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.