Legislature(1993 - 1994)
03/09/1994 03:00 PM House HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
TAPE 94-41, SIDE A
Number 000
CHAIR TOOHEY called the meeting to order at 3:07 p.m., noted
members present and announced the calendar. She brought HB
468 to the table. She indicated that Deputy Commission
Waldron was in attendance. She then passed the gavel over
to Rep. Bunde who presided over portions of the remainder of
the meeting.
CHAIR BUNDE stated that perhaps there might be a conflict of
interest as his aid, Patty Swenson, is a member of the
Foster Care Review Panel.
REP. TOOHEY said she had no objections.
HB 468 - FOSTER CARE REVIEW PANEL
Number 106
(Chair Bunde stated for the record that Rep. Nicholia
arrived at 3:08 p.m.)
Number 125
REP. CYNTHIA TOOHEY, Prime Sponsor of HB 468, stated that
the legislation would extend the sunset date for citizen's
review panels for permanency planning until 1997. She
indicated that the proposal had bi-partisan support and
passed the legislature unanimously in 1990 and was signed
into law. The purpose of external citizen reviews is to
assure that children do not linger unnecessarily in out-of-
home care, and they receive the support and benefits of a
permanent home as soon as possible.
REP. TOOHEY further indicated that in the United States
almost 500,000 children pass through state foster care
systems each month. She said U.S. judges, social workers,
attorneys, and child advocacy groups have recognized that
the foster care system is failing to respond to the needs of
many abused and neglected children and their families.
Crowded court calendars and understaffed child welfare
agencies are contributing to the increase in the number of
children in the system and their length of time spent in
substitute care.
REP. TOOHEY said that among solutions proposed by child
advocacy organizations were the implementation of permanency
planning case work and foster care placement monitoring
through regular case reviews. To help monitor the
situation, citizen volunteers were selected to sit on review
panels in 24 states, including Alaska. She indicated that
the Department of Administration (DOA) implemented a model
project in Anchorage that began reviews in December of 1993.
REP. TOOHEY stated that as the result of an audit the
Division of Legislative Audit recommended to extend the
sunset date to 1997 to allow the Anchorage project
sufficient time to gather data that will determine the
panels' effectiveness. The length of time children remain
in foster care and the savings associated with children no
longer being part of the foster care system are factors that
determine the panels' effectiveness.
REP. TOOHEY maintained that HB 468 has the support of the
Alaska Chapter of the National Association of Social
Workers, the Alaska Foster Parent Association, and the
National Association of Foster Care Reviewers. She then
indicated that Roberly Waldron from DOA and Randy Welker
form Legislative Audit were present to answer questions.
Number 237
REP. B. DAVIS asked if there was someone from DOA to
testify.
CHAIR BUNDE said yes.
REP. B. DAVIS said she was interested in the zero fiscal
note.
REP. TOOHEY asked if Rep. B. Davis would like her to address
the fiscal note.
CHAIR BUNDE suggested that the committee hear from Roberly
Waldron.
Number 240
ROBERLY WALDRON, Deputy Commissioner, Services to the
Public, Department of Administration, testified in support
of HB 468. She stated that in regards to the zero fiscal
note that it does not cost the DOA anything to sunset or not
sunset. Although, she said, there is a cost to implement
the program, but that would be addressed through another
avenue, not through the proposed legislation.
Number 278
REP. B. DAVIS asked what other avenue would address the
implementation. She said it was her understanding that the
appropriation would have to come from the legislature unless
it is already in the department's budget. She felt that
nothing would be accomplished if the sunset date were to be
moved when there would be no funds to implement the program.
MS. WALDRON explained that currently there is $125,000 in
the budget for fiscal year 1995. She said if the bill does
not pass and there is no phase-out year, the $125,000 and
the phase-out year would still be in effect.
REP. B. DAVIS asked if the $125,000 would carry through
1995.
MS. WALDRON said yes.
Number 308
MS. WALDRON stated that it took quite some time to get the
panels appointed through the governor's office, but the
reviews began in December 1993. She said the system is
working very well and all of the panelists are extremely
dedicated to their cause. She also indicated that foster
parents have responded positively to being part of the
review panels. She said the model project will answer the
questions of whether the panels will work and if children
will be placed in permanent situations faster. She further
stated that there will be seven months of documentation to
determine the panels' effectiveness.
Number 369
REP. TOOHEY explained that in other states the system has
proven it saves money. She said there is a considerable
cost difference between paying foster care for placement of
children and home care.
CHAIR BUNDE asked how much the program costs per year.
MS. WALDRON explained that $125,000 pays for three workers
and pays for rent and supplies, but not for the full year.
She said in the next fiscal year they would have to stop
when the funds are completely depleted, but there would be
sufficient data at that time to determine the effectiveness
of the program.
Number 401
CHAIR BUNDE clarified his question and said for the program
to continue another $125,000 would be needed to carry the
program through fiscal year 1995.
MS. WALDRON explained that the amount is what is in the
budget for a continuation level, and it is not an additional
$125,000.
CHAIR BUNDE said he understood that, but asked if that
amount would take the program through to the end of fiscal
year 1994.
MS. WALDRON explained that in the current fiscal year the
program has $125,000. There is $125,000 in budget request
for FY 1995.
CHAIR BUNDE asked for testimony from Sherrie Goll.
Number 423
SHERRIE GOLL, Lobbyist, Alaska Women's Lobby and KIDPAC,
testified in support of HB 468. She stated that the present
law had unanimous support in both legislative bodies and it
was decided that the program would have a positive impact on
children. She said foster care "drift", children who are
improperly tracked and spend much unnecessary time in the
system, is a very significant problem. She indicated that
in the Executive Summary of the Annual Report, seventeen
cases were addressed in the month of December and pointed
out that one child was adopted. She said the panelists, who
were appointed by Governor Hickel, are not paid. She said
the social workers that are involved are pleased with the
process and the additional input.
MS. GOLL asserted that the intent of the bill is to have
panelists be composed of local citizens from all over the
state as opposed to the model program in Anchorage. She
stressed how important the program is to children in the
foster care system. She then indicated that the money is in
the budget, but it is not enough money to expand the
program. She said even if the Finance Committee cut the
money from the budget, it would be a shame to have the law
"go off the books," which is why the termination date should
be extended.
Number 525
CHAIR BUNDE asked for further testimony. There being none,
he closed public testimony and asked for further discussion
from the committee.
REP. OLBERG asked how much it costs to keep a child in a
foster home for one night.
REP. TOOHEY explained that costs vary by the child's age and
geographical location. She said zero to 30 months equals
$19.33 per day or $579 per month, or $7055 per year. A
child that is 31 months to 11 years costs $17.80 per day and
12 years to 19 years is $20.40 per day. She said the
average is $18.97 per day or $6828 per year. Rep. Toohey
anticipated the next question to be how many children are in
foster care in Alaska and deferred to Ms. Waldron.
Number 567
MS. WALDRON answered between 1100 and 1600 children per
month are in foster care.
REP. TOOHEY said there is not much fluctuation.
CHAIR BUNDE asked for further discussion. He then asked the
pleasure of the committee.
REP. B. DAVIS made a motion to pass HB 468 out of committee
with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal
note.
CHAIR BUNDE asked if there were any objections.
REP. OLBERG objected.
Number 602
CHAIR BUNDE called for the vote. Reps. Bunde, G. Davis, B.
Davis, Nicholia, and Toohey voted Yea and Reps. Olberg and
Vezey voted Nay. Chair Bunde declared that HB 468 was so
moved. He then handed the gavel over to Rep. Toohey who
presided over portions of the remainder of the meeting.
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