SSHB 54: "An Act relating to the identification, location, and notification of specified family members and family friends of a child who is in state custody."
00 SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 54 01 "An Act relating to the identification, location, and notification of specified family 02 members and family friends of a child who is in state custody." 03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 04 * Section 1. AS 47.10 is amended by adding a new section to read: 05 Sec. 47.10.035. Placement of a child with noncustodial parent, adult family 06 member, or adult family friend; due diligence. (a) Within 30 days after removal of 07 a child from the child's home and placement of the child in out-of-home care under 08 this chapter and under AS 47.14, the department shall exercise due diligence to 09 identify, locate, and notify of the removal noncustodial parents, adult family members, 10 and appropriate adult family friends of the child. If circumstances prevent the 11 department from completing this due diligence search in 30 days, the department shall 12 complete the search as soon as possible. 13 (b) A supervisor of the division of the department with jurisdiction over 14 children in need of aid shall certify in writing, in a timely manner, the due diligence of
01 the department exercised under (a) of this section. The information provided under this 02 subsection shall be submitted to the court for consideration before the next scheduled 03 hearing after the due diligence period specified in (a) of this section. 04 * Sec. 2. AS 47.14.100(e) is amended to read: 05 (e) When a child is removed from a parent's home, the department shall, after 06 conducting due diligence required under AS 47.10.035, place the child, in the 07 absence of clear and convincing evidence of good cause to the contrary, 08 (1) in the least restrictive setting that most closely approximates a 09 family and that meets the child's special needs, if any; 10 (2) within reasonable proximity to the child's home, taking into 11 account any special needs of the child and the preferences of the child or parent; 12 (3) with, in the following order of preference, 13 (A) an adult family member; 14 (B) an adult [A] family friend who meets the foster care 15 licensing requirements established by the department; 16 (C) a licensed foster home that is not an adult family member 17 or family friend; 18 (D) an institution for children that has a program suitable to 19 meet the child's needs.