04/16/2010 02:55 PM Senate FIN

CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 126(FIN)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act  relating  to extensions  and  resumptions  of                                                                    
     state  custody  of  children;   and  providing  for  an                                                                    
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:55:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman explained  that  the  bill addresses  debt                                                                    
authorization at  the university. He mentioned  three fiscal                                                                    
notes  from the  Department  of Health  and Social  Services                                                                    
(DHSS). One  fiscal note is designated  for children service                                                                    
management  for $103,700  in general  funds  and $73,500  in                                                                    
federal  match,  one fiscal  note  for  foster care  special                                                                    
needs for  $38,800 in  general funds  and $2,200  in federal                                                                    
match. The  final fiscal note  is for foster care  base rate                                                                    
in the  amount of $186,800  in general funds and  $37,200 in                                                                    
federal match.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:57:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
AMANDA METIVIER,  STATEWIDE COORDINATOR, FACING  FOSTER CARE                                                                    
IN ALASKA  (via teleconference)  testified in support  of HB
 which  extends foster care  to age 21 and  allows youths                                                                    
to  reenter foster  care.  She claimed  that  40 percent  of                                                                    
youth who age  out of foster care in Alaska  end up homeless                                                                    
and  30 percent  incarcerated. She  spoke of  her successful                                                                    
experience of extending foster care  until age 22 because of                                                                    
foster parents  allowing her  to remain  in their  care. She                                                                    
appreciated the  proposed extension  of the foster  care age                                                                    
to 21 years.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:59:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MIDE  LESMANN, COMMUNITY  RELATIONS  MANAGER, DEPARTMENT  OF                                                                    
HEALTH  AND  SOCIAL  SERVICES, stated  that  the  department                                                                    
recognizes the value  of the legislation. He  noted that the                                                                    
legislation  may be  valuable  for some  youth  who are  not                                                                    
equipped to  exit care before  age 21. He added  that policy                                                                    
and  procedure  revisions  and  updates  to  the  management                                                                    
information  system and  the office  of children's  services                                                                    
can implement the legislation.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
HB  126  was  HEARD  and   HELD  in  Committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.