03/05/2014 01:30 PM Senate JUDICIARY

        SB 171-MULTIDISCIPLINARY CHILD PROTECTION TEAMS                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:36:09 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  COGHILL announced  the consideration  of  SB 171."An  Act                                                               
relating  to   multidisciplinary  child  protection   teams;  and                                                               
relating to investigation of child abuse or neglect."                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:36:25 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR DYSON moved to adopt  CS for SB 171, labeled 28-LS1416\C,                                                             
as the working document.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI joined the committee.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:37:05 PM                                                                                                                    
RYNNIEVA MOSS,  Staff, Senator John  Coghill, sponsor of  SB 171,                                                               
explained the changes that appear in Version C.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Section  1,  subsection  (a),  page   1,  line  5,  the  language                                                               
describing  the  investigating  entity   was  broadened  to  "the                                                               
department or  another investigating agency" in  order to include                                                               
local police, tribes, and child advocacy centers.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Section 2, subsection  (b), page 2, narrows the  expertise of the                                                               
team  established  under  subsection  (a)  to  ensure  they  have                                                               
training and knowledge of child abuse cases.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Section  3, subsection  (c), page  3, lines  10-12, language  was                                                               
included at the  request of the Department of Law  to ensure that                                                               
the   confidentiality  of   the  information   is  protected.   A                                                               
multidisciplinary  team member  may only  use the  information as                                                               
necessary for the performance of the member's duties.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  COGHILL   removed  his   objection.  Finding   no  further                                                               
objection, Version  C was adopted.  He recapped that  the primary                                                               
purpose of  the legislation is  to allow  these multidisciplinary                                                               
child protection teams to work for  the benefit of the child when                                                               
the Office of Children's Services isn't involved.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:40:30 PM                                                                                                                    
PAM KARALUNAS, Alaska Children's  Alliance (ACA), Chugiak, Alaska                                                               
testified in support  of SB 171. She said ACA  appreciates SB 171                                                               
because it  clarifies misunderstandings of  the multidisciplinary                                                               
team process  at child  advocacy centers.  The bill  also updates                                                               
the statute to reflect best practices.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:41:25 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  DYSON moved  to report  CS  for SB  171 with  individual                                                               
recommendations and attached fiscal note.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COGHILL  announced that,  without objection,  CSSB 171(JUD)                                                               
moved from the Senate Judiciary Standing Committee.