03/16/2011 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

           SB  82-FOSTER CARE LICENSING/STATE CUSTODY                                                                       
                                                                                                                              
1:37:12 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DAVIS  announced the  first order of  business would  be SB
, the foster care bill. [SSSB 82 was before the committee.]                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  EGAN moved  to adopt  the proposed  committee substitute                                                               
(CS) for SSSB 82, labeled 27-LS0500\D, as the working document.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DAVIS objected for discussion purposes.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CELESTE HODGE, staff to Senator  Davis, said there are only three                                                               
minor changes  in the CS.  On page 5,  line 10, delete  "the" and                                                               
insert,  "Unless the  child,  department,  and guardian  ad-litem                                                               
agree  to release  from custody  without a  motion and  with less                                                               
than 30 days' notice, the".  The justification for this change is                                                               
that it  would allow  for release  from custody  in less  than 30                                                               
days  if the  youth, the  state,  and the  guardian ad-litem  all                                                               
agree. On  page 6, following line  2, insert a new  subsection to                                                               
read,  "In   this  section,  another  planned   permanent  living                                                               
arrangement (APPLA)  means a permanent  living arrangement  for a                                                               
child who is committed to the  custody of the department under AS                                                               
47.10.080, that is an alternative  to permanent placement with an                                                               
adult  family  member and  to  unification,  adoption, and  legal                                                               
guardianship."  Page 6,  lines 11-13,  delete all  material. This                                                               
was done to  avoid conflict between the OCS worker  who is trying                                                               
to  find placement  and the  licensing  worker who  is trying  to                                                               
follow  the   rules.  Then  renumber  the   following  paragraphs                                                               
accordingly.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:39:17 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DAVIS closed public testimony and removed her objection.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DYSON asked if the department agreed with the changes.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
TRACY  SPARTZ-GAMBELL  Deputy   Director,  Office  of  Children's                                                               
Services Department  of Health and  Social Services  (DHSS), said                                                               
the department had no objection to the proposed changes.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  EGAN  moved  to  report   CSSSSB  82,  version  D,  from                                                               
committee  with   individual  recommendations   and  accompanying                                                               
fiscal notes.  Without objection,  CSSSSB 82(HSS) moved  from the                                                               
Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee.