State of Alaska Archives: on Families & Children

Bill Walker: First Lady will chair Alaska Children's Trust

Her first official act as First Lady was agreeing to serve as Honorary Chair of the Alaska Children's Trust, an organization that works to provide real solutions to preventing child abuse and neglect.

I also ask that this legislature make Alaska the next state to pass Erin's Law. This is a bill that will enable our schools to further implement a proven, age-appropriate program to help children identify sexual abuse and seek help. We will take an important step toward protecting the lives of so many young, precious Alaskans.

Bill Walker: Background checks for guardians of incapacitated individual

Legislative Summary: [A court may appoint as guardian or conservator] an adult related by blood, marriage, or adoption (instead of being the spouse, adult child, parent, or sibling), or an unrelated person if the court finds no conflict of interest.

Veto Message:I have vetoed HB5 [because it ends the requirement that any] potential conflict of interest is insubstantial. The most common type of conflict of interest is when the person to be appointed is also serving as a service provider. The bill would remove the requirement that a person with a potential conflict of interest be a family member. In short anyone--related or not--could have legal control over the vulnerable person's legal affairs and finances. Requiring a background check, for example, would be needed in order for me to be assured that vulnerable Alaskans will be protected.

Mary Peltola: Family for people in Western Alaska is our social security

Mike Dunleavy: Fought for parents to raise kids according to their values

Mike Dunleavy: Women & children face highest sexual assault rate in nation

The women and children of Alaska, must be made safe, and we have an obligation, all of us in this room, to do everything we possibly can to stop this scourge in Alaska.

Today begins a new day in our state. From this day forward, we will not cater to the criminals and ignore the victims. To law-abiding Alaskans, I say this to you: I care if your loved ones are threatened. But to the criminals, and to the rapists and molesters who see women and children as nothing more than opportunities, I say this to you: We will do everything in our power to stop you, apprehend you, and put you in prison for a very long time.

Sarah Palin: Recognize the vital role of family child care homes

• WHEREAS, family child care provides a vital service for Alaska families, neighborhoods, and communities. By caring for the youngest Alaskans in home-based environments, family child care providers ensure that children are able to grow and learn where they are also happy, safe, secure, and stimulated.
• WHEREAS, family child care providers understand the importance of family & home; ensure long-term stability; and give parents convenient support close to home, among other benefits.
• WHEREAS, family child care is thus able to nurture children across a broad spectrum of development. With help from neighborhoods and communities, they can uniquely cater to, support, and include children of all levels of ability, need, activity, and curiosity.
• Family Child Care Week in Alaska, and encourage all Alaskans to recognize the vital role family child care homes play in the lives of our children.

Sarah Palin: Caring for special needs kids is part of culture of life

Sean Randall Parnell: Choose Respect: $12M to eradicate domestic violence epidemic

Our administration's budget includes nearly $12 million to eradicate this epidemic. The Choose Respect initiative focuses on prevention and enforcement, and it provides services for victims and survivors. But Choose Respect is more than just a government initiative--it is a personal initiative. It is about each of us honoring the dignity and value of every human being. It is about setting people free from generations of abuse.

Pat Chesbro: Reinstate and expand the 2021 Child Tax Credit

Click Bishop: Allow relative as Guardian of an incapacitated individual

Legislative Summary: [A court may appoint as guardian or conservator] an adult related by blood, marriage, or adoption (instead of being the spouse, adult child, parent, or sibling), or an unrelated person if the court finds no conflict of interest.

Veto Message:I have vetoed HB5 [because it ends the requirement that any] potential conflict of interest is insubstantial. The most common type of conflict of interest is when the person to be appointed is also serving as a service provider. The bill would remove the requirement that a person with a potential conflict of interest be a family member. In short anyone--related or not--could have legal control over the vulnerable person's legal affairs & finances. Requiring a background check, for example, would be needed in order for me to be assured that vulnerable Alaskans will be protected.

Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins: Allow relative as Guardian of an incapacitated individual

Legislative Summary: [A court may appoint as guardian or conservator] an adult related by blood, marriage, or adoption (instead of being the spouse, adult child, parent, or sibling), or an unrelated person if the court finds no conflict of interest.

Veto Message:I have vetoed HB5 [because it ends the requirement that any] potential conflict of interest is insubstantial. The most common type of conflict of interest is when the person to be appointed is also serving as a service provider. The bill would remove the requirement that a person with a potential conflict of interest be a family member. In short anyone--related or not--could have legal control over the vulnerable person's legal affairs & finances. Requiring a background check, for example, would be needed in order for me to be assured that vulnerable Alaskans will be protected.

Dan Sullivan: I'm an original co-sponsor of the Kids Online Safety Act

Peltola: We call it social media, but it is not social. It really drives people into spending more time alone, more solitary time. I think we know the damaging effect that all the social media platforms have on young people. I think that having teen accounts, having parental permission is a good start, but these social media companies, they know that they've been injurious to our young people. They have not been good partners.

Sullivan: I'm an original co-sponsor of the Kids Online Safety Act, big tech hates it, came out of committee strongly. They killed it in the House a couple of years ago. But it's giving parents tools on how to best address online safety. And it does provide significant responsibilities on the big tech companies themselves.