HOUSE BILL 97                                                                
                                                                               
       "An   Act  clarifying   the  responsibilities   of  the                 
       Department of  Health and  Social Services  and parents                 
       for children  who are committed  to the custody  of the                 
       department and are  placed by  the department with  the                 
       parents; and providing for an effective date."                          
                                                                               
  DEBORAH   WING,  DIRECTOR,   FAMILY   AND  YOUTH   SERVICES,                 
  DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH  AND SOCIAL  SERVICES, stated that  the                 
  Department of  Health and Social Services  strongly supports                 
  HB   97,  which   clarifies  the  responsibilities   of  the                 
  Department for children  committed to its legal  custody and                 
  who continue to reside with the parent or parents.  The bill                 
  amends  AS  47.10.084  to  require a  parent  or  parents to                 
  provide for the day  to day care of their  children if these                 
  children  are residing  with them  when the State  has legal                 
  custody as a result of child protection services.                            
                                                                               
  Representative  Parnell  inquired  if  medical  care   would                 
  include the cost of counseling.  Ms. Winger stated it would.                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
  Representative Martin discussed medical care costs of foster                 
  children.  Ms. Wing noted that children in foster care would                 
  continue to remain a responsibility of the State.                            
                                                                               
  Representative Parnell inquired if parents would be asked to                 
  pay for  counseling services of  abused children.   Ms. Wing                 
  noted,  that if the  child is qualified  under Medicaid, the                 
  parents are able to utilize that resource.                                   
                                                                               
  Representative Martin MOVED to report HB 97 out of Committee                 
  with individual  recommendations and  with the  accompanying                 
  fiscal note.  There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                   
                                                                               
  HB  97  was  reported out  of  Committee  with  a "do  pass"                 
                                                                               
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  recommendation and with a zero fiscal note by the Department                 
  of Health and Social Services.