NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON THE HEATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BENEFIT DETERMINATIONS IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES.

The Department of Health & Social Services proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 7 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with the eligibility determination formula under the federal heating assistance program and the Alaska affordable heating program, including the following:

• 7 AAC 44. Heating Assistance Programs, is proposed to be changed as follows:
  • Change the description for how an applicant’s dwelling type affects their eligibility and amount of heating assistance.
  • Change how an applicant that lives in subsidized housing and receives a utility allowance has their eligibility and benefit amount calculated.
  • Clarify and change the requirements related to irregular income, vendor refunds, requesting a hearing, fee agent duties, and the timing of benefit payments.

You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to Susan Marshall, Department of Health & Social Services, Heating Assistance Program Coordinator, P.O. Box 110640, Juneau, AK 99811-0640. Additionally, the Department of Health and Social Services will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 465-5154 and by electronic mail at susan.marshall@alaska.gov. Comments may also be submitted through the Alaska Online Public Notice System, by accessing this notice on the system and using the comment link. The comments must be received not later than 5 p.m., on October 20, 2017.

Oral or written comments also may be submitted at a hearing to be held on October 2, 2017, at the Alaska Office Building, Room 115, 350 Main Street, Juneau, AK 99801. The hearing will be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and might be extended to accommodate those present before 4:30 p.m. who did not have an opportunity to comment. If you are unable to attend in person, but would like to comment during the oral public hearing, you can call the teleconference number 1-800-315-6338; access code 53099# (Toll Free).

You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Susan Marshall at susan.marshall@alaska.gov or the Alaska Office Building, Room 304, 350 Main Street, Juneau, AK 99801.  The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Department of Health and Social Services will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and the Heating Assistance website at www.heatinghelp.alaska.gov .

If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Susan Marshall at susan.marshall@alaska.gov or (907) 465-3099 not later than September 19, 2017, to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.

A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System or by contacting Susan Marshall at susan.marshall@alaska.gov or (907) 465-3099.

After the public comment period ends, the Department of Health & Social Services will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulation may be different from that of the proposed regulation. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected.

Statutory authority: AS 47.05.010; AS 47.25.622; AS 47.25.623; AS 47.25.624; AS 47.25.625.

Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 47.05.010; AS 47.25.622; AS 47.25.623; AS 47.25.624; AS 47.25.625.

Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.

DATE: August 30, 2017
/s/ Jon Sherwood
Deputy Commissioner
Department of Health & Social Services