05/12/2022 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

            HB 297-MILITARY MEMBER CHILD PROTECTION                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:40:19 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR   SHOWER  reconvened   the   meeting   and  announced   the                                                               
consideration of  CS FOR  HOUSE BILL  NO. 297(HSS)(title  am) "An                                                               
Act  relating to  the  duties  of the  Department  of Family  and                                                               
Community Services;  relating to  child protection;  and relating                                                               
to children of active duty military members."                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
He noted that  this was the second hearing and  the intention was                                                               
to move the  bill from committee. He asked the  sponsor if he had                                                               
any final comments.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:40:54 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE GRIER  HOPKINS, Alaska State  Legislature, Juneau,                                                               
Alaska, sponsor of  HB 297, recapped that the  U.S. Department of                                                               
Defense (DoD) urges the state  to pass this legislation. He noted                                                               
that,  as  requested, he  reached  out  to former  Representative                                                               
Tammie Wilson  for her  opinion of the  bill. Her  letter stating                                                               
strong support  for the  bill was forwarded  to the  committee on                                                               
     th                                                                                                                         
May 42022.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHOWER  said he'd  like to hear  any important  points that                                                               
she might have made.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   HOPKINS   read   the   following   from   former                                                               
Representative Tammie Wilson:                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     After working with  parents for many years,  I know the                                                                    
     sooner wrap around  services can be put  into place, it                                                                    
     significantly  lowers the  chance  that their  children                                                                    
     will be  removed. This will  allow the  Family Advocacy                                                                    
     Program  to  address  any   potential  child  abuse  or                                                                    
     neglect  allegations  early  on.   It  will  not  be  a                                                                    
     duplication  of services.  ... Many  of these  services                                                                    
     can be provided through the Family Advocacy Program.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Please support this legislation.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHOWER  said it  provides him  significant comfort  to know                                                               
that  she  supports  the  legislation. He  noted  that  DoD  also                                                               
supports the legislation.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HOPKINS  said the  idea  came  from DoD  and  his                                                               
office was working with DoD on coordination.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:42:55 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR HOLLAND  expressed appreciation  for the  background that                                                               
provided context  for why the  Office of Children's  Services may                                                               
have to get involved.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SHOWER   found  no  further  questions   or  comments  and                                                               
solicited the will of the committee.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:43:47 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  HOLLAND  moved   to  report  HB  297,   work  order  32-                                                               
LS1249\I.A,  from committee  with individual  recommendations and                                                               
attached fiscal note(s).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHOWER found  no objection and CSHB  297(HSS)(title am) was                                                               
reported from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.