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AlaskaHB 5234th Legislature - Second Session (2026)HouseWALLET

MINORS & PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS

Sponsored By: Maxine Dibert (Democratic)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Private calls for hospitalized minors

Beginning July 1, 2026, a minor in a psychiatric hospital gets at least two hours each week of private phone or video time. The calls can be with a parent, guardian, or another adult approved by the treating professional. The hospital must set up the calls and keep them confidential. The right does not apply if barred by law, a court order, or if the treating professional says it is therapeutically unadvisable. The minor, the parent or guardian, or the approved adult may request the calls.

Quick notice after restraints on minors

Beginning July 1, 2026, psychiatric hospitals must report every use of seclusion or restraint on a minor to the Department of Health and to the parent or guardian within 72 hours. This includes chemical, mechanical, and physical restraints. If a drug was used, the notice must name the psychotropic medication. The law defines a chemical restraint as a psychopharmacologic drug used to restrain, discipline, or for convenience when not needed for a medical symptom, or given at a higher dose than needed.

Surprise inspections and court entry at hospitals

Beginning July 1, 2026, the Department of Health must make at least two unannounced inspections each year at psychiatric hospitals where any minor stayed more than three nights in the past year. Inspectors must interview at least half of minor patients without staff present unless staff are needed for safety. They use age‑appropriate wellness checks for signs of abuse or neglect and must report concerns right away to child protection and law enforcement. Parents or guardians get timely notice of the interview and any concerns, consistent with safety and privacy. A court can also authorize department staff to enter a licensed entity after a petition and hearing, so inspections can go forward.

Yearly report on kids in psych hospitals

Beginning July 1, 2026, the Department of Health publishes a yearly report by November 1 on minors in psychiatric hospitals. It shows how often seclusion and restraints were used at each hospital and lists the drugs used as chemical restraints. It summarizes inspection findings and any abuse or neglect identified during wellness checks. It also reports how many minors received residential care, including those in state custody and how long they stayed in in‑state and out‑of‑state hospitals. The Department of Family and Community Services must collect and share the custody data each year.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Maxine Dibert

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. (S) Scheduled but Not Heard

    5/13/2026Senate

  2. (S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532

    5/13/2026Senate

  3. (S) Minutes (SFIN)

    5/12/2026Senate

  4. (S) Scheduled but Not Heard -- Please Note Time Change --

    5/12/2026Senate

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

    5/12/2026Senate

  6. (S) Heard & Held

    5/6/2026Senate

  7. (S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532

    5/6/2026Senate

  8. (S) DUNBAR

    5/6/2026Senate

  9. (S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): MERRICK, GIESSEL, GRAY-JACKSON, CLAMAN, STEDMAN, KAWASAKI

    5/6/2026Senate

  10. Audio/Video

    5/6/2026House

  11. (S) REFERRED TO FINANCE

    4/24/2026Senate

  12. (S) FIN

    4/24/2026Senate

  13. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

    4/24/2026Senate

  14. (H) VERSION: CSHB 52(HSS) AM

    4/22/2026House

  15. (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)

    4/22/2026House

  16. (H) COSPONSOR(S): JOSEPHSON, STORY, SCHRAGE, MINA, COSTELLO

    4/22/2026House

  17. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE

    4/22/2026House

  18. (H) PASSED Y37 E3

    4/22/2026House

  19. (H) READ THE THIRD TIME CSHB 52(HSS) AM

    4/22/2026House

  20. (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC

    4/22/2026House

  21. (H) AM NO 1 ADOPTED UC

    4/22/2026House

  22. (H) HSS CS ADOPTED UC

    4/22/2026House

  23. (H) READ THE SECOND TIME

    4/22/2026House

  24. (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 4/22/2026

    4/22/2026House

  25. (H) COSPONSOR(S): GALVIN, HANNAN

    3/25/2026House

Bill Text

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