05/13/2025 03:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

          HB  36-FOSTER CHILDREN PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT                                                                      
                                                                                                                              
4:24:04 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR  announced the  consideration of  HOUSE BILL  NO. 36                                                               
"An  Act  relating  to  the   placement  of  foster  children  in                                                               
psychiatric hospitals; relating to the  care of children in state                                                               
custody placed  in residential facilities outside  the state; and                                                               
amending  Rule 12.1(b),  Alaska Child  in  Need of  Aid Rules  of                                                               
Procedure."                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  DUNBAR noted  that a  new  fiscal note  was uploaded  to                                                               
BASIS.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:25:17 PM                                                                                                                    
CHRISSY VOGELEY, Senior Policy Advisor,  Department of Family and                                                               
Community Services,  Juneau, Alaska, provided an  overview of the                                                               
fiscal note for  SB 36. She stated that the  Department of Family                                                               
and  Community  Services  believes that  increased  court  review                                                               
hearings would  reduce hospital overstays, lowering  general fund                                                               
expenditures and  offsetting attorney costs, making  HB 36 budget                                                               
neutral.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:26:34 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY  thanked Senator Claman for  the improvements                                                               
of HB 36. He  stated that the Alaska Supreme Court  said HB 36 is                                                               
needed  to   ensure  foster  kids   don't  stay   in  psychiatric                                                               
facilities for longer than needed.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:27:05 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  TOBIN said  she is  hoping the  department will  provide                                                               
insight  on  less  restrictive options  and  address  outstanding                                                               
questions from the previous hearing.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:27:22 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  CLAMAN said  he emailed  legislative legal  with Senator                                                               
Tobin's  two  questions  and  hasn't  received  a  response  yet.                                                               
Despite awaiting Finance Committee approval,  he expects HB 36 to                                                               
reach the Judiciary  Committee as early as tomorrow  and plans to                                                               
provide answers by then.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:27:54 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR HUGHES  verified with Senator  Claman that he said  HB 36                                                               
is going to the Judiciary Committee.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR CLAMAN  replied that he didn't  get an answer to  the two                                                               
questions and apologized.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:28:36 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR solicited the will of the committee.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:28:37 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GIESSEL  moved to  report  SCS  HB  36, work  order  34-                                                               
LS0358\T,  from  committee  with individual  recommendations  and                                                               
attached fiscal note(s).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:28:50 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR found  no objection and SCS HB  36(HSS) was reported                                                               
from the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee.