[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6083137,"mediaKeyId","2935336-134bcc13c268f50ee87d657ad4cc650c","parentId",2935336,"title","Committee adopts substitute for SB 88 to formalize family-search rules, allow foster‑parent hearings","audioSeconds",1376,"startMs",3432000,"endMs",4808000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2935336-134bcc13c268f50ee87d657ad4cc650c&start=3432&end=4808","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2935336-134bcc13c268f50ee87d657ad4cc650c/thumbnail_3432000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6083137/Alaska/Committee-adopts-substitute-for-SB-88-to-formalize-family-search-rules-allow-fosterparent-hearings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083137-d65c72ccf5f0bca097732c05514ed4c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1776493472&Signature=nKQ7trZjwDcw5j4VpUKDHNZKcaGAk4ThGGoE5G2LeptCwQDLqTwYNrLvylbbQvFfPi6n-1k~Bj3D2oEtDqNqAgKmqqx9Sgd0Uvvn6u0t4D6otky8JiObAldBnLRyebq2QHgldIXit0Zs95MaH4YMQ6hm~anLk7Opy4r1VIIlgDVjKIs5nVxH-IbD~sBjLSWBySgfuP1WBKhJmqWnZmC02WMoLjKeoyXguNhHoLRDTo-XrIs~u24viRPRvPuhkUxVMGAD2ectV--8o8wp3NdPVpwCahB2HiTvyBo33Ke5zjVPG3qidA0RXminzRrAKDZOrompuKKLjwh8JwHXUbnFew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska Legislature","date","2025-04-08T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Health and Social Services Committee adopted a committee substitute for Senate Bill 88 and voted the measure out of committee by unanimous consent on April 8. The substitute codifies procedures for family searches, clarifies when foster parents may request a hearing to oppose a proposed transfer, lengthens certain foster‑family placement time thresholds and sets a clear‑and‑convincing evidentiary standard in some placement decisions.

Senator Jesse Bjorkman, sponsor of SB 88, told the committee the bill “seeks to make family searches more thorough” and to ensure judges have all relevant evidence when considering placement decisions. The committee substitute (version G) added language specifying which foster parents may request a hearing: a child’s foster parent with whom the child has resided for at least 18 months may request a hearing to oppose a proposed transfer. The substitute also changed a placement period referenced in the bill from 12 to 24 months and added a requirement that the department demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that continued placement with a foster family is not in the child’s best interest when a relative placement is being considered.

Ariel Wigan, committee aide, summarized the changes for the record and noted that several sections saw no revision. Laura O'Shea, staff to the sponsor, and counsel worked with committee staff and stakeholders to add language making explicit that a foster parent who requests a hearing “does not become a party to the case,” and the substitute clarifies that a nonparty requesting review is not eligible for publicly appointed counsel.

Deputy Public Defender Linda Beecher told the committee that foster parents currently have opportunities to be noticed and speak in hearings but that the substitute creates a statutory right to request a hearing in particular circumstances. Beecher warned the change could increase litigation in child‑welfare cases and noted the difference between giving a person the ability to request a hearing and conferring full party status with attendant rights such as discovery.

Several committee members expressed concern for continuity and bonding when a child has been with a foster family for a long period. Senator Hughes said she preferred an earlier version of the bill that required demonstrable existing contact before a new placement would take precedence. Senator Klayman asked whether the substitute gave foster parents more standing than they presently have; sponsor staff pointed to explicit lines in the draft (page 2 and page 6 of version G) that prevent foster‑parent requesters from becoming parties and prevent appointment of public counsel.

Vice Chair Giesel moved adoption of the committee substitute as a working document, and later Chair Dunbar moved that the committee report SB 88 from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes. There was no recorded roll‑call vote; Chair Dunbar called for objections, heard none and announced the bill “moves from committee.”

Ending: The bill will proceed with committee recommendations and fiscal notes; committee staff and the sponsor indicated ongoing consultation with stakeholders and the court system as the legislation moves forward.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","04/08/2025 03:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Health and Social Services Committee adopted a committee substitute for SB 88 and moved the bill from committee by unanimous consent; the substitute formalizes family‑search procedures and gives certain foster parents a statutory right to request hearings opposing transfers.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Alaska, Alaska","taxId",78559,"location","Alaska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6083141,"Alaska bill would require judges to review foster youths’ acute psychiatric admissions within seven days",2967,341000,3308000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2935336-134bcc13c268f50ee87d657ad4cc650c&start=341&end=3308","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2935336-134bcc13c268f50ee87d657ad4cc650c/thumbnail_341000.jpg","/articles/6083141/Alaska/Alaska-bill-would-require-judges-to-review-foster-youths-acute-psychiatric-admissions-within-seven-days","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083141-4e41f51a368eeffb83115282993edf57/orig.mp4?Expires=1776493472&Signature=Q4zP-W61DC14CotZbw897PeBD-W-y2Ao-nM7WMgiGeYotmStKYLe3uMu3izgvRuMt0B~4cNiBPTiFKCFiROafr8gm~3LqwAS9OzgYN3umQJu8jqWpPqR13wChku~MjZUnaEXv10r8VWRUlM0NdvMSetwB9kNmlk079oz7Y3KrJ0BExFyXSp-1vKF06psZ~GgvK404HuR0cIrdkcEOOsJRqvuF9WCy6Lp6AqgUshl2nuv~wxvAdlrMSveGM1QaFlqRrznv32Qf-nRLNRnuzxApDoWTEe-3KCOz2O8iWit2Axo5uIRTTnXwRS2-S6k90vVts44y34BOwJTTyRiA1qECQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 36 would require that foster children admitted to acute psychiatric hospitals receive a judicial hearing within seven days, mandate appointment of counsel for children in those facilities, add data about out-of-state residential placements to an existing annual report to the Legislature and require 30-day reviews for long-term acute admissions.

Representative Andrew Gray, the bill’s sponsor, told the Senate Health and Social Services Committee on April 8 that the measure aims to close “an incredibly dark period in Alaska history” when foster children were held in psychiatric facilities for months without prompt judicial oversight. “Due process is a basic constitutional right of every person in Alaska,” Gray said. He described the bill as ensuring that foster children admitted for acute psychiatric care have a timely judicial check on whether that placement is necessary.

The bill would require that parties be notified within 24 hours of an acute admission and that a hearing take place within seven days, with a one-time seven-day extension available if the court cannot convene the necessary participants. Staff to the sponsor, Kyle Johansen, told the committee the bill also defines “acute psychiatric hospital” and explicitly authorizes two-way video conferencing to facilitate timely hearings.

Nancy Mead, general counsel for the Alaska Court System, told the committee that the Alaska Supreme Court previously found 72 hours to be impractical for child-in-need-of-aid cases because scheduling often requires assembling many parties, including OCS staff, the assistant attorney general, public defenders, a guardian ad litem and facility representatives. Mead said courts are routinely able to meet timelines “closer to 7 days” in practice, and that the Supreme Court in February 2024 had concluded that 30 days was too long.

Advocates with lived experience urged the committee to press forward. Amanda Mativier, co‑founder of Facing Foster Care in Alaska, described the proposal as responding to requests from foster youth and argued that rapid hearings would help identify relatives, appropriate foster homes or other levels of therapeutic care sooner. “This bill strengthens the effort to get youth before a judge,” Mativier said.

Former foster youth Keila Stone described family members who say they received little or no notice when siblings were placed in acute care and urged more timely reviews and less restrictive community-based options when appropriate.

Committee members asked several practical questions. Senator Clayman and others asked why the bill uses seven days rather than the 72‑hour standard used for many adult involuntary commitments. Gray and Mead said 72 hours had been proposed but court stakeholders concluded that time frame was not workable for child‑in‑need‑of‑aid proceedings. Committee members also asked whether the bill’s definition would cover emergency-room stays; legislative counsel indicated the current draft does not include routine ER admissions but that language could be amended so the hearing clock would start at diagnosis in the emergency department.

Kim Swisher, deputy director of the Office of Children’s Services, said OCS already facilitates contact with interested foster families and that the 7‑day period allows hospitals and OCS time to evaluate the child and assemble records before making a recommendation about a higher or lower level of care.

The committee did not take final action on HB 36; Chair Dunbar set the bill aside for future consideration and invited potential amendments (for example, clarifying when the clock starts for rural ER holds). No vote was recorded.

Ending: The committee indicated it will return to HB 36 at a future meeting; sponsors and staff were asked to circulate amendment language for clarifying when the seven‑day clock should begin and which facilities the definition will encompass.","An initial Senate hearing on House Bill 36 examined a proposal to shorten the time before a judicial hearing for foster children admitted to acute psychiatric hospitals, require attorney appointment, add reporting on out-of-state residential placements and 30-day reviews for long-term acute stays.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee adopts substitute for SB 88 to formalize family-search rules, allow foster‑parent hearings

Alaska bill would require judges to review foster youths’ acute psychiatric admissions within seven days