Legislature(1997 - 1998)
1997-01-30 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf1997-01-30 Senate Journal Page 0180 SB 73 SENATE BILL NO. 73 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled: 1997-01-30 Senate Journal Page 0181 SB 73 An Act relating to the citizen review board and panels for permanency planning for children in state foster care; extending the termination date of the Citizens Foster Care Review Board; and providing for an effective date. was read the first time and referred to the Labor and Commerce, Health, Education and Social Services and Finance Committees. Fiscal note published today from Department of Administration. Zero fiscal note published today from Department of Health and Social Services. Governors transmittal letter dated January 30: Dear President Miller: One of the services provided for abused, neglected or delinquent youths in the states custody is placement in foster care. It is essential these placements receive periodic review to ensure the childrens needs are being met. However, the statutory mandate to conduct regular citizen reviews statewide is not currently carried out, primarily because of lack of funding and a burdensome and duplicative review structure. This bill, as part of my package of bills introduced today based on the recommendations of the Governors Conference on Youth and Justice, restructures the foster care review system to improve the foster care program for our children. Existing law specifies that local foster care review panels be established statewide, each composed of five volunteer citizen members. The costs of recruiting and training the volunteers and then conducting the reviews far exceed the level of funding appropriated to date. The result is that review panels have only existed in the Anchorage area and, even then, cover only a fraction of the total number of children in foster care. 1997-01-30 Senate Journal Page 0182 SB 73 At the same time, to comply with federal law, the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) reviews foster care cases using panels consisting of at least two department members and one citizen volunteer member. Under this bill, the newly named Citizens Foster Care Review Board housed within the Department of Administration is reduced from ten members to nine, with five being public members. The statewide board will appoint and train citizens for the local review panels, each consisting of three public members and two members from the DHSS. The panel will be chaired by one of the public members, but the department will schedule the reviews, provide notification to necessary participants, and draft the panel reports. This new structure will meet both the federal and state requirements within one foster care review system, thereby avoiding the current wasteful duplication of services. The cost of operating the review panels will also be greatly reduced by relying on the staff support from the DHSS. Most importantly, this new system will enable the establishment of citizen review panels statewide. This means the state can follow through on its responsibility to oversee the foster care program and provide the quality of services our children in need deserve. Sincerely, /s/ Tony Knowles Governor