Alaska has enacted a new law, HB 36, aimed at improving the conditions for vulnerable children in psychiatric facilities. The legislation mandates that a court must review a foster child's placement in a psychiatric hospital within seven days to determine if hospitalization is necessary. This law follows a 2023 investigation by Mother Jones, which revealed that the state's Office of Children’s Services frequently placed foster children in North Star Behavioral Health, the only private psychiatric hospital for minors in Alaska, despite its history of issues such as assaults and the use of seclusion and restraints.
The law, which passed on June 23, 2026, will take effect in 90 days. It was introduced by Anchorage Democratic Rep. Andrew Gray, who cited both the investigation and his experiences as a foster parent as influences. The bill received support from current and former foster youth who advocated for changes in the system.
However, another bill, HB 52, which aimed to enhance oversight of psychiatric hospitals, was vetoed by Governor Mike Dunleavy. This bill would have required unannounced inspections and annual reporting on the use of seclusion and restraints. The governor stated that the existing regulatory framework was sufficient and that the bill would create unnecessary duplication. Attempts to override the veto fell short by four votes.
The ongoing issues surrounding the treatment of vulnerable youth in Alaska have been highlighted in various reports, including a 2022 Department of Justice finding that the state was violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by unnecessarily institutionalizing children far from their families.