AS 47.25.980: Duties of department.

(a) The department shall

(1) adopt regulations necessary to carry out the food stamp program;

(2) cooperate with the federal government and do all things necessary to continue state eligibility under the food stamp program;

(3) comply with the requirements of 7 U.S.C. 2011 — 2036d (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), implement categorical eligibility under 7 U.S.C. 2014(a), and make eligible an individual whose household income is not more than 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline regardless of the value of assets owned by the household;

(4) establish an electronic application for the food stamp program and allow an applicant to submit an application in electronic format or in other formats required by state and federal law; the electronic application must inform an applicant that a false statement made on the application will be investigated and is punishable under AS 11.56.210; in this paragraph, “electronic application” means an application for benefits or renewal of benefits, whether the department exclusively administers the benefits or administers the benefits in coordination with another state agency or federal agency, electronically completed and submitted through the department's Internet website.

(b) The department may designate and change areas in the state in which the food stamp program shall be carried out.