Guardianship program says volunteers sustain 1,100+ active cases, but new reporting and background‑check rules add workload

The Kansas Guardianship Program told the Committee on Social Services Budget that volunteers are the backbone of its work but recent statutory changes and new administrative requirements are increasing the program's workload.

Nancy, representing the guardianship program, said the office currently has about 900 volunteers on the rolls and roughly 800 active volunteers handling an estimated 1,113 active cases. "We currently have 1,113 active cases at the moment," she said, noting the program averages roughly 1,100 to 1,200 cases and receives about 300 referrals a year.

Program staff described stipend policy and reporting requirements: the volunteer stipend is $40 per month per case and is contingent on submission of a monthly report; volunteers who fail to turn in reports do not receive payment. Staff limit most volunteers to three active cases unless they receive explicit approval to exceed that number.

Connor Hughes (KLRD fellow) summarized the program's budgetary items: stipend estimates and reductions in projected stipend recipients (a $51,180 SGF decrease in FY26 tied to revised estimates), travel and an IT/database upgrade, professional fees for a consulting arrangement following leadership transitions, and a statutorily required annual financial audit (KSA 74-9606).

Nancy said the new guardianship statute requires a guardianship plan and creates a grievance process. "The guardianship plan is going to give that judge a lot more information about what that guardian is advocating for," she said, and noted the statute also allows courts to receive grievances about guardian performance. Committee members and staff discussed background checks (county registries and Intellicore criminal checks at about $30 per volunteer) and how the program documents checks for court filings.

Committee members pressed the program on staffing and capacity. Nancy said the program operates with ten staff (including six dedicated volunteer service coordinators) and has struggled with leadership turnover in recent years, though volunteer retention has remained strong. The committee did not vote on budget items; staff signaled analysts will include the special budget committee actions and the governor's recommendation in the forthcoming budget committee report.

The hearing included detailed operational questions about how stipends are allocated, how many volunteers accept payments versus decline them, and how the program balances volunteers with court dockets and the statutory requirement to document less‑restrictive alternatives under House Bill 2359.