HB 153-CHILD IN NEED OF AID; NOTICE OF PLACEMENT  4:30:49 PM CO-CHAIR SNYDER announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 153, "An Act relating to the identification, location, and notification of specified family members of a child who is in state custody." 4:31:07 PM SUE STANCLIFF, Staff, Representative Mike Cronk, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Cronk, prime sponsor, stated that HB 153 would ensure extended family members or close family friends are contacted as potential foster parents. She said the bill's main provision would make sure that a supervisor signs off that the required due diligence search for family members has occurred. If not, she continued, the social worker is directed to complete that search to the supervisor's satisfaction in as a timely manner as possible. The further noted that the bill requires the search to be completed within a 30-day time limit, but also recognizes that Alaska is an expansive state so an extensive search may require additional time. The bill allows for that levity, she added, but requires a supervisor to verify the progress. MS. STANCLIFF stated that HB 153 would put this additional protection into statute since it is not currently addressed by the Office of Children's Service's (OCS). She said the policy is warranted due to the continuous high social worker turnover rate - some social workers are very new and may not continue beyond one or two years. Having a supervisor sign off that a family search has been thoroughly conducted will ensure that children are protected and in the best foster home possible. When good family placement is available, she added, keeping a child with his or her family or as close to home as possible is often the placement of the child's best interest, which is the bill's intent. 4:33:21 PM REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY offered his support for HB 153. He asked whether OCS has had any disagreements with the proposed legislation. MS. STANCLIFF responded that the sponsor's understanding is that OCS is already doing this to the best of its ability and putting this into statute will codify that OCS is to do this. If OCS is not able to do it, then the supervisor would provide a written progress statement. 4:35:21 PM REPRESENTATIVE KURKA said he likes the direction of the bill but questions whether it needs to be strengthened or cleaned up. He pointed out that for a child the 30-day requirement, which could be extended with a supervisor's approval, represents a long time. He drew attention to the term "due diligence" on page 1, line 13, and asked whether there is a standard or definition for the term. He stated he doesn't want to pass a bill full of good intent but without enough teeth to meaningfully achieve its objective. MS. STANCLIFF replied that she doesn't have a definitive answer or response to the comments, but said the department tries to adhere to the timeframe. She specified that this is carryover from previous legislation and the sponsor took the 30 days directly from that previous work. Regarding page 1, lines 12- 14, she stated that if the department is not able to complete the search within the 30 days, the supervisor must notify that DHSS has done its best to find the relatives within that 30-day period. She noted that completing the search isn't as difficult in Bush villages where everybody knows everybody and knows the families, but it can become very challenging in a different setting or if there is no living relative. 4:39:31 PM REPRESENTATIVE KURKA stated he would like to receive background information on the previous legislative history as well as on the standard for due diligence. He referred to page 1, line 9, regarding notifying ["adult family members of the child"] and asked how family is defined. MS. STANCLIFF answered that it is defined in statute. 4:40:52 PM CO-CHAIR ZULKOSKY asked whether the sponsor has reached out to child welfare advocates or folks in the field who have assessed this legislation. MS. STANCLIFF replied that the sponsor felt this was a very simple bill and has not heard from [child welfare advocates] or reached out to foster care but has spoken with the department. CO-CHAIR ZULKOSKY noted that in 2018 Alaska was the third lowest in non-relative placement, although it may have improved with the Tribal Child Welfare Compact. She said she is interested in a future discussion with the department about where that is at in context with HB 153. 4:42:39 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked whether the sponsor has coordinated with Facing Foster Care, an advocacy group for foster families in Anchorage. MS. STANCLIFF responded no but said the sponsor would do that with invited testimony. REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ recounted that in 2018 House Bill 151 was enacted, which required that supervisors document in writing in the case file whether a search had been conducted for an appropriate placement with an adult family member or a family friend. She offered her understanding that federal law requires the 30-day timeframe, which is why it wasn't put into House Bill 151 at that time. She encouraged the sponsor to reach out to former Representative Les Gara and Amanda Metivier with Facing Foster Care in Alaska given they are experts in child welfare law and the history of reform over the last decade and could help in the crafting and understanding the background. MS. STANCLIFF expressed her thanks for this information. She stated that AS 47.10.990 defines adult family members. CO-CHAIR SNYDER stated that HB 153 was held over and that invited testimony would be heard at the bill's next hearing.