Alaska 34th Alaska State Legislature Status: To Executive Bipartisan · 13 D · 4 R · 2 I cosponsors

HB 52 — An Act relating to the rights of minors undergoing evaluation or inpatient treatment at psychiatric hospitals; relating to the use of seclusion or restraint of minors at psychiatric hospitals; relating to a report published by the Department of Health; relating to inspections by the Department of Health of certain psychiatric hospitals; and providing for an effective date.

Last action — (H) VETOED BY GOVERNOR 6/18/26

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced January 22, 2025. It awaits signature.

Vetoed by Governor Mike Dunleavy (Republican) on June 20, 2026.

Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 90% · high confidence

  • To Executive

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 19 sponsors

    1 primary, 18 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 3 parties (13 D · 4 R · 2 I) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 6 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill addresses rights and treatment procedures for minors in psychiatric hospitals.

This legislation outlines the rights of minors undergoing evaluation or treatment in psychiatric settings and establishes guidelines for the use of seclusion and restraint. It also mandates inspections and reporting by the Department of Health regarding these facilities.

What this means for you
  • Families: This means families will have clearer information about the treatment of minors in psychiatric hospitals and their rights.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

78 added · 69 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amended version of HB 52 introduces a significant change regarding the rights of minors in psychiatric hospitals. It now stipulates that minors can have confidential communication with their parents or legal guardians for a cumulative total of at least two hours each week, rather than just one hour over four occasions. This change is important as it allows for more meaningful contact with families, which is crucial for the emotional well-being of minors undergoing treatment.

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Latest
34-LS0399\A HOUSE BILL NO.
LAWS OF ALASKA Source Chapter No.
52 IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION BY REPRESENTATIVES DIBERT, Fields, Foster, Burke, Jimmie, Galvin, Hannan, Josephson, Story, Schrage, Mina, Costello Introduced:
SCS CSHB 52(FIN) _______ AN ACT Relating to the rights of minors undergoing evaluation or inpatient treatment at psychiatric hospitals;
1/22/25 Referred:
Health and Social Services, Finance A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act relating to the rights of minors undergoing evaluation or inpatient treatment at psychiatric hospitals;
and providing for an effective date." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
and providing for an effective date.
* Section 1.
_______________ BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
THE ACT FOLLOWS ON PAGE 1 Enrolled HB 52 AN ACT Relating to the rights of minors undergoing evaluation or inpatient treatment at psychiatric hospitals;
relating to the use of seclusion or restraint of minors at psychiatric hospitals;
relating to a report published by the Department of Health;
relating to inspections by the Department of Health of certain psychiatric hospitals;
and providing for an effective date.
_______________ * Section 1.
A minor undergoing evaluation or inpatient treatment at a psychiatric hospital has the right, unless it is otherwise prohibited by law or court order or considered therapeutically unadvisable by an overseeing physician, to have confidential telephone or video communication each week for at least one cumulative hour over not more than four occasions with the minor's parent or legal guardian or HB0052a -1- HB 52 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0399\A other adult approved by an overseeing physician.
A minor undergoing evaluation or inpatient treatment at a psychiatric hospital has the right, unless it is otherwise prohibited by law or court order or considered therapeutically unadvisable by the professional person in charge, to have confidential telephone or video communication each week for at least two cumulative hours with the minor's parent or legal guardian or other adult approved by the professional person in charge.
The minor, the minor's parent or legal guardian, or -1- Enrolled HB 52 anotheradultapprovedbytheprofessionalpersoninchargemayrequesttheconfidential communication.
The report must (1) contain information on the uses of seclusion and restraint reported under AS 47.32.200(g), including the aggregate total of the uses of seclusion or restraint at each psychiatric hospital in which minors undergo evaluation or inpatient treatment;
The report must (1) contain information on the uses of seclusion and restraint reported under AS 47.32.200(g), including the aggregate total of the uses of seclusion or restraint at each psychiatric hospital in which minors undergo evaluation or inpatient treatment, and the type of psychotropic medication used, if any, to carry out each chemical restraint;
and (3) contain data provided by the Department of Family and Community Services under (f) of this section regarding minors who receive care at psychiatric hospitals.
and (3) contain data on the number of minors who received residential care at psychiatric hospitals, including information provided by the Department of Family and Community Services under (f) of this section regarding minors in state custody who receive care at psychiatric hospitals.
(f) The Department of Family and Community Services shall annually (1) collect data on the number of minors who received residential care at psychiatric hospitals in the state, the number of minors in state custody who received residential care at out-of-state psychiatric hospitals, and the amount of time each of those minors spent at psychiatric hospitals in each of those settings;
(f) The Department of Family and Community Services shall annually (1) collect data on the number of minors in state custody who received residential care at psychiatric hospitals in the state, the number of minors in state custody who received residential care at out-of-state psychiatric hospitals, and the amount of time each of those minors spent at psychiatric hospitals in each of those settings;
(c) Upon petition of the department with licensing authority for the entity under AS 47.32.010 and after a hearing held upon reasonable notice to the entity, the court shall issue an order to an officer or employee of that department authorizing the officer or employee to enter for any of the purposes described in (a) or (d) of this section.
(c) Upon petition of the department with licensing authority for the entity under AS 47.32.010 and after a hearing held upon reasonable notice to the entity, the court shall issue an order to an officer or employee of that department authorizing the officer Enrolled HB 52 -2- or employee to enter for any of the purposes described in (a) or (d) of this section.
HB 52 -2- HB0052a New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0399\A (d) A designated agent or employee of the Department of Health shall conduct, at least twice each year, an unannounced inspection of each psychiatric hospital in which minors undergo evaluation or inpatient treatment and in which a minor has spent more than three nights in the preceding year.
(d) A designated agent or employee of the Department of Health shall conduct, atleasttwiceeachyear,anunannouncedinspectionofeachpsychiatrichospitalinwhich minors undergo evaluation or inpatient treatment and in which a minor has spent more than three nights in the preceding year.
Staff of the psychiatric hospital may not be present during an interview conducted under this subsection.
Staff of the psychiatric hospital may not be present during an interview conducted under this subsection unless the Department of Health requests staff presence during the interview to ensure safety.
The psychiatric hospital shall notify the Department of Health and the parent or guardian of the minor not later than one business day after the use of seclusion or restraint.
The psychiatric hospital shall notify the Department of Health and the parent or guardian of the minor not later than 72 hours after the use of seclusion or restraint.
The notification provided by a psychiatric hospital regarding the use of a chemical restraint must include the type of psychotropic medication used to carry out the chemical restraint.
This Act takes effect July 1, 2025.
AS 47.32.900 is amended by adding a new paragraph to read:
HB0052a -3- HB 52 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
(22) "chemical restraint" means a medication that is used to control the behavior or to restrict the freedom of movement of a patient;
"chemical restraint" does not include the ongoing use of a medication for the treatment of symptoms of an underlying psychiatric illness.
* Sec.
7.
This Act takes effect July 1, 2027.
-3- Enrolled HB 52
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Action History

  1. (H) VETOED BY GOVERNOR 6/18/26

  2. (S) JOINT SESSION at 01:00 PM HOUSE CHAMBER

  3. (H) GOVERNOR VETO SUSTAINED Y36 N24

  4. (H) 12:55 P.M. 6/5/26 Transmitted to Governor

  5. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) ADOPTED Y32 N8

  6. (H) CONCUR AM OF (S) Y26 N14

  7. (H) CONCUR MESSAGE TAKEN UP

  8. (H) CONCUR MESSAGE RECEIVED

  9. (S) VERSION: SCS CSHB 52(FIN)

  10. (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED

  11. (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE

  12. (S) PASSED Y20 N-

  13. (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SCS CSHB 52(FIN)

  14. (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC

  15. (S) FIN SCS ADOPTED UC

  16. (S) READ THE SECOND TIME

  17. (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/17/2026

  18. (S) FN6: (DOH)

  19. (S) FN5: ZERO(DFC)

  20. (S) FN4: ZERO(DFC)

  21. (S) NR: OLSON, KAUFMAN, CRONK, KIEHL

  22. (S) DP: HOFFMAN, MERRICK

  23. (S) FIN RPT SCS 2DP 4NR SAME TITLE

  24. (S) Minutes (SFIN)

  25. (S) Moved SCS CSHB 52(FIN) Out of Committee -- Please Note Time Change --

  26. (S) FINANCE at 01:30 PM SENATE FINANCE 532

  27. (S) Scheduled but Not Heard

  28. (S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532

  29. (S) Minutes (SFIN)

  30. (S) Scheduled but Not Heard -- Please Note Time Change --

  31. (S) FINANCE at 01:30 PM SENATE FINANCE 532

  32. (S) Heard & Held

  33. (S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532

  34. (S) DUNBAR

  35. (S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): MERRICK, GIESSEL, GRAY-JACKSON, CLAMAN, STEDMAN, KAWASAKI,

  36. (S) FIN

  37. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  38. (H) VERSION: CSHB 52(HSS) AM

  39. (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)

  40. (H) COSPONSOR(S): JOSEPHSON, STORY, SCHRAGE, MINA, COSTELLO

  41. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE

  42. (H) PASSED Y37 E3

  43. (H) READ THE THIRD TIME CSHB 52(HSS) AM

  44. (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC

  45. (H) AM NO 1 ADOPTED UC

  46. (H) HSS CS ADOPTED UC

  47. (H) READ THE SECOND TIME

  48. (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 4/22/2026

  49. (H) COSPONSOR(S): GALVIN, HANNAN

  50. (H) FN6: (DOH)

  51. (H) FN5: ZERO(DFC)

  52. (H) FN4: ZERO(DFC)

  53. (H) NR: STAPP

  54. (H) SCHRAGE

  55. (H) DP: JIMMIE, GALVIN, TOMASZEWSKI, HANNAN, MOORE, BYNUM, JOSEPHSON, FOSTER,

  56. (H) FIN RPT CS(HSS) 9DP 1NR

  57. (H) Moved CSHB 52(HSS) Out of Committee

  58. (H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519

  59. (H) COSPONSOR(S): JIMMIE

  60. (H) Heard & Held -- Please Note Time Change --

  61. (H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519

  62. (H) Scheduled but Not Heard -- Delayed to a Call of the Chair --

  63. (H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519

  64. (H) Minutes (HFIN)

  65. (H) Heard & Held -- Recessed to 8:00 am on 5/16 --

  66. (H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519

  67. (H) FIN REPLACES L&C REFERRAL

  68. (H) FN3: (DOH)

  69. (H) FN2: ZERO(DFC)

  70. (H) FN1: ZERO(DFC)

  71. (H) NR: PRAX

  72. (H) DP: FIELDS, GRAY, SCHWANKE, RUFFRIDGE, MEARS, MINA

  73. (H) HSS RPT CS(HSS) 6DP 1NR

  74. (H) Minutes (HHSS)

  75. (H) Moved CSHB 52(HSS) Out of Committee

  76. (H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106

  77. (H) Minutes (HHSS)

  78. (H) Heard & Held

  79. (H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106

  80. (H) Minutes (HHSS)

  81. (H) Heard & Held -- Delayed to 3:45 pm --

  82. (H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106

  83. (H) COSPONSOR(S): BURKE

  84. (H) Minutes (HHSS)

  85. (H) Heard & Held

  86. (H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106

  87. (H) Minutes (HHSS)

  88. (H) Heard & Held

  89. (H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106

  90. (H) COSPONSOR(S): FOSTER

  91. (H) COSPONSOR(S): FIELDS

  92. (H) HSS, L&C

  93. (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 18 co-sponsors · 46 not signed on · 21 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (18)

Not signed on (46)

46 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 46 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Veto Override

Passed 14 Yea · 6 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
R 5600
D 9000
Total 14600
% of votes cast 70%30%0%0%
How each member voted (20)
Member Party Vote
Bill Wielechowski D Yea
Donald Olson D Yea
Elvi Gray-Jackson D Yea
Forrest Dunbar D Yea
Jesse Kiehl D Yea
Lyman Hoffman D Yea
Löki Tobin D Yea
Matt Claman D Yea
Scott Kawasaki D Yea
Bert Stedman R Yea
Cathy Giessel R Yea
Cathy Tilton R Nay
Gary Stevens R Yea
George Rauscher R Nay
James Kaufman R Nay
Jesse Bjorkman R Yea
Kelly Merrick R Yea
Mike Cronk R Nay
Robert Myers R Nay
Robert Yundt R Nay

Official roll call →

SCS CSHB 52(FIN) — Veto Override

Passed 22 Yea · 18 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
R 31700
D 14000
N 5000
Unaffiliated 0100
Total 221800
% of votes cast 55%45%0%0%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Steve St. Clair — Nay
Andi Story D Yea
Andrew Gray D Yea
Andy Josephson D Yea
Ashley Carrick D Yea
Carolyn Hall D Yea
Donna Mears D Yea
Genevieve Mina D Yea
Maxine Dibert D Yea
Neal Foster D Yea
Nellie Unangiq Jimmie D Yea
Robyn Niayuq Frier D Yea
Sara Hannan D Yea
Ted Eischeid D Yea
Zack Fields D Yea
Alyse Galvin N Yea
Bryce Edgmon N Yea
Calvin Schrage N Yea
Ky Holland N Yea
Rebecca Himschoot N Yea
Bill Elam R Nay
Chuck Kopp R Yea
Dan Saddler R Yea
David Nelson R Nay
David Nelson R Nay
DeLena Johnson R Nay
Elexie Moore R Nay
Frank Tomaszewski R Nay
Jamie Allard R Nay
Jeremy Bynum R Nay
Jubilee Underwood R Nay
Julie Coulombe R Nay
Justin Ruffridge R Nay
Kevin McCabe R Nay
Louise Stutes R Yea
Mia Costello R Nay
Mike Prax R Nay
Rebecca Schwanke R Nay
Sarah Vance R Nay
Will Stapp R Nay

Official roll call →

Concur

Passed 26 Yea · 14 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 0100
R 71300
D 14000
N 5000
Total 261400
% of votes cast 65%35%0%0%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Steve St. Clair — Nay
Andi Story D Yea
Andrew Gray D Yea
Andy Josephson D Yea
Ashley Carrick D Yea
Carolyn Hall D Yea
Donna Mears D Yea
Genevieve Mina D Yea
Maxine Dibert D Yea
Neal Foster D Yea
Nellie Unangiq Jimmie D Yea
Robyn Niayuq Frier D Yea
Sara Hannan D Yea
Ted Eischeid D Yea
Zack Fields D Yea
Alyse Galvin N Yea
Bryce Edgmon N Yea
Calvin Schrage N Yea
Ky Holland N Yea
Rebecca Himschoot N Yea
Bill Elam R Nay
Chuck Kopp R Yea
Dan Saddler R Yea
David Nelson R Yea
David Nelson R Nay
DeLena Johnson R Nay
Elexie Moore R Yea
Frank Tomaszewski R Nay
Jamie Allard R Nay
Jeremy Bynum R Nay
Jubilee Underwood R Yea
Julie Coulombe R Yea
Justin Ruffridge R Nay
Kevin McCabe R Nay
Louise Stutes R Yea
Mia Costello R Nay
Mike Prax R Nay
Rebecca Schwanke R Nay
Sarah Vance R Nay
Will Stapp R Nay

Official roll call →

Effective Date — Concur

Passed 32 Yea · 8 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
R 12800
D 14000
N 5000
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 32800
% of votes cast 80%20%0%0%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Steve St. Clair — Yea
Andi Story D Yea
Andrew Gray D Yea
Andy Josephson D Yea
Ashley Carrick D Yea
Carolyn Hall D Yea
Donna Mears D Yea
Genevieve Mina D Yea
Maxine Dibert D Yea
Neal Foster D Yea
Nellie Unangiq Jimmie D Yea
Robyn Niayuq Frier D Yea
Sara Hannan D Yea
Ted Eischeid D Yea
Zack Fields D Yea
Alyse Galvin N Yea
Bryce Edgmon N Yea
Calvin Schrage N Yea
Ky Holland N Yea
Rebecca Himschoot N Yea
Bill Elam R Nay
Chuck Kopp R Yea
Dan Saddler R Yea
David Nelson R Yea
David Nelson R Nay
DeLena Johnson R Yea
Elexie Moore R Yea
Frank Tomaszewski R Nay
Jamie Allard R Nay
Jeremy Bynum R Yea
Jubilee Underwood R Yea
Julie Coulombe R Yea
Justin Ruffridge R Yea
Kevin McCabe R Nay
Louise Stutes R Yea
Mia Costello R Yea
Mike Prax R Yea
Rebecca Schwanke R Nay
Sarah Vance R Nay
Will Stapp R Nay

Official roll call →

Third Reading - Final Passage — Effective Date(s)

Passed 20 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
D 9000
R 11000
Total 20000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (20)
Member Party Vote
Bill Wielechowski D Yea
Donald Olson D Yea
Elvi Gray-Jackson D Yea
Forrest Dunbar D Yea
Jesse Kiehl D Yea
Lyman Hoffman D Yea
Löki Tobin D Yea
Matt Claman D Yea
Scott Kawasaki D Yea
Bert Stedman R Yea
Cathy Giessel R Yea
Cathy Tilton R Yea
Gary Stevens R Yea
George Rauscher R Yea
James Kaufman R Yea
Jesse Bjorkman R Yea
Kelly Merrick R Yea
Mike Cronk R Yea
Robert Myers R Yea
Robert Yundt R Yea

Official roll call →

Third Reading — Final Passage

Passed 37 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 1000
D 14000
R 17003
N 5000
Total 37003
% of votes cast 93%0%0%8%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Steve St. Clair — Yea
Andi Story D Yea
Andrew Gray D Yea
Andy Josephson D Yea
Ashley Carrick D Yea
Carolyn Hall D Yea
Donna Mears D Yea
Genevieve Mina D Yea
Maxine Dibert D Yea
Neal Foster D Yea
Nellie Unangiq Jimmie D Yea
Robyn Niayuq Frier D Yea
Sara Hannan D Yea
Ted Eischeid D Yea
Zack Fields D Yea
Alyse Galvin N Yea
Bryce Edgmon N Yea
Calvin Schrage N Yea
Ky Holland N Yea
Rebecca Himschoot N Yea
Bill Elam R Yea
Chuck Kopp R Yea
Dan Saddler R Yea
David Nelson R Not Voting
David Nelson R Not Voting
DeLena Johnson R Yea
Elexie Moore R Yea
Frank Tomaszewski R Yea
Jamie Allard R Yea
Jeremy Bynum R Yea
Jubilee Underwood R Yea
Julie Coulombe R Not Voting
Justin Ruffridge R Yea
Kevin McCabe R Yea
Louise Stutes R Yea
Mia Costello R Yea
Mike Prax R Yea
Rebecca Schwanke R Yea
Sarah Vance R Yea
Will Stapp R Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights healthcare
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 52?
HB 52 is sponsored by Forrest Dunbar (D), Scott Kawasaki (D), Bert Stedman (R), Matt Claman (D), Elvi Gray-Jackson (D), Cathy Giessel (R), Kelly Merrick (R), Mia Costello (R), Genevieve Mina (D), Robyn Niayuq Burke (D), Calvin Schrage (N), Andi Story (D), Andy Josephson (D), Sara Hannan (D), Alyse Galvin (N), Nellie Unangiq Jimmie (D), Neal Foster (D), Zack Fields (D), and Maxine Dibert (D).
What is the current status of HB 52?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced January 22, 2025. It awaits signature.
Where can I track HB 52?
Track HB 52 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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