Alaska Statutes 47.10.990 – Definitions

In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires,

(1) “adult family member” means a person who is 18 years of age or older and who is

Terms Used In Alaska Statutes 47.10.990

care: means to provide for the physical, mental, and social needs of the child. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
child: means a person who is
(A) under 18 years of age. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
commissioner: means the commissioner of family and community services. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
court: means the superior court of the state. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
department: means the Department of Family and Community Services. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
domestic violence: has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
family member: means a person of any age who is
(A) related to the child as the child's grandparent, aunt, uncle, or sibling. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
family support services: means the services and activities provided to children and their families, including those provided by the community, a church, or other service organization, both to prevent removal of a child from the parental home and to facilitate the child's safe return to the family. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
guardian: means a natural person who is legally appointed guardian of the child by the court. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
hazardous volatile material or substance: has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
Indian child: has the meaning given in 25 U. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
parent: means the biological or adoptive parent of the child. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
person: includes a corporation, company, partnership, firm, association, organization, business trust, or society, as well as a natural person. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
physical injury: has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
reasonable time: means a period of time that serves the best interests of the child, taking in account the affected child's age, emotional and developmental needs, and ability to form and maintain lasting attachments. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990
state: means the State of Alaska unless applied to the different parts of the United States and in the latter case it includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
support: has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 47.10.990

(A) related to the child as the child’s grandparent, aunt, uncle, or sibling;

(B) the child’s sibling’s legal guardian or parent; or

(C) in the case of an Indian child, an extended family member as defined in 25 U.S.C. § 1903;

(2) “care” means to provide for the physical, mental, and social needs of the child;

(3) “child” means a person who is

(A) under 18 years of age;

(B) 19 years of age if that person was under 18 years of age at the time that a proceeding under this chapter was commenced; and

(C) under 21 years of age if that person is committed to the custody of the department under Alaska Stat. § 47.10.080 (c)(1) or (v);

(4) “child in need of aid” means a child found to be within the jurisdiction of the court under Alaska Stat. § 47.10.010 and 47.10.011;

(5) “commissioner” means the commissioner of family and community services;

(6) “court” means the superior court of the state;

(7) “custodian” means a natural person 18 years of age or older to whom a parent or guardian has transferred temporary physical care, custody, and control of the child for a period of time;

(8) “department” means the Department of Family and Community Services;

(9) “domestic violence” has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. § 18.66.990;

(10) “family member” means a person of any age who is

(A) related to the child as the child’s grandparent, aunt, uncle, or sibling;

(B) the child’s sibling’s legal guardian or parent; or

(C) in the case of an Indian child, an extended family member as defined in 25 U.S.C. § 1903;

(11) “family support services” means the services and activities provided to children and their families, including those provided by the community, a church, or other service organization, both to prevent removal of a child from the parental home and to facilitate the child’s safe return to the family; “family support services” may include counseling, substance abuse treatment, mental health services, assistance to address domestic violence, visitation with family members, parenting classes, in-home services, temporary child care services, and transportation;

(12) “foster care” means care provided by a person or household under a foster home license required under Alaska Stat. Chapter 47.32;

(13) “gravely disabled” has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. § 47.30.915;

(14) “guardian” means a natural person who is legally appointed guardian of the child by the court;

(15) “hazardous volatile material or substance” has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. § 47.37.270;

(16) “Indian child” has the meaning given in 25 U.S.C. § 1903;

(17) “Indian child’s tribe” has the meaning given in 25 U.S.C. § 1903;

(18) “infant” means a child who is less than 21 days of age;

(19) “intoxicant” means a substance that temporarily diminishes a person’s control over mental or physical powers, including alcohol, controlled substances under Alaska Stat. Chapter 11.71, and a hazardous volatile material or substance misused by inhaling its vapors;

(20) “juvenile detention facility” has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. § 47.12.990;

(21) “mental health professional” has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. § 47.30.915, except that, if the child is placed in another state by the department, “mental health professional” also includes a professional listed in the definition of “mental health professional” in Alaska Stat. § 47.30.915 who is not licensed to practice by a board of this state but is licensed by a corresponding licensing authority to practice in the state in which the child is placed;

(22) “mental illness” has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. § 47.30.915;

(23) “mental injury” has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. § 47.17.290;

(24) “near fatality” means physical injury or other harm, as certified by a physician, caused by an act or omission that created a substantial risk of death;

(25) “out-of-home care provider” means a foster parent or relative other than a parent with whom the child is placed;

(26) “parent” means the biological or adoptive parent of the child;

(27) “permanency hearing” means a hearing

(A) designed to reach a decision in a case concerning the permanent placement of a child under Alaska Stat. Chapter 47.10; and

(B) at which the direction of the case involving the child is determined;

(28) “physical injury” has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. § 11.81.900 (b);

(29) “reasonable efforts” means, with respect to family support services required under Alaska Stat. § 47.10.086, consistent attempts made during a reasonable time period and time-limited services;

(30) “reasonable time” means a period of time that serves the best interests of the child, taking in account the affected child’s age, emotional and developmental needs, and ability to form and maintain lasting attachments;

(31) “secure residential psychiatric treatment center” has the meaning given “residential psychiatric treatment center” in Alaska Stat. § 47.32.900;

(32) “serious physical injury” has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. § 11.81.900 (b);

(33) “sexual abuse” means the conduct described in Alaska Stat. § 11.41.410 – 11.41.460; conduct constituting “sexual exploitation” as defined in Alaska Stat. § 47.17.290, and conduct prohibited by Alaska Stat. § 11.66.100 – 11.66.150;

(34) “support” has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. § 11.51.120 (b).

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