Legislature(2005 - 2006)
2005-01-26 Senate Journal
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Full Journal pdf2005-01-26 Senate Journal Page 0161 The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, Department of Law Fiscal Note No. 2, Department of Health and Social Services Governor's transmittal letter dated January 25: Dear President Stevens: Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am transmitting a bill that will provide greater public access to child-in- need-of-aid (CINA) hearings and records and other information that has been historically closed to the public. The issues surrounding public disclosure in CINA matters can quickly become complicated, but the goal of this bill is simple: shed more light on the child protection system and the system will improve. I believe that public support of the approach taken in the bill will grow when the tragic circumstances affecting so many young lives are more fully understood, along with the daily challenges faced by those who work so hard to protect children. Concerns have been raised during the past several years about the state's confidentiality laws in CINA matters. These confidentiality laws were created to protect the privacy interests of children and their families in CINA matters, but they also have the practical effect of limiting public oversight and understanding of goals and activities of our child protection agencies. This bill seeks to address these issues by increasing public access in the following ways: Court hearings in CINA cases that are now closed to the public would be open to the public, with limited exceptions. For example, the court may close a CINA hearing to the public when a parent or child has not had an opportunity to obtain legal representation; when a child would otherwise be emotionally damaged by an open hearing or would be inhibited in testifying; or when an open hearing would substantially compromise a criminal investigation.