2003-04-09                     Senate Journal                      Page 0766
SB 123                                                                                            
SENATE BILL NO. 123 "An Act relating to adoptions that include a                                    
subsidy payment by the state; eliminating annual review of the subsidy                              
paid by the state after adoption of a hard-to-place child has occurred;                             
and providing for an effective date" was read the second time.                                      
                                                                                                    
Senator Green offered Amendment No. 1 :                                                              
                                                                                                    
 Page 1, line 1, following "adoptions":                                                           
          Insert "and guardianships"                                                              
                                                                                                    
 Page 1, line 3, following "occurred":                                                            
              Insert "or a court has appointed a legal guardian                                  
          for a hard-to-place child"                                                              
                                                                                                    
Senator Green moved and asked unanimous consent for the adoption                                    
of Title Amendment No. 1. Without objection, Title Amendment No. 1                                  
was adopted.                                                                                        
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    

2003-04-09                     Senate Journal                      Page 0767
Senators Guess, Green offered Amendment No. 2 :                                                      
                                                                                                    
 Page 1, following line 4:                                                                          
          Insert a new bill section to read:                                                        
"* Section 1.  AS 25.23.210 is amended to read:                                                   
                   Sec. 25.23.210.  Amount and duration of subsidy                                
          payments.  The monthly payment and the length of time for                               
          which a subsidy for a hard-to-place child is granted are left to                          
          the discretion of the commissioner and may vary from a small                              
          monthly sum to an amount not exceeding the existing rate for                              
          foster care until the child reaches the age of majority, if the                           
          need continues to exist.  Subsidies shall be paid from the same                           
          public funds and in the same manner as foster care payments.                              
          On request of the person caring for the child, the                                    
          department shall review whether the amount of the                                     
          subsidy is appropriate."                                                              
                                                                                                    
 Page 1, line 5:                                                                                    
          Delete "Section 1"                                                                      
          Insert "Sec. 2"                                                                         
                                                                                                    
          Renumber the following bill sections accordingly.                                         
                                                                                                    
Senator Guess moved and asked unanimous consent for the adoption                                    
of Amendment No. 2. Without objection, Amendment No. 2 was                                          
adopted.                                                                                            
                                                                                                    
Senator Dyson moved and asked unanimous consent to abstain from                                     
voting due to a conflict of interest. Objections were heard and Senator                             
Dyson was required to vote.                                                                         
                                                                                                    
President Therriault stated SENATE BILL NO. 123 am "An Act                                          
relating to adoptions and guardianships that include a subsidy payment                              
by the state; eliminating annual review of the subsidy paid by the state                            
after adoption of a hard-to-place child has occurred or a court has                                 
appointed a legal guardian for a hard-to-place child; and providing for                             
an effective date" will be on the April 10 calendar.