FOSTER CHILDREN: PSYCH. TREATMENT/HOMES
Sponsored By: Andrew Gray (Democratic)
Became Law
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
More Medicaid access for foster children
The law adds a Medicaid eligibility group for qualifying children under 21 in Alaska department supervision. Their living costs must be paid partly or fully with public funds. Covered placements include foster homes, treatment foster homes, and private child-care institutions. Alaska can claim federal matching funds for this group. Federal officials must approve the needed Medicaid plan changes or waivers by July 1, 2031. Coverage starts on the later of July 1, 2028, or the day after approval.
More children get court-appointed lawyers
Courts must appoint a lawyer for any child placed in a hospital through this law's psychiatric placement process. In child-protection cases, children age 10 or older also get lawyers when they do not consent to residential treatment or psychiatric medicine. Appointment is also required when they object to sharing therapy records, enter emergency protective custody, are pregnant, or have custody of a child. Courts can appoint lawyers in additional cases, including when a confidential lawyer-client relationship would help the child.
Psychiatric placements for children require oversight
The law allows residential psychiatric treatment and short-term hospital psychiatric care for children in specified state-custody cases. Residential placement is no longer limited to secure centers. A mental health professional must testify that the child is gravely disabled or mentally ill and likely to cause serious harm. Suitable, less restrictive options must be unavailable or have failed, and treatment must offer improvement or prevent deterioration. Courts must review residential placements at least every 90 days; the state must move children when treatment stops helping or being needed. Hospital admission requires a finding of mental illness, possible serious harm, and no suitable, less restrictive treatment option. The state must notify listed parties within 24 hours, unless the child moves to a less restrictive placement within 23 hours. Courts must review hospital placement within seven calendar days; continuation requires clear and convincing evidence, with reviews at least every 30 days.
Specialized foster care with new safeguards
Beginning July 1, 2028, Alaska recognizes treatment foster homes that provide specialized care 24 hours a day. Children must have behavioral, developmental, emotional, or medical needs tied to a condition identified by an authorized health-care provider. Homes must follow licensing, criminal-history check, inspection, and placement rules. Limited building-code inspection exceptions are allowed only where federal law permits and the home remains safe and consistent with community homes. Treatment foster parents must take ongoing training on caring for children who have experienced trauma; homes must ensure participation.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Andrew Gray
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
Burke
Affiliation unavailable
Jeremy Bynum
Republican • House
Matt Claman
Democratic • Senate
Mia Costello
Republican • House
Forrest Dunbar
Democratic • Senate
Ted Eischeid
Democratic • House
Zack Fields
Democratic • House
Neal Foster
Democratic • House
Alyse Galvin
Not • House
Cathy Giessel
Republican • Senate
Elvi Gray-Jackson
Democratic • Senate
Sara Hannan
Democratic • House
Nellie Unangiq Jimmie
Democratic • House
Andy Josephson
Democratic • House
Scott Kawasaki
Democratic • Senate
Donna Mears
Democratic • House
Kelly Merrick
Republican • Senate
Genevieve Mina
Democratic • House
Justin Ruffridge
Republican • House
Dan Saddler
Republican • House
Calvin Schrage
Not • House
Bert Stedman
Republican • Senate
Andi Story
Democratic • House
Louise Stutes
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
Actions Timeline
(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW SEE CHAPTER
7/3/2026House(H) LAW W/O GOVERNOR SIGNATURE 6/22 CHAPTER 26 SLA 26
7/3/2026House(H) MANIFEST ERROR(S)
6/4/2026House(H) 2:45 P.M. 6/4/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR
6/4/2026House(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
5/17/2026House(H) COURT RULE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
5/17/2026House(H) CONCUR AM OF (S) Y40
5/17/2026House(H) TITLE CHANGE: SCR 10
5/17/2026House(H) CONCUR MESSAGE TAKEN UP
5/17/2026House(H) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND HELD
5/17/2026House(H) COSPONSOR REMOVED: TOMASZEWSKI
5/16/2026House(S) VERSION: SCS HB 36(FIN)
5/16/2026Senate(S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED
5/16/2026Senate(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
5/16/2026Senate(S) COURT RULE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
5/16/2026Senate(S) PASSED Y19 N- E1
5/16/2026Senate(S) READ THE THIRD TIME SCS HB 36(FIN)
5/16/2026Senate(S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/16 CAL
5/15/2026Senate(S) FIN SCS ADOPTED UC
5/15/2026Senate(S) READ THE SECOND TIME
5/15/2026Senate(S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/15/2026
5/15/2026Senate(S) FN5: ZERO(DFC)
5/13/2026Senate(S) FN4: ZERO(AJS)
5/13/2026Senate(S) NR: OLSON, STEDMAN, KAUFMAN, CRONK
5/13/2026Senate(S) DP: HOFFMAN, MERRICK, KIEHL
5/13/2026Senate
Bill Text
Enrolled HB 36
5/17/2026
SCS HB 36(FIN)
5/13/2026
SCS HB 36(JUD)
5/16/2025
SCS HB 36(HSS)
5/14/2025
HB 36
1/22/2025