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HB36

HB36: Rules for Foster Care Mental Health Treatment

Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 12:25 AM

In one sentence

This law updates rules about mental health care, medical coverage eligibility, and placement options for children in the state foster system.

What it does

  • Updates criminal history check requirements for individuals working with treatment foster homes listed under AS 47.32.010(c).
  • Expands medical assistance eligibility to include persons under 21 receiving active treatment in a psychiatric hospital if they meet federal financial standards.
  • Allows courts to authorize the placement of children in residential psychiatric treatment centers based on testimony from mental health professionals regarding serious harm or grave disability.
  • Relates to the care of children in state custody placed in psychiatric facilities outside Alaska, though specific conditions are not detailed in this excerpt.
  • Amends Rule 12.1(b) of the Alaska Child in Need of Aid Rules of Procedure.

Who it affects

  • Children under state custody who need psychiatric treatment or foster home placement.
  • The Department of Family and Community Services staff responsible for child placements and licensing.
  • Treatment foster homes, hospitals, and residential psychiatric centers providing care to these children.
  • Courts that authorize the placement of children in residential mental health facilities.

Limits and unknowns

  • The provided text cuts off before listing the complete conditions required for placement in a residential psychiatric treatment center.
  • Specific details regarding how children are cared for outside of Alaska are mentioned but not fully explained in this excerpt.
  • The exact effective date is listed as 'See Chapter' and does not show a specific calendar day in this text.

Plain language

Terms to know

Treatment Foster Home
A type of foster home defined by state law (AS 47.32.900) for which specific medical assistance eligibility rules apply.
Residential Psychiatric Treatment Center
A facility where children may be placed if a court finds they are gravely disabled or likely to cause serious harm due to mental illness.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill textStored full record

Official summary

FOSTER CHILDREN: PSYCH. TREATMENT/HOMES An Act relating to treatment foster homes; relating to the placement of foster children in hospitals and residential psychiatric treatment centers for psychiatric care; relating to the duties of the Department of Family and Community Services; relating to the care of children in state custody placed in psychiatric residential treatment facilities outside the state; amending Rule 12.1(b), Alaska Child in Need of Aid Rules of Procedure; and providing for an effective date.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW SEE CHAPTER3157
  2. (H) LAW W/O GOV SIGNATURE 6/22 CH 26 SLA 263157
  3. (H) MANIFEST ERROR(S)3041
  4. (H) 2:45 P.M. 6/4/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR3041
  5. (H) TITLE CHANGE: SCR 102742
  6. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE2742
  7. (H) COURT RULE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE2742
  8. (H) CONCUR AM OF (S) Y402742
  9. (H) CONCUR MESSAGE TAKEN UP2741
  10. (H) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND HELD2690
  11. (H) COSPONSOR REMOVED: TOMASZEWSKI2685
  12. (S) VERSION: SCS HB 36(FIN)2697
  13. (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED2697
  14. (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE2693
  15. (S) COURT RULE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE2693
  16. (S) PASSED Y19 N- E12692
  17. (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SCS HB 36(FIN)2692
  18. (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/16 CAL2661
  19. (S) FIN SCS ADOPTED UC2661
  20. (S) READ THE SECOND TIME2660