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Sponsor urges 7-day judicial review for foster children in psychiatric facilities as advocates press for safeguards
Summary
Rep. Gray introduced HB 36 to require judicial review within seven calendar days for foster children placed in short-term psychiatric hospitals, require counsel for the child, report on out-of-state placements and create a treatment-foster license; advocates supported the change while some witnesses warned the added 'treatment foster' provision needs statutory guardrails.
Representative Gray, the prime sponsor, told the Senate Finance Committee HB 36 "closes a gap in Alaska law" by shortening the timeline for reviewing foster children placed in short-term psychiatric facilities and requiring that "these children's cases need to be reviewed within 7 calendar days." He said the change responds to court rulings and long stays that have left some foster youth in hospital settings longer than necessary.
Amanda Mativier, director of Facing Foster Care Alaska and someone with lived experience in the foster system, testified in support and described harms she says foster youth have reported in hospital placements,…
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