04/19/2022 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

          HB 184-REQUIRE TRIBAL CHILD WELFARE COMPACT                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:43:37 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON  announced the consideration  of HOUSE BILL  NO. 184                                                               
"An Act requiring  state participation in a  tribal child welfare                                                               
compact."                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WILSON asked  the sponsor's staff to give  a brief overview                                                               
of the bill before the committee considered an amendment.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:43:59 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:44:43 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON reconvened the meeting.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:45:10 PM                                                                                                                    
KATY  GIORGIO,  Staff,  Representative Tiffany  Zulkosky,  Alaska                                                               
State  Legislature,  Juneau, Alaska,  stated  that  HB 184  would                                                               
codify the Tribal Child Welfare Compact in statute.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:45:45 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  BEGICH asked  if the  sponsor had  any objection  to the                                                               
modification [in the forthcoming amendment].                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. GIORGIO  stated that Representative Zulkosky  does not object                                                               
to the forthcoming amendment.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WILSON  clarified that there  was a  forthcoming amendment,                                                               
not a committee substitute (CS).                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:46:06 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON moved Amendment 1, work order 32-LS0722\I.1.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                                                 32-LS0722\I.1                                                                  
                                                      Ambrose                                                                   
                                                       4/1/22                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                          AMENDMENT 1                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
    OFFERED IN THE SENATE                 BY SENATOR WILSON                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Page 1, line 1:                                                                                                            
          Delete "requiring"                                                                                                  
          Insert "relating to"                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Page 1, line 4:                                                                                                            
          Delete "shall"                                                                                                        
          Insert "may"                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:46:09 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR HUGHES objected for purposes of discussion.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:46:11 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  WILSON  explained  that the  change  in  terminology  from                                                               
"requiring"  to "relating  to"  is  a change  in  the title.  The                                                               
change from  "shall" to "may"  allows, but does not  require, the                                                               
department to  enter into a  compact. This allows  the department                                                               
more flexibility to work with an  entity to ensure it is prepared                                                               
and eligible to be a compact member.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:47:00 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR HUGHES removed her objection.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  WILSON found  no further  objection, and  Amendment 1  was                                                               
adopted.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COSTELLO highlighted that  adopting the amendment means a                                                               
title change resolution will be required.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR BEGICH  said he looks forward  to seeing the bill  on the                                                               
floor.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:47:37 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  HUGHES mentioned  a conversation  she had  with somebody                                                               
who had worked  with the Office of Children's  Services (OCS) who                                                               
was concerned  about the bill and  the protections it may  or may                                                               
not provide  for children. She  asked if  there had been  a pilot                                                               
project  and whether  the compact  would be  very strict  to make                                                               
sure that everything is done properly to ensure child safety.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS. GIORGIO  answered that  the compact has  been in  place since                                                               
2017,  and each  year OCS  and the  tribal cosigners  revisit the                                                               
terms of  the compact.  She deferred  further explanation  to Kim                                                               
Guay.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:49:49 PM                                                                                                                    
KIM GUAY, Director, Office of  Children's Services, Department of                                                               
Family   and  Community   Services  (DFCS),   Anchorage,  Alaska,                                                               
explained  that  the tribal  cosigners  and  OCS are  working  in                                                               
partnership so that more than one  set of eyes is on the families                                                               
receiving services.  This work also  involves oversight  from the                                                               
federal government  because these  children are typically  in the                                                               
foster  care  system. Everything  OCS  is  doing to  check  these                                                               
families, such as background checks, the tribes are also doing.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:50:58 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON found no further questions and solicited a motion.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:51:07 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR HUGHES moved to report  HB 184, work order 32-LS0722\I as                                                               
amended,  from  committee  with  individual  recommendations  and                                                               
attached fiscal note(s).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:51:21 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  WILSON  found  no  objection  and  SCS  HB  184(HSS),  was                                                               
reported  from the  Senate Health  and  Social Services  Standing                                                               
Committee.