00           CS FOR SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 54(HSS)                                                         
01 "An Act relating to the identification, location, and notification of specified family                                  
02 members 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 or adult                                     
06       family member; due diligence. (a) Within 30 days after removal of a child from the                              
07       child's home and placement of the child in out-of-home care under this chapter and                                
08       under AS 47.14, the department shall exercise due diligence to identify, locate, and                              
09       notify of the removal noncustodial parents and adult family members of the child. If                              
10       circumstances prevent the department from completing this due diligence search in 30                              
11       days, the department shall complete the search as soon as possible.                                               
12            (b)  A supervisor of the division of the department with jurisdiction over                                   
13       children in need of aid shall verify in writing, in a timely manner, the due diligence of                         
14       the department exercised under (a) of this section.                                                               

01    * Sec. 2. AS 47.14.100(e) is amended to read:                                                                      
02            (e)  When a child is removed from a parent's home, the department shall, after                           
03       conducting due diligence required under AS 47.10.035, place the child, in the                                 
04       absence of clear and convincing evidence of good cause to the contrary,                                           
05                 (1)  in the least restrictive setting that most closely approximates a                                  
06       family and that meets the child's special needs, if any;                                                          
07                 (2)  within reasonable proximity to the child's home, taking into                                       
08       account any special needs of the child and the preferences of the child or parent;                                
09                 (3)  with, in the following order of preference,                                                        
10                      (A)  an adult family member;                                                                       
11                      (B)  an adult [A] family friend who meets the foster care                                      
12            licensing requirements established by the department;                                                        
13                      (C)  a licensed foster home that is not an adult family member                                     
14            or family friend;                                                                                            
15                      (D)  an institution for children that has a program suitable to                                    
16            meet the child's needs.                                                                                      
17    * Sec. 3. AS 47.14.100 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                              
18            (u)  The department may provide for emergency placement of a child while                                     
19       conducting due diligence under AS 47.10.035 and (e) of this section.