Juneau -- The Alaska House of Representatives Wednesday unanimously passed House Bill 177, which requires that foster parents be allowed to be present and have a voice at all proceedings dealing with the disposition and treatment of the child. It also requires the State to provide them with information and records necessary for their foster child's proper care and protection.

"Because foster parents live with the child and are often experienced at dealing with troubled children, they are a valuable resource to overworked case workers and busy judges," said Representative Fred Dyson (R-Eagle River), sponsor of HB 177. "Often they must determine the condition and best interests of a foster child on the basis of very little information, information which foster parents can sometimes provide.

"During the last Legislature, we were able to pass legislation which allowed the disclosure of minors' records to foster parents in Child-In-Need-of-Aid (CINA) cases. It also permitted foster parents to be heard at CINA court proceedings, but not at delinquency hearings," Dyson said. "This bill completes the intent of that legislation, which was to allow foster parents a voice in court and information without regard to the process in which their foster children are involved."

HB 177 now moves to the Senate.

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= Fred Dyson, 78 K