The Alaska House passed legislation that would expand child protections for military dependents by enhancing reporting between state and military entities. Rep. Grier Hopkins states that there currently is no requirement for state civilian authorities to notify the Department of Defense when a child of a military member is involved in a case involving abuse or neglect. To allow for the better coordination of services to abused and neglected military children, and in coordination with the DoD, House Bill 297 aims to put in statute the requirement for state authorities to notify the designated officials within the military chain of command.
Rep. Hopkins (Fairbanks) said his area has what’s called the ‘Tiger Team’:
“(The Tiger Team) is a variety of stakeholders with the military and with civilian entities that come together to advocate with our partners and the Department of Defense for strategic basing decisions and making sure that our economy and our families are supported. Because of that partnership, the Department of Defense came to us here at the legislature and said please introduce this piece of legislation and move it forward so that our Office of Children’s Services has a mandatory process for reporting any action that they take in the unfortunate circumstance of having to deal with a military family and any action they have to take. House Bill 297 creates that requirement for Alaska’s OCS to report those actions to the regional base for that military member, which in this case is either at JBER or Fort Wainwright for the interior and northern regions. That has to take place within seven days of Offices of Children’s Services takin that action. These designated individuals within the DoD are licensed social workers and required to operate with HIPPA and under DoD confidentiality laws, which are very strong and stringent.”
In a letter of support for HB 297, Tammie Perreault, Defense-State liaison from the Department of Defense, said:
“The proposed policy represents the DoD top issue for 2022 which seeks to identify military children subject to child abuse and neglect allegation, and to notify the appropriate military installation Family Advocacy Program.”
House Bill 297 passed on a 33-3 vote and advances to the state Senate for consideration.
Transcribed audio courtesy of KTOO 360TV.