This bill amends various sections of Alaska's statutes to expand the eligibility and scope of the general relief assistance program to include burial assistance. Specifically, it allows individuals who are denied medical or cash assistance due to the receipt of a permanent fund dividend to qualify for state-funded medical assistance and cash assistance under the general relief and burial assistance program. The amendments clarify that individuals can receive assistance for a period not exceeding four months, mirroring the benefits they would have received under federal programs had the permanent fund dividend not been considered.

Additionally, the bill updates the definition of "assistance" to explicitly include burial expenses and modifies the responsibilities of the Department of Health to administer the general relief and burial assistance program. It also establishes provisions for the recovery of improperly granted allowances and specifies that individuals denied public assistance due to receiving a bonus are eligible for assistance under the newly defined program. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
HB0022A, AM HB 22, introduced 01/10/2025: 43.23.240, 47.25.120, 47.25.300, U.S.C, 47.25.130, 44.29.020, 47.30.660, 47.30.915, 47.05.085, 47.25.260, 47.45.122