HB 184-REQUIRE TRIBAL CHILD WELFARE COMPACT  1:43:37 PM CHAIR WILSON announced the consideration of HOUSE BILL NO. 184 "An Act requiring state participation in a tribal child welfare compact." CHAIR WILSON asked the sponsor's staff to give a brief overview of the bill before the committee considered an amendment. 1:43:59 PM At ease. 1:44:43 PM CHAIR WILSON reconvened the meeting. 1:45:10 PM KATY GIORGIO, Staff, Representative Tiffany Zulkosky, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, stated that HB 184 would codify the Tribal Child Welfare Compact in statute. 1:45:45 PM SENATOR BEGICH asked if the sponsor had any objection to the modification [in the forthcoming amendment]. MS. GIORGIO stated that Representative Zulkosky does not object to the forthcoming amendment. CHAIR WILSON clarified that there was a forthcoming amendment, not a committee substitute (CS). 1:46:06 PM CHAIR WILSON moved Amendment 1, work order 32-LS0722\I.1. 32-LS0722\I.1 Ambrose 4/1/22 AMENDMENT 1 OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR WILSON Page 1, line 1: Delete "requiring" Insert "relating to" Page 1, line 4: Delete "shall" Insert "may" 1:46:09 PM SENATOR HUGHES objected for purposes of discussion. 1:46:11 PM CHAIR WILSON explained that the change in terminology from "requiring" to "relating to" is a change in the title. The change from "shall" to "may" allows, but does not require, the department to enter into a compact. This allows the department more flexibility to work with an entity to ensure it is prepared and eligible to be a compact member. 1:47:00 PM SENATOR HUGHES removed her objection. CHAIR WILSON found no further objection, and Amendment 1 was adopted. SENATOR COSTELLO highlighted that adopting the amendment means a title change resolution will be required. SENATOR BEGICH said he looks forward to seeing the bill on the floor. 1:47:37 PM SENATOR HUGHES mentioned a conversation she had with somebody who had worked with the Office of Children's Services (OCS) who was concerned about the bill and the protections it may or may not provide for children. She asked if there had been a pilot project and whether the compact would be very strict to make sure that everything is done properly to ensure child safety. MS. GIORGIO answered that the compact has been in place since 2017, and each year OCS and the tribal cosigners revisit the terms of the compact. She deferred further explanation to Kim Guay. 1:49:49 PM KIM GUAY, Director, Office of Children's Services, Department of Family and Community Services (DFCS), Anchorage, Alaska, explained that the tribal cosigners and OCS are working in partnership so that more than one set of eyes is on the families receiving services. This work also involves oversight from the federal government because these children are typically in the foster care system. Everything OCS is doing to check these families, such as background checks, the tribes are also doing. 1:50:58 PM CHAIR WILSON found no further questions and solicited a motion. 1:51:07 PM SENATOR HUGHES moved to report HB 184, work order 32-LS0722\I as amended, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). 1:51:21 PM CHAIR WILSON found no objection and SCS HB 184(HSS), was reported from the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee.