Legislature(2025 - 2026)BUTROVICH 205
03/13/2025 03:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB83 | |
| SB9 | |
| SCR2 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 9 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 83 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SCR 2 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 9-SURRENDER OF INFANTS; INF. SAFETY DEVICE
3:46:33 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR reconvened the meeting announced the consideration
of SENATE BILL NO. 9 "An Act relating to the surrender of
infants; and providing for an effective date."
3:47:03 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR solicited a motion.
3:47:05 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS) for
SB 9, work order 34-LS0085\G, as the working document.
3:47:15 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR objected for purposes of discussion
3:47:39 PM
ARIELLE WIGGIN, Staff, Senator Forrest Dunbar, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, offered a summary of changes for SB
9 version I to version G and read the following:
[Original punctuation provided.]
SUMMARY OF CHANGES
CSSB 9: SURRENDER OF INFANTS; INF. SAFETY DEVICE
Version I to Version G
Page 2 Lines 10-12
Inserts "health facility as defined in AS 47.07.900
that is owned or managed by a tribal health
organization as defined in AS 17.30.200(d),"
Page 3 Lines 17-24 Amends AS 47.10.013
Deletes "as determined by the department; and" at line
17 and replaces the phrase with:
"(3) Clearly marked with appropriate signage that
includes
A) the phone number for a service that provides
support for parents in crisis;
B) a list of alternatives to using the infant
safety device;
C) a statement that placing an infant in the
device constitutes abandonment and may lead to
involuntary termination of the parent's rights
to the child and release of the child for
adoption or other permanent placement;"
3:49:02 PM
MS. WIGGINS read the rationale prepared by Senator Tobin
regarding the changes made to SB 9, version G:
For the first change on page three, lines 17-24, to provide
this surrendering, parent with information on alternatives
to surrender.
For example, Washington State has a safety of newborn
children law that allows parents to anonymously leave
newborns with qualified individuals at hospitals, fire
stations, or federally designated rural health clinics with
72 hours after birth without fear of prosecution for
abandonment.
As in other states with safe surrender laws, we want to
ensure that surrendering parent is aware of a crisis
hotline that they can call the clear signage on the safe
surrender box.
As there are likely in crisis, if they are abandoning an
infant, we also want to make it explicit to the
surrendering parent through clear signage on the safe
surrender box that putting this surrendering their infant
may lead to the termination of their parental rights.
As there are in crisis, they may be influenced by drugs or
alcohol, or may be a mental health event.
This simply would provide a clear statement to the legal
issues of surrender.
3:50:05 PM
MS. WIGGINS returned to summary of changes and read:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Page 4 Lines 4-8 Amends AS 47.10.013
Inserts "(5) approved by the department; in
determining whether to approve a proposed infant
safety device, the department shall consider
A) Whether the device is an appropriate size;
B) The safety of the device; and
C) Ways to minimize unauthorized use of the device."
3:50:26 PM
MS. WIGGINS continued with the rationale for the summary of
changes; version G:
"To ensure that the safe surrender box is sized for its intended
use for newborn infants and would not be large enough for
misuse. I.e. older infants are toddlers.
They worked with Senator Myers office on drafts of this
amendment and arrived on a compromise with the proposal.
With the proposed language in a work draft, which gives the
Department of Health, discretion and determining appropriate
size for the safe surrender box."
3:50:55 PM
MS. WIGGINS returned to the summary of changes; version G:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Page 4, Line 13 Amends AS 47.10.013
Inserts "(j) If the department determines that an
infant abandoned under (C)(1)(B) of this section is an
Indian child, the department shall immediately contact
the Indian child's tribe."
3:51:11 PM
MS WIGGINS continued with the rational for the summary of
changes; version G:
"This is a reiteration of the Indian child welfare, welfare act
requirements specific to the new statute on the surrender of
newborns via safe surrender boxes."
3:51:26 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR asked if there were any questions from the
committee.
3:51:45 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR removed his objection. He found no further
objection and CSSB 9 was adopted as the working document.
3:52:09 PM
SENATOR ROBERT MYERS, District Q, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, speaking as sponsor of SB 9 explained that the
bill aims to save lives by adding another option to the 2008
safe-surrender law, especially in light of recent infant
abandonment cases. He supported the intent of the proposed
amendments but needs further discussion with the Division of
Family and Community Services regarding practical impacts. He
said with another committee of referral ahead, he plans to
continue working with the department. He stated he is satisfied
with SB 9 in its current form.
3:53:33 PM
SENATOR HUGHES suggested that the next committee of referral
review language on page three to determine whether placing an
infant in the device could constitute abandonment and
potentially lead to involuntary termination of parental rights.
She cautioned that such wording might make a frightened parent
believe they are breaking the law and recommended clarifying the
language to ensure parents understand that using the device is
legal.
3:54:45 PM
SENATOR MYERS acknowledged that "abandonment" is a loaded term.
He explained that the wording was intended to mirror the
existing safe-surrender law, where a person receiving the infant
informs the parent about the implications, including potential
termination of parental rights. Since the device involves no in-
person interaction, the amendment sought to provide that
information through signage. He agreed the concern is valid and
would review the language as the bill moves forward.
3:55:47 PM
At ease.
3:56:21 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR reconvened the meeting.
3:56:25 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR questioned whether public testimony was left open
from the last hearing on SB 9; finding no further testifiers, he
closed public testimony.
3:56:40 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR solicited the will of the committee.
3:56:41 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report CSSB 9, work order 34-LS0085\G,
from committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note(s).
3:57:00 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR found no objection and CSSB 9(HSS) was reported
from the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 9 Version G 3.11.25.pdf |
SHSS 3/13/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 9 |
| SB 83 Version T 3.11.25.pdf |
SHSS 3/13/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 83 |
| CSSB 83 Version T Summary of Changes 3.12.25.pdf |
SHSS 3/13/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 83 |
| CSSB 9 Version G Summary of Changes 3.12.25.pdf |
SHSS 3/13/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 9 |
| CSSB 83 Version O 3.12.25.pdf |
SHSS 3/13/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 83 |
| CSSB 83 Version O Summary of Changes 3.12.25.pdf |
SHSS 3/13/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 83 |