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AlaskaHB 5234th Legislature (2025-2026)House

MINORS & PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS

Sponsored By: Maxine Dibert (Democratic)

Vetoed

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

More oversight of kids’ psychiatric hospitals

Beginning July 1, 2027, Alaska health officials must inspect qualifying psychiatric hospitals without warning at least twice each year. This covers hospitals evaluating or treating minors where a minor stayed more than three nights in the previous year. Each inspection includes interviews with at least half the minor patients, without staff unless officials request their presence for safety. Court orders allowing department entry must cover licensing or these inspection purposes. Hospitals must notify the Department of Health and the minor’s parent or guardian in writing within 72 hours after each use of seclusion or restraint. Notices for chemical restraints must name the psychiatric medicine used. Chemical restraint means medicine used to control behavior or restrict movement, excluding ongoing medicine treating an underlying psychiatric illness. By November 1 each year, the department must publish hospital-level restraint and seclusion counts, chemical-restraint medicine types, inspection findings, and data on minors receiving residential care. The family services department must annually supply data on minors in state custody receiving psychiatric hospital residential care, including time spent in-state and out-of-state.

Private family calls for hospitalized kids

Beginning July 1, 2027, minors receiving psychiatric hospital evaluation or inpatient treatment have a right to private phone or video calls. They get at least two total hours each week with a parent, guardian, or another adult approved by the lead professional. The minor, parent, guardian, or approved adult can request these calls, and the hospital must arrange them. Contact is not required when barred by law or court order, or when the lead professional finds it unwise for treatment.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Maxine Dibert

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Burke

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Matt Claman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mia Costello

    Republican • House

  • Forrest Dunbar

    Democratic • Senate

  • 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

  • Kelly Merrick

    Republican • Senate

  • Genevieve Mina

    Democratic • House

  • Calvin Schrage

    Not • House

  • Bert Stedman

    Republican • Senate

  • Andi Story

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 94 • No: 46

House vote • 6/19/2026

GOVERNOR VETO SUSTAINED Y36 N24

Yes: 36 • No: 24

House vote • 5/17/2026

EFFECTIVE DATE(S) ADOPTED Y32 N8

Yes: 32 • No: 8

House vote • 5/17/2026

CONCUR AM OF (S) Y26 N14

Yes: 26 • No: 14

Actions Timeline

  1. (H) VETOED BY GOVERNOR 6/18/26

    6/20/2026House

  2. (S) JOINT SESSION at 01:00 PM HOUSE CHAMBER

    6/19/2026Senate

  3. (H) GOVERNOR VETO SUSTAINED Y36 N24

    6/19/2026House

  4. (H) 12:55 P.M. 6/5/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR

    6/10/2026House

  5. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) ADOPTED Y32 N8

    5/17/2026House

  6. (H) CONCUR AM OF (S) Y26 N14

    5/17/2026House

  7. (H) CONCUR MESSAGE RECEIVED AND TAKEN UP

    5/17/2026House

  8. (S) VERSION: SCS CSHB 52(FIN)

    5/17/2026Senate

  9. (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED

    5/17/2026Senate

  10. (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE

    5/17/2026Senate

  11. (S) PASSED Y20 N-

    5/17/2026Senate

  12. (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SCS CSHB 52(FIN)

    5/17/2026Senate

  13. (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC

    5/17/2026Senate

  14. (S) FIN SCS ADOPTED UC

    5/17/2026Senate

  15. (S) READ THE SECOND TIME

    5/17/2026Senate

  16. (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/17/2026

    5/17/2026Senate

  17. (S) FN6: (DOH)

    5/16/2026Senate

  18. (S) FN5: ZERO(DFC)

    5/16/2026Senate

  19. (S) FN4: ZERO(DFC)

    5/16/2026Senate

  20. (S) NR: OLSON, KAUFMAN, CRONK, KIEHL

    5/16/2026Senate

  21. (S) DP: HOFFMAN, MERRICK

    5/16/2026Senate

  22. (S) FIN RPT SCS 2DP 4NR SAME TITLE

    5/16/2026Senate

  23. (S) Minutes (SFIN)

    5/15/2026Senate

  24. (S) Moved SCS CSHB 52(FIN) Out of Committee -- Please Note Time Change --

    5/15/2026Senate

  25. (S) FINANCE at 01:30 PM SENATE FINANCE 532

    5/15/2026Senate

Bill Text

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