HB 52-MINORS & PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS  5:02:08 PM CHAIR MINA announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 52, "An Act relating to the rights of minors undergoing evaluation or inpatient treatment at psychiatric hospitals; relating to the use of seclusion or restraint of minors at psychiatric hospitals; relating to a report published by the Department of Health; relating to inspections by the Department of Health of certain psychiatric hospitals; and providing for an effective date." [Before the committee, adopted as a working document on 4/22/25, was the proposed committee substitute (CS), Version 34-LS0399\I, A. Radford, 4/12/25 ("Version I").] 5:02:43 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS moved to adopt Amendment 1 to HB 52, Version I, labeled 34-LS0399\I.1, A. Radford, 4/22/25, which read as follows: Page 1, lines 12 - 13: Delete "one cumulative hour" Insert "two cumulative hours" CHAIR MINA objected for the purpose of discussion. REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS explained that setting a higher minimum requirement of communication would permit a meaningful yet reasonable amount of conversation between patients and their families. CHAIR MINA stated that she has some concerns regarding the increase in required communication. 5:03:44 PM REPRESENTATIVE PRAX expressed concern regarding increasing the floor, stating that he does not believe Amendment 1 would be necessary. 5:04:46 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRAY asked if it would be problematic to require kids in a psychiatric facility to have a minimum of two hours of talk time with their families each week. 5:05:16 PM MATTHEW THOMAS Nurse Consultant II, Division of Healthcare Services, Department of Health, responded that a minimum of two hours per week would not be problematic, given that a majority of facilities have the capacity to allow that amount of phone communication. 5:06:45 PM MATTIE HULL, Staff, Representative Maxine Dibert, in response to a question from Representative Gray, stated that HB 52 would require an assumption of good faith regarding psychiatric facilities. 5:07:29 PM MR. HULL, in response to a question from Representative Ruffridge, referred to previous invited testimony by Mateo, who was denied communication with his family for months while residing in a psychiatric facility. He emphasized that establishing a floor requirement of communication would allow these patients to have an outlet to their families, who often serve as their best advocates 5:09:37 PM CHAIR MINA clarified that HB 52 would establish the right to communication, not the obligation of communication. REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE asked if it was already illegal for Mateo to have been denied access to communication with his family. 5:10:26 PM MR. HULL responded that facilities are already required to provide reasonable access to communication, but HB 52 would ensure consistent communication. 5:11:18 PM CHAIR MINA referred to AS 47.30.840, which guarantees the right of children in psychiatric facilities to some communication with their families. 5:11:37 PM CHAIR MINA removed her objection to Amendment 1. 5:11:48 PM REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE objected to Amendment 1. 5:11:56 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS clarified that the intention of Amendment 1 would not be to force children to stay on the phone for two hours, but to provide that opportunity to those who need it. 5:12:11 PM REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE read from AS 47.30.840 and asked if Amendment 1 would be more restrictive than existing statute. REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS clarified that Amendment 1 would give children the right both to access a parent anytime via the telephone and to at least two hours via video calling. 5:13:15 PM REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE removed his objection to Amendment 1. 5:13:25 PM REPRESENTATIVE SCHWANKE objected. She asked if the right to a confidential call, under AS 47.30.840, would conflict with the communication that would be required under HB 52. 5:14:07 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS responded that the statutes would not conflict. REPRESENTATIVE SCHWANKE expressed concern regarding the cumulative time of communication that would be allowed under HB 52 and that is currently allowed under AS 47.30.840. 5:15:05 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS responded that he will follow up with Legislative Legal Services and Research Services. 5:15:24 PM The committee took a brief at-ease at 5:15 p.m. 5:15:34 PM CHAIR MINA announced that HB 52, [Version I, with the motion to adopt Amendment 1 left pending with objection] was held over.