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Senate adopts conference changes to child-welfare bill aimed at speeding permanency reviews
Summary
The Senate adopted the conference committee report on House Bill 2075, which includes requirements for law enforcement to explore alternatives before taking children into custody and mandates that courts ensure parties have participated in and received the most recent permanency plan.
The Kansas Senate adopted the conference committee report on House Bill 20 75, legislation intended to reduce the time children spend separated from family while in foster care and to improve the permanency process.
The conference report added three provisions: (1) a requirement that law enforcement explore alternatives to immediate custody where appropriate (for example, identifying a relative who can supervise the child), (2) a requirement that the agency provide an update to a referring law enforcement agency within 25 hours after making contact with the subject of an investigation related to abuse or neglect, and (3) court procedures requiring the judge to review with parties at each permanency hearing whether they participated in the most recent permanency plan and to order the agency to provide a copy within two business days if a party lacks it.
Sponsor testimony noted both houses originally passed the bill unanimously and the conference report reflects negotiated language intended to speed legal permanency without delaying hearings. The Senate held the conference committee report for final action and then adopted the measure; the clerk recorded 38 senators in favor and none opposed on the final roll call.
