HB 33 - Alaska Foster Family Protection Act

• Requires courts to hold permanency hearings within 12 months of a child entering foster care and make written findings regarding return to parents, adoption, legal guardianship, or other planned permanent living arrangements.

• Establishes a presumption that maintaining sibling relationships is in a child's best interest, including relationships with half-siblings related through one parent.

• Extends court jurisdiction over children in state custody up to age 21 (with consent) through additional one-year supervision periods past age 19.

• Requires the Department of Health and Social Services to make reasonable efforts to place siblings together and provide written explanations when separation occurs.

• Streamlines foster care licensing requirements by allowing variances from building code requirements when the placement serves the child's best interest and the home is otherwise safe.