ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  SENATE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE  April 13, 2016 9:05 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Bert Stedman, Chair Senator Cathy Giessel, Vice Chair Senator Bill Stoltze MEMBERS ABSENT  Senator Pete Kelly Senator Johnny Ellis COMMITTEE CALENDAR  CS FOR SS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 27(JUD) AM "An Act relating to the duties of the Department of Health and Social Services; relating to hearings on and plans for permanent placement of a child in need of aid; relating to school placement and transportation for children in foster care; relating to foster care transition programs; relating to emergency and temporary placement of a child in need of aid; relating to transitional living arrangements for children in foster care; and amending Rule 17.2, Alaska Child in Need of Aid Rules of Procedure." - MOVED SCS CSSSHB 27(HSS) OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: HB 27 SHORT TITLE: DHSS DUTIES; CINA; FOSTER CARE; ADOPTION SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) GARA 01/21/15 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/15 01/21/15 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 01/21/15 (H) HSS, JUD 02/11/15 (H) SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED 02/11/15 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/11/15 (H) HSS, JUD 02/12/15 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106 02/12/15 (H) Heard & Held 02/12/15 (H) MINUTE(HSS) 02/24/15 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106 02/24/15 (H) Heard & Held 02/24/15 (H) MINUTE(HSS) 04/02/15 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106 04/02/15 (H) Moved SSHB 27 Out of Committee 04/02/15 (H) MINUTE(HSS) 04/03/15 (H) HSS RPT 4DP 04/03/15 (H) DP: TARR, FOSTER, WOOL, SEATON 04/13/15 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120 04/13/15 (H) Moved CSSSHB 27(JUD) Out of Committee 04/13/15 (H) MINUTE(JUD) 04/15/15 (H) JUD RPT CS(JUD) NT 5DP 1AM 04/15/15 (H) DP: CLAMAN, LYNN, FOSTER, GRUENBERG, LEDOUX 04/15/15 (H) AM: KELLER 04/01/16 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) 04/01/16 (H) VERSION: CSSSHB 27(JUD) AM 04/04/16 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 04/04/16 (S) HSS, JUD 04/11/16 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 04/11/16 (S) Heard & Held 04/11/16 (S) MINUTE(HSS) 04/13/16 (S) HSS AT 9:00 AM FAHRENKAMP 203 WITNESS REGISTER REPRESENTATIVE LES GARA Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 27 ACTION NARRATIVE 9:05:15 AM CHAIR BERT STEDMAN called the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. Present at the call to order were Senators Giessel, Stoltz, and Chair Stedman. HB 27-DHSS DUTIES; CINA; FOSTER CARE; ADOPTION  9:05:25 AM CHAIR STEDMAN announced the consideration of CS FOR SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 27(JUD) am. "An Act relating to the duties of the Department of Health and Social Services; relating to hearings on and plans for permanent placement of a child in need of aid; relating to school placement and transportation for children in foster care; relating to foster care transition programs; relating to emergency and temporary placement of a child in need of aid; relating to transitional living arrangements for children in foster care; and amending Rule 17.2, Alaska Child in Need of Aid Rules of Procedure." [SCS CSSSHB27 (HSS) was before the committee.] It was heard on 4/11/16 and version S is before the committee. He recognized the sponsor and asked him to provide a brief overview. 9:06:42 AM REPRESENTATIVE LES GARA, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of HB 27, said the focus of the bill is to ensure that past mistakes don't happen again. The idea is to get youth out of foster care and into a loving home and also ensure that youth aren't forced to exit foster care at age 18 if they aren't ready to be on their own. The standard for exiting youth at age 18 is when it is in their best interest and that should also be the standard for youth up to 21 years of age. SENATOR STOLTZE expressed appreciation for the work the sponsor has done in this area. He related a personal story to illustrate he knows about being pushed out early. 9:08:46 AM ENATOR GIESSEL moved to report the Senate CS for CS for SSHB 27, labeled 29-LS0176\S, from committee with individual recommendations and attached zero fiscal note. CHAIR STEDMAN announced that without objection, SCS CSSSHB 27(HSS) is reported from the committee REPRESENTATIVE GARA noted the fiscal note is zero. SENATOR GIESSEL confirmed the zero fiscal note. 9:10:04 AM There being no further business to come before the committee, Chair Stedman adjourned the Senate Health and Social Services Committee at 9:10 a.m.