Bill Walker on Families & Children

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.

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.