Community                                                                    
     Services  shall  develop  and begin  using  the  shared                                                                    
     screening methodology  required by  sec. 4 of  this Act                                                                    
     not later than  one year after the date  this Act takes                                                                    
     effect."                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX objected for the purpose of discussion.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SADDLER clarified  that the  amendment eases  the                                                               
requirement and asks to develop  as opposed to adopting a uniform                                                               
screening tool.   He said the Department of  Family and Community                                                               
Services  and the  Division of  Juvenile Justice  hope that  this                                                               
will improve things.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:07:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE  explained that  this amendment  was brought                                                               
forward by the department in order  to work with what it believes                                                               
is  achievable  and  create  the  best  method  to  partner  with                                                               
organizations in the state to develop a screening methodology.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:08:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BOB BALLINGER,  Staff, Representative  Sarah Vance,  Alaska State                                                               
Legislature, on  behalf of Representative Vance,  stated that the                                                               
Amendment 1 does  not change the original intent of  HB 264 much;                                                               
it adds  an implementation deadline  and changes the  language to                                                               
provide more flexibility.  There  would be some uniformity in the                                                               
information,  but  there  would   be  slight  variations  in  the                                                               
screening tool.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:09:12 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SHANNON   DILLEY,  Director,   Division   of  Juvenile   Justice,                                                               
Department of  Family and Community Services,  explained that the                                                               
division supports Amendment  1 to HB 264.  The  division has been                                                               
conducting  screening tools  about trafficking  since 2018.   The                                                               
tools  are  effective  in collecting  data,  and  this  amendment                                                               
supports the continuation of those tools.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:09:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KIM  GUAY,   Director,  Office  of  Children's   Services  (OCS),                                                               
Department of Family and Community  Services, spoke in support of                                                               
Amendment 1 to HB  264.  She explained that OCS  also has its own                                                               
screening tool that its uses.   While all tools could be updated,                                                               
different organizations use  tools that best fit  the groups they                                                               
work with,  so while there needs  to be a methodology  about what                                                               
data  is collected,  the tool  does  not necessarily  need to  be                                                               
uniform.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:10:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  PRAX  removed  his  objection   to  the  motion  to  adopt                                                               
Amendment 1.   There being no further objection,  Amendment 1 was                                                               
adopted.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:11:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MINA,  in response  to Chair  Prax, said  that she                                                               
would not be moving Amendment 2 [in committee packet].                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:11:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SADDLER moved  to adopt  Amendment 3  to HB  264,                                                               
labeled 33LS1126\S.1, Bergerud, 2/5/24, which read as follows:                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Page 1, line 1, following "Act":                                                                                         
          Insert "extending the termination date of the                                                                       
     board of massage therapists;"                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     Page 1, following line 9:                                                                                                  
     Insert a new bill section to read:                                                                                         
        "* Section 1. AS 08.03.010(c)(12) is amended to                                                                     
     read:                                                                                                                      
               (12)       Board   of    Massage   Therapists                                                                    
     (AS 08.61.010) - June 30, 2030 [2024];"                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Page 1, line 10:                                                                                                           
          Delete "Section 1"                                                                                                  
          Insert "Sec. 2"                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Renumber the following bill sections accordingly.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX objected for the purpose of discussion.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SADDLER commented  that  the legislative  process                                                               
allows  for adding  anything to  a  bill; this  would change  the                                                               
title.  He  did not support turning this bill  into a "two headed                                                               
creature."   The bill is  thorough and addresses  sex trafficking                                                               
and would create a good screening tool.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:12:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX maintained his objection.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
A roll  call vote was taken.   No representatives voted  in favor                                                               
of Amendment  3.  Representatives McCormick,  Ruffridge, Saddler,                                                               
Sumner, Mina, and  Prax voted against it.   Representative Fields                                                               
was absent.   Therefore, Amendment 3  to HB 264 failed  by a vote                                                               
of 0-6.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:13:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease at 4:13 p.m.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:13:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX called on Representative  Mina to present Amendment 5.                                                               
[Amendment 4, in the committee packet, was not offered.]                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MINA  moved  to  adopt Amendment  5  to  HB  264,                                                               
labeled 33-LS1126|S.6, Bergerud, 2/20/24, which read as follows:                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Page 1, lines 3 - 4:                                                                                                       
          Delete "commercial sexual exploitation"                                                                             
          Insert "prostitution"                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Page 1, line 6:                                                                                                            
          Delete "commercial sexual exploitation"                                                                             
          Insert "prostitution"                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, lines 1 - 3:                                                                                                       
          Delete all material and insert:                                                                                       
               "(2)  "prostitution" means engaging in                                                                       
     sexual conduct in return for a fee;                                                                                    
               (3)  "sex trafficking" means engaging in                                                                     
     sexual conduct for the financial benefit of another;                                                                   
               (4)  "sexual conduct" has the meaning given                                                                  
     in AS 11.66.150."                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                              
     Page 2, line 7:                                                                                                            
          Delete ", or at risk of becoming a victim,"                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 8:                                                                                                            
          Delete "commercial sexual exploitation"                                                                               
          Insert "prostitution"                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 11:                                                                                                           
          Delete "commercial sexual exploitation"                                                                               
          Insert "prostitution"                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 12:                                                                                                           
          Delete "a new paragraph"                                                                                              
          Insert "new paragraphs"                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, lines 13 - 15:                                                                                                     
          Delete all material and insert:                                                                                       
               "(4)  "prostitution" means engaging in                                                                           
     sexual conduct in return for a fee;                                                                                        
               (5)  "sex trafficking" means engaging in                                                                         
     sexual conduct for the financial benefit of another;                                                                       
               (6)  "sexual conduct" has the meaning given                                                                      
     in AS 11.66.150."                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, lines 18 - 19:                                                                                                     
          Delete ", or at risk of becoming a victim,"                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 19:                                                                                                           
          Delete "commercial sexual exploitation."                                                                              
          Insert "prostitution. The tool must screen for                                                                        
     sexual  abuse,  sex  trafficking, and  prostitution  as                                                                    
     distinct categories,  and the department  must maintain                                                                    
     the distinct  categories when aggregating  or reporting                                                                    
     data gathered using the tool."                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 23:                                                                                                           
          Delete "commercial sexual exploitation"                                                                               
          Insert "prostitution"                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 31:                                                                                                           
          Delete "commercial sexual exploitation"                                                                               
     Insert "prostitution"                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER objected.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MINA explained that Amendment 5 changes the bill                                                                 
in terms of the type of data and definitions the uniform                                                                        
screening tool  would use.   She expressed appreciation  that the                                                               
stakeholders are  coming together to  work on the  screening tool                                                               
and  standardize  the  system for  foster  children  and  runaway                                                               
children.   She  expressed concern  about the  language regarding                                                               
commercial  sexual  exploitation.   This  amendment  focuses  the                                                               
uniform  screening tool  on  prostitution,  sex trafficking,  and                                                               
sexual conduct.  Representative Mina  posited that there is merit                                                               
to  understanding   data  when   screening  youth  that   are  in                                                               
vulnerable  positions   and  emphasized   the  worth   in  having                                                               
discussions  on  definitions.   She  clarified  that Amendment  5                                                               
refers to  definitions that are  currently in state  statute, but                                                               
the term "commercial sexual exploitation" is a new definition.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:15:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE responded that  extensive work had been done                                                               
on these definitions.  The  legislature is currently updating the                                                               
criminal  definitions around  sex trafficking,  sex conduct,  and                                                               
commercial sexual exploitation.   Amendment 5 would undermine the                                                               
purpose   of  having   a  screening   of   children  for   sexual                                                               
exploitation.   The purpose is  to catch children before  in that                                                               
place of vulnerability before it  turns into further exploitation                                                               
where children  are prostituting themselves  as spoken of  by the                                                               
testifiers.   The  hope is  that children  who come  into contact                                                               
with the  state can be  caught at  the earliest moment  of sexual                                                               
violence or  exploitation.  The  current statutory  definition of                                                               
commercial  exploitation,  which  aligns with  other  legislation                                                               
being updated in  partnership with the Department of  Law, is sex                                                               
abuse or  sexual exploitation  for the  financial benefit  of any                                                               
person or in exchange for anything  of value given or received by                                                               
any person.   Representative Vance emphasized the  latter part of                                                               
the  definition.   She  further emphasized  that  the sooner  the                                                               
state is able to find out if  a child is being exploited or using                                                               
"survival sex"  in exchange for  food and shelter, the  sooner it                                                               
can  help  that  child.     Amendment  5  would  change  that  to                                                               
"prostitution."   Children  cannot consent  to prostitution,  and                                                               
that needs to be highlighted  in this conversation.  Prostitution                                                               
is  an illegal  adult  activity.   Children  cannot consent,  and                                                               
anything  that says  otherwise  is dangerous.    She stated  that                                                               
definitions and  language matter  greatly, and she  expressed her                                                               
hope that  the definitions of commercial  sexual exploitation and                                                               
sexual activity would be updated in law.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:19:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  PRAX  reiterated  the concern  of  some  public  testimony                                                               
regarding a  federal definition and  questioned whether  the term                                                               
"prostitution" is what is used in the federal definition.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR. BALLINGER explained  that in the state they are,  but that is                                                               
part of  the problem.   The bill was  initially set up  to screen                                                               
children who  are victims, but if  you are screening them  to see                                                               
whether they were engaged in  prostitution, that is a crime which                                                               
creates  a  problem  in  that  these are  children  and  you  are                                                               
interviewing children,  minors, whether or not  they were engaged                                                               
in  criminal activity.    So,  I guess  you  would  have to  give                                                               
Miranda, contact  their parents,  etc.   It thwarts  the purpose.                                                               
The purpose is  not to find out if they  are criminals engaged in                                                               
this activity  or whether they may  be victims.  That  is part of                                                               
the  problem of  using a  criminal definition.   The  definitions                                                               
that  are used  here, this  new definition,  only apply  to these                                                               
code sections.   That  definition would not  be used  in criminal                                                               
law.   It  is only  used to  identify the  child victims  in this                                                               
case.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  PRAX  reiterated  that  the  definition  only  applied  to                                                               
children because they were underage and unable to consent.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR. BALLINGER agreed.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:21:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. GUAY  explained that the  department opposes the  language in                                                               
Amendment 5.   Children should be  looked at as victims  in these                                                               
situations.  Prostitution is an  illegal act.  Children should be                                                               
looked at  as victims in  these situations.   There is  shame and                                                               
blame  that   comes  with  the  language   of  prostitution,  sex                                                               
trafficking,  and  sexual  conduct.     The  language  of  sexual                                                               
exploitation  incorporates  pornography   and  video  pornography                                                               
where children  are controlled and do  not have the right  to say                                                               
no because of survival.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  PRAX  brought  up  the   concern  raised  by  one  of  the                                                               
testifiers that collecting DNA could  be used against them in the                                                               
future.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS. GUAY  explained that  this refers to  collection of  data and                                                               
they would not be collecting DNA.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:24:36 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCORMICK  referred  to one  testifier's  comment                                                               
that,  as currently  written,  the bill  creates  foster care  to                                                               
prison pipeline and asked for a response to that concern.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS.  DILLEY responded  that  the bill  does not  do  that in  her                                                               
opinion but rather connects victimized  children to services that                                                               
will help them.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:25:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MINA explained  her reasoning  regarding creating                                                               
more  specificity  in  the  definitions,  specifically  regarding                                                               
commercial sexual exploitation.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:27:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCORMICK asked  Representative Vance  to respond                                                               
to the foster care to pipeline concern.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE  responded that nationwide sixty  percent of                                                               
trafficking  victims have  gone through  the foster  care system.                                                               
It  is  believed   that  in  Alaska  up  to   eighty  percent  of                                                               
trafficking victims have  been through foster care.   The earlier                                                               
the  screening,  the sooner  the  intervention.   This  bill  and                                                               
further screening  will help prevent  a pipeline  of exploitation                                                               
of kids  in our foster  care system.   For example,  the Covenant                                                               
House screening tool  identified 27 more victims  that would have                                                               
otherwise  been missed,  allowing the  youth to  get the  support                                                               
they  would need  to  avoid  future exploitation  and  harm.   In                                                               
addition to  helping children who  have been victims, it  is also                                                               
important  to  be proactive  in  preventing  the exploitation  of                                                               
youth.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:30:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  PRAX asked  whether Representative  Saddler maintains  his                                                               
objection.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER replied in the affirmative.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:30:34 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
A roll call  vote was taken.  Representatives  Mina and McCormick                                                               
voted  in  favor of  Amendment  5  of  HB 264.    Representatives                                                               
Ruffridge,  Saddler, Sumner,  and  Chair Prax  voted against  it.                                                               
Representative Fields was absent.   Therefore, Amendment 5 failed                                                               
by a vote of 2 - 4.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:31:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 4:31 to 4:32 p.m.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:32:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER  moved to report  HB 264, as  amended, out                                                               
of   committee,   with   individual   recommendations   and   the                                                               
accompanying  fiscal  notes.   There  being  no  objection,  CSHB                                                               
264(HSS)  was  reported  out  of  the  House  Health  and  Social                                                               
Services Standing Committee.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:33:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 4:33 p.m. to 4:36 p.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
              HB 196-FOOD STAMP PROGRAM ELIGIBILTY                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:36:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX  announced that the  final order of business  would be                                                               
HOUSE  BILL  NO.  196,  "An  Act  relating  to  the  supplemental                                                               
nutrition  assistance program;  and  providing  for an  effective                                                               
date."                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:37:05 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
GENEVIEVE  MINA,   Alaska  State  Representative,   Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, introduced HB  196 to the committee.   She explained                                                               
she would  discuss the Supplemental Nutrition  Assistance Program                                                               
[SNAP] and eligibility for the program.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MINA showed  a PowerPoint  presentation regarding                                                               
HB  196, entitled,  "Broad-Based Categorical  Eligibility."   She                                                               
explained that SNAP is Alaska's  strongest food security program,                                                               
and  it is  a hundred  percent funded  by federal  dollars.   The                                                               
program encourages  its recipients to  work, and the  majority of                                                               
SNAP participants  do work.   Alaska follows  federal guidelines,                                                               
but  the program  allows  some flexibility  regarding  how it  is                                                               
administered including how eligibility is defined.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MINA  presented  slide   3  which  described  the                                                               
history of  the SNAP program in  Alaska.  She showed  slide 4 and                                                               
talked  about what  is referred  to  as the  "benefit cliff"  and                                                               
introduced  the flexibility  options  available  to Alaska  under                                                               
Broad-Based  Categorical  Eligibility  (BBCE).   The  BBCE  would                                                               
eliminate  the  asset test  and  would  allow the  Department  of                                                               
health  to  increase  the  income  limit from  130%  to  200%  of                                                               
Alaska's poverty  level.  She moved  to slide 5 which  showed the                                                               
step-down approach to transitioning  individuals and families off                                                               
SNAP.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:44:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  PRAX  asked  for  clarification  regarding  the  step-down                                                               
approach for transitioning from SNAP.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MINA  moved to  slides 5  and 6  which illustrated                                                               
the  food  insecurity issues  in  Alaska.   She  described  these                                                               
issues  and discussed  how HB  196  would address  some of  these                                                               
problems.    The  final slide  illustrated  how  SNAP  positively                                                               
affects  local economies,  providing economic  stimulus to  local                                                               
businesses and rural grocers.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:48:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KATY   GIORGIO,   Staff,   Representative  Mina,   Alaska   State                                                               
Legislature,  on behalf  of Representative  Mina, prime  sponsor,                                                               
presented  the  sectional analysis  for  HB  196, which  read  as                                                               
follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     HB 196 Sectional Analysis                                                                                                  
     "An   Act  relating   to  the   supplemental  nutrition                                                                    
     assistance  program;  and  providing for  an  effective                                                                    
     date."                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Section 1. Amends AS. 47.25.980(a)(3):                                                                                     
     This section  updates the reference  to the  chapter of                                                                    
     United   States   code   governing   the   Supplemental                                                                    
     Nutrition Assistance Program  (SNAP). This section also                                                                    
     increases  the household  income  limits  for the  SNAP                                                                    
     program  from  130%  to  200%  of  the  Alaska  poverty                                                                    
     standard and eliminates the household asset test.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Section  2.  Amends  uncodified law  by  adding  a  new                                                                    
     section:                                                                                                                   
     This section provides the  authority for the Department                                                                    
     of  Health  to  adopt   the  necessary  regulations  to                                                                    
     implement this Act.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Section 3. Provides for an effective date for Section                                                                      
     2:                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Section 2 has an immediate effective date.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Section 4. Provides for an effective date.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
      Except as provided in sec. 3, the effective date of                                                                       
     this Act is July 1, 2025                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:49:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX announced the committee would hear invited testimony.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:50:04 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RON MEEHAN, Director of Government  Affairs, Food Bank of Alaska,                                                               
Manager, Food  Bank Coalition, spoke in  support of HB 196.   The                                                               
bill  will  increase  government   efficiency,  reduce  the  time                                                               
necessary  to process  SNAP  applications;  and provide  economic                                                               
security  for hard  working  Alaskans.   The  SNAP program  helps                                                               
92,000  Alaskans  and  stimulates  the economy.    He  reiterated                                                               
several of the  points made by Representative  Mina regarding the                                                               
benefit cliff  and gave examples of  disincentivizing people from                                                               
taking jobs  with more  money.   One example  of how  the current                                                               
SNAP asset requirements are  particularly inappropriate in Alaska                                                               
is  that people  who use  a  boat or  snowmobile for  subsistence                                                               
fishing  and  hunting are  disqualified  from  SNAP because  they                                                               
exceed the asset  restrictions.  This legislation  will make SNAP                                                               
work better  and help people get  out of poverty.   The BBCE will                                                               
provide targeted  assistance to  low-income families  and seniors                                                               
while   saving  the   state  money   and  increasing   government                                                               
efficiency.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:56:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  PRAX  asked how  the  foodbank  interfaces with  the  SNAP                                                               
program.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR.  MEEHAN  responded  that  when people  do  not  receive  SNAP                                                               
benefits, they show up at the foodbanks at much higher levels.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:57:16 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  PRAX asked  what the  niche  that foodbanks  fill in  food                                                               
security   issue   and   whether   foodbanks   have   eligibility                                                               
requirements.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR. MEEHAN answered that the  foodbank system was not designed to                                                               
be  an  alternative  to  food benefit  programs.    The  foodbank                                                               
coalition  does   administer  several  programs   with  paperwork                                                               
requirements, but  foodbanks are  designed as an  additional food                                                               
resources and do not have eligibility requirements.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:00:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ERIN  WALKER-TOLLES,   Executive  Director,   Catholic  Community                                                               
Services, spoke in support of HB  196.  She described her support                                                               
for the  BBCE but specifically  directed her testimony  to issues                                                               
facing Alaskan seniors.  She  explained that seniors comprise 20%                                                               
of  Alaska's  population.   Catholic  Community  Services has  10                                                               
senior centers,  and last year  served 130,000 hot meals.   Since                                                               
the pandemic, there has been a  dramatic increase in the need for                                                               
senior  services.   She gave  examples of  the difficult  choices                                                               
some  seniors  must make  and  pointed  out that  poor  nutrition                                                               
creates   avoidable   health   issues.     The   most   effective                                                               
intervention is access to nutritious food.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
5:05:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  PRAX  questioned  whether the  Catholic  Community  Center                                                               
senior  meal program  is a  supplement  to the  SNAP program  and                                                               
whether she would  expect the demands on the  community center to                                                               
decrease with the projected changes in SNAP.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  WALKER-TOLLES   explained  that  the  senior   meal  program                                                               
provides   approximately    one-third   of    daily   nutritional                                                               
requirements,  and the  SNAP program  is necessary  to meet  many                                                               
seniors' needs.   She explained  that the demands on  the program                                                               
would  fluctuate,  but  there  is  an  increasing  percentage  of                                                               
seniors in Alaska's population.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
5:06:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX  asked the  Division of  Public Assistance  to provide                                                               
its perspective.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
DEB   ETHERIDGE,  Director,   Division   of  Public   Assistance,                                                               
Department  of   Health,  described   the  issues   seniors  have                                                               
encountered  with the  SNAP program.    Changing the  eligibility                                                               
requirements  to  the  BBCE  system   allows  seniors  to  access                                                               
benefits more easily.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
5:08:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX  inquired about estimated long-term  results and asked                                                               
about how it helps families get back on their feet.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MS. ETHERIDGE  pointed out  that the  implementation of  the bill                                                               
does  not remove  need for  families  to work.   Furthermore,  it                                                               
enables families to begin saving in order to move forward.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  PRAX  gave  an  extreme scenario  which  he  described  as                                                               
unlikely, but which  would be an example of abuse  of the program                                                               
and asked about the potential for abuse of the SNAP program.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. ETHERIDGE  replied that abuse was  theoretically possible but                                                               
rare.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
5:11:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   MCCORMICK   thanked  Representative   Mina   for                                                               
bringing this  forward and explained  that it was  very important                                                               
to many people in his district.   He ended his comments with what                                                               
he indicated  was an intentional pun,  "Oh SNAP!  Who  said urban                                                               
and bush Alaska cannot work together."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
5:13:04 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SADDLER commented  that he  felt the  bill was  a                                                               
combination  of  bureaucratic efficiency,  humanity,  compassion,                                                               
helping Alaskans  stay independent,  healthy in their  homes, and                                                               
contributing.   He commended  the sponsor  for bringing  the bill                                                               
forward.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
5:13:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX announced that HB 196 was held over.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
5:14:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being no  further business before the  committee, the House                                                               
Health  and  Social  Services   Standing  Committee  meeting  was                                                               
adjourned at 5:15 p.m.