Session: State Capitol, Room 518 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-2327 Fax: (907) 465-5241 Interim: 119 N. Cushman St., Suite 201 Fairbanks, AK 99701-2879 Phone: (907) 456-8161 Fax: (907) 451-9293

Kelly Bill to Make Care Providers Safer

(JUNEAU) - Following passage by the House Tuesday, Alaskan families that rely on child and adult care are one step closer to having more safeguards in place, that assure their loved one are cared for in a safe environment.

Senate Bill 295, sponsored by Sen. Pete Kelly (R-Fairbanks), gives the Department of Health and Social Services clear authority to conform with current state and federal laws requiring a review of criminal histories for all people 16 years of age and older who are involved in child or adult care. This includes applicants for care licenses; employees in care facilities and residents in the homes of care providers.

"Under the current law a care provider may have a child living in the home who is a convicted child molester and that information could be kept from the licensing agency," said Kelly. "Passage of this legislation removes those limitations."

Kelly says language in the current statute only allows the Division of Juvenile Justice to release certain information to a few licensing agencies, and then only in specific situations.

"This legislation is so important to tearing down a bureaucratic roadblock that has all too often kept us from knowing if our loved ones are being cared for by criminals," Kelly said.

SB 295 now moves to the Governor to be signed into law.

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