An Act relating to citizen review panels for certain children in state custody; reestablishing the Citizens' Review Panel for Permanency Planning; and providing for an effective date.

SB 123 reestablishes a Citizens' Review Panel for Permanency Planning to oversee cases involving children in state custody. It requires child welfare departments to notify the panel within 60 days of removing a child from their home or after a court orders a child committed to the department. The bill also expands access to confidential case information for the review panel, enabling them to evaluate long-term care plans. This directly affects children in foster care or state custody, their families, and child welfare agencies in Alaska. The panel’s role is to ensure decisions prioritize the child’s permanency needs, such as adoption or stable foster care.