TAPE 94-41, SIDE A Number 000 CHAIR TOOHEY called the meeting to order at 3:07 p.m., noted members present and announced the calendar. She brought HB 468 to the table. She indicated that Deputy Commission Waldron was in attendance. She then passed the gavel over to Rep. Bunde who presided over portions of the remainder of the meeting. CHAIR BUNDE stated that perhaps there might be a conflict of interest as his aid, Patty Swenson, is a member of the Foster Care Review Panel. REP. TOOHEY said she had no objections. HB 468 - FOSTER CARE REVIEW PANEL Number 106 (Chair Bunde stated for the record that Rep. Nicholia arrived at 3:08 p.m.) Number 125 REP. CYNTHIA TOOHEY, Prime Sponsor of HB 468, stated that the legislation would extend the sunset date for citizen's review panels for permanency planning until 1997. She indicated that the proposal had bi-partisan support and passed the legislature unanimously in 1990 and was signed into law. The purpose of external citizen reviews is to assure that children do not linger unnecessarily in out-of- home care, and they receive the support and benefits of a permanent home as soon as possible. REP. TOOHEY further indicated that in the United States almost 500,000 children pass through state foster care systems each month. She said U.S. judges, social workers, attorneys, and child advocacy groups have recognized that the foster care system is failing to respond to the needs of many abused and neglected children and their families. Crowded court calendars and understaffed child welfare agencies are contributing to the increase in the number of children in the system and their length of time spent in substitute care. REP. TOOHEY said that among solutions proposed by child advocacy organizations were the implementation of permanency planning case work and foster care placement monitoring through regular case reviews. To help monitor the situation, citizen volunteers were selected to sit on review panels in 24 states, including Alaska. She indicated that the Department of Administration (DOA) implemented a model project in Anchorage that began reviews in December of 1993. REP. TOOHEY stated that as the result of an audit the Division of Legislative Audit recommended to extend the sunset date to 1997 to allow the Anchorage project sufficient time to gather data that will determine the panels' effectiveness. The length of time children remain in foster care and the savings associated with children no longer being part of the foster care system are factors that determine the panels' effectiveness. REP. TOOHEY maintained that HB 468 has the support of the Alaska Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, the Alaska Foster Parent Association, and the National Association of Foster Care Reviewers. She then indicated that Roberly Waldron from DOA and Randy Welker form Legislative Audit were present to answer questions. Number 237 REP. B. DAVIS asked if there was someone from DOA to testify. CHAIR BUNDE said yes. REP. B. DAVIS said she was interested in the zero fiscal note. REP. TOOHEY asked if Rep. B. Davis would like her to address the fiscal note. CHAIR BUNDE suggested that the committee hear from Roberly Waldron. Number 240 ROBERLY WALDRON, Deputy Commissioner, Services to the Public, Department of Administration, testified in support of HB 468. She stated that in regards to the zero fiscal note that it does not cost the DOA anything to sunset or not sunset. Although, she said, there is a cost to implement the program, but that would be addressed through another avenue, not through the proposed legislation. Number 278 REP. B. DAVIS asked what other avenue would address the implementation. She said it was her understanding that the appropriation would have to come from the legislature unless it is already in the department's budget. She felt that nothing would be accomplished if the sunset date were to be moved when there would be no funds to implement the program. MS. WALDRON explained that currently there is $125,000 in the budget for fiscal year 1995. She said if the bill does not pass and there is no phase-out year, the $125,000 and the phase-out year would still be in effect. REP. B. DAVIS asked if the $125,000 would carry through 1995. MS. WALDRON said yes. Number 308 MS. WALDRON stated that it took quite some time to get the panels appointed through the governor's office, but the reviews began in December 1993. She said the system is working very well and all of the panelists are extremely dedicated to their cause. She also indicated that foster parents have responded positively to being part of the review panels. She said the model project will answer the questions of whether the panels will work and if children will be placed in permanent situations faster. She further stated that there will be seven months of documentation to determine the panels' effectiveness. Number 369 REP. TOOHEY explained that in other states the system has proven it saves money. She said there is a considerable cost difference between paying foster care for placement of children and home care. CHAIR BUNDE asked how much the program costs per year. MS. WALDRON explained that $125,000 pays for three workers and pays for rent and supplies, but not for the full year. She said in the next fiscal year they would have to stop when the funds are completely depleted, but there would be sufficient data at that time to determine the effectiveness of the program. Number 401 CHAIR BUNDE clarified his question and said for the program to continue another $125,000 would be needed to carry the program through fiscal year 1995. MS. WALDRON explained that the amount is what is in the budget for a continuation level, and it is not an additional $125,000. CHAIR BUNDE said he understood that, but asked if that amount would take the program through to the end of fiscal year 1994. MS. WALDRON explained that in the current fiscal year the program has $125,000. There is $125,000 in budget request for FY 1995. CHAIR BUNDE asked for testimony from Sherrie Goll. Number 423 SHERRIE GOLL, Lobbyist, Alaska Women's Lobby and KIDPAC, testified in support of HB 468. She stated that the present law had unanimous support in both legislative bodies and it was decided that the program would have a positive impact on children. She said foster care "drift", children who are improperly tracked and spend much unnecessary time in the system, is a very significant problem. She indicated that in the Executive Summary of the Annual Report, seventeen cases were addressed in the month of December and pointed out that one child was adopted. She said the panelists, who were appointed by Governor Hickel, are not paid. She said the social workers that are involved are pleased with the process and the additional input. MS. GOLL asserted that the intent of the bill is to have panelists be composed of local citizens from all over the state as opposed to the model program in Anchorage. She stressed how important the program is to children in the foster care system. She then indicated that the money is in the budget, but it is not enough money to expand the program. She said even if the Finance Committee cut the money from the budget, it would be a shame to have the law "go off the books," which is why the termination date should be extended. Number 525 CHAIR BUNDE asked for further testimony. There being none, he closed public testimony and asked for further discussion from the committee. REP. OLBERG asked how much it costs to keep a child in a foster home for one night. REP. TOOHEY explained that costs vary by the child's age and geographical location. She said zero to 30 months equals $19.33 per day or $579 per month, or $7055 per year. A child that is 31 months to 11 years costs $17.80 per day and 12 years to 19 years is $20.40 per day. She said the average is $18.97 per day or $6828 per year. Rep. Toohey anticipated the next question to be how many children are in foster care in Alaska and deferred to Ms. Waldron. Number 567 MS. WALDRON answered between 1100 and 1600 children per month are in foster care. REP. TOOHEY said there is not much fluctuation. CHAIR BUNDE asked for further discussion. He then asked the pleasure of the committee. REP. B. DAVIS made a motion to pass HB 468 out of committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal note. CHAIR BUNDE asked if there were any objections. REP. OLBERG objected. Number 602 CHAIR BUNDE called for the vote. Reps. Bunde, G. Davis, B. Davis, Nicholia, and Toohey voted Yea and Reps. Olberg and Vezey voted Nay. Chair Bunde declared that HB 468 was so moved. He then handed the gavel over to Rep. Toohey who presided over portions of the remainder of the meeting.