While the Alaska Legislature has been consumed by the need to address the state\u2019s $4 billion budget gap, it has still managed to find time to address other issues.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, before passing a compromise budget plan to avert a government shutdown, the Alaska Senate gave its imprimatur to a bill easing adoption for Alaska Natives and another that promises better support for foster children. Both bills had been previously approved by the House and now advance to the governor.<\/p>\n
House Bill 27 is the sole piece of legislation proposed by a Democrat to advance from the House this year. The Senate approved it unanimously on Tuesday. It passed the House in April.<\/p>\n
Introduced by Rep. Les Gara, D-Anchorage, it requires the Alaska Office of Children\u2019s Services to recruit foster and adoptive parents; OCS to keep looking for a home until a foster youth is 21; and encourages OCS to reduce the number of times a foster youth moves from one school to another.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Legislature came together to increase the chances that our 2,900 foster youth get a fair shake in life,\u201d Gara said in a prepared statement. \u201cHouse Bill 27, and the additional help in the budget, will make sure we do better than perpetuate neglect for too many youth. We need to perpetuate love and stability for youth who face too many roadblocks to success.\u201d<\/p>\n