Protecting Your Rights: Serving West Anchorage

April 5, 2023

Supplemental Budget

House Bill 79, the supplemental budget, is an annual request for appropriations from the governor that modify the current fiscal year's budget. Supplemental budgets appropriate funds that are necessary before the new fiscal year starts on July 1. Supplemental requests may be divided into two bills — a "fast track" and a "slow track" supplemental bill depending on the urgency of the request.

Last week, the governor signed the "fast track" supplemental budget for FY23, passed by the legislature, which included food stamp benefits and funding to address backlog at the Public Defender Agency and the Office of Public Advocacy. The legislation increases the funds available to address the on-going food stamp backlog in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Specifically, the supplemental budget included $6.8 million in state and federal funds to hire additional public assistance eligibility technicians in the Alaska Department of Health to recertify Alaskans qualified to receive SNAP benefits.

The supplemental budget also includes $4.7 million to hire more attorneys with the Office of Public Advocacy and Public Defender Agency to represent vulnerable or indigent Alaskans in need of competent legal representation. This request addresses additional cases created by last year's crime bill and one-time backlog contractor support.

This year, nearly 455 friends and neighbors from across Senate District H completed our constituent survey!

We appreciate your input and will keep your views in mind as the session continues. Having compiled the information and analyzed the results, we have some key takeaways in last week's newsletter and in last week's video update:

Thank You!

It was our pleasure to host a Mid-Session Constituent Meeting on March 25th. Thank you to all who attended. We appreciate your continued communication with our office as we work toward the end of the legislative session. As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns you may have.

Keep in touch!

Email: Sen.Matt.Claman@akleg.gov

Phone: (907) 465-4919

Community Highlight: Kincaid Elementary

Credit Union One and Kincaid Elementary PTA teamed up with the Great Alaska Pizza Company to sponsor hot pizza lunches to all students. This year, due to budget cuts, Kincaid Elementary has been one of our local schools without a cafeteria manager to provide hot food to students.

The work of these businesses and the Kincaid PTA is inspiring and we thank them for their commitment to help provide kids with hot lunch and a great place to learn.

Community Events

Mark your calendars for these upcoming events:

Spenard Community Council

When: Wednesday, April 5 at 7:00 PM

Where: Spenard Recreation Center, 2020 W 48th Ave

Turnagain Community Council

When: Thursday, April 6 at 6:30 PM

Where: Virtual Zoom Meeting. Click here for the Zoom link

Spenard Second Saturday

Every second Saturday is your special day to be in Spenard! Friendly local merchants up and down Historic Spenard Road are doing something special to make your walk through the district a fun adventure. This event is hosted by Bosco's Comics Cards & Games. For more information, check out the Facebook event.

When: Saturday, April 8 from noon to 4:00 PM

Where: Spenard, Anchorage

Sand Lake Community Council

When: Monday, April 10 at 6:30 PM

Where: Sand Lake Elementary School, 7500 Jewel Lake Rd

Sen. Matt Claman

CONTACT INFORMATION

(907) 465-4919

Sen.Matt.Claman@akleg.gov

State Capitol Bldg. Rm 429

Juneau, Alaska 99801

https://www.alaskasenate.org/matt-claman/