SB 82: Alaska Foster Family Protection Act

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

• Establishes presumption that maintaining sibling relationships is in a child's best interest and requires reasonable efforts to place siblings together.

• Allows courts to extend state custody past age 19 up to age 21 with the person's consent if continued custody is in their best interests.

• Permits department to recommend "planned permanent living arrangements" for children age 16 and older only after unsuccessful intensive efforts to find adoption or guardianship and for documented compelling reasons.

• Streamlines foster care licensing requirements and allows building code variances for foster homes that are safe and consistent with community standards.