Kansas 2023-2024 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2554

Introduced

1/18/24

Refer

1/18/24

Failed

4/30/24

Caption

Directing the secretary for children and families to identify relatives and persons with whom a child in custody of the secretary has close emotional ties for placement and send notice of custody to the persons when identified.

Impact

The bill will amend existing statutes regarding child custody and placement, specifically K.S.A. 38-2264 and K.S.A. 2023 Supp. 38-2243, to enforce timely notification and proactive efforts to find appropriate relatives as potential guardians. By placing a statutory obligation on the Secretary, this law seeks not just to identify relatives but to ensure that every effort is made to secure a safe and stable environment for the child that honors their pre-existing emotional bonds.

Summary

House Bill 2554 aims to strengthen the process of identifying and notifying relatives or individuals with whom a child in custody has close emotional ties to facilitate their potential placement. The bill directs the Secretary for Children and Families to search for these relatives within 30 days of a court order that determines temporary custody. This initiative reflects a growing recognition of the importance of familial connections in a child's upbringing, emphasizing that children are better served when placed with familiar and supportive figures during challenging times.

Contention

Potential points of contention may arise regarding the feasibility of locating relatives within the stipulated timeframe and ensuring their suitability for custody. Critics could argue that while the intent to strengthen family ties is commendable, the actual implementation may prove challenging, considering constraints related to resources and the complexity of individual family situations. Moreover, the bill will necessitate coordination between legal and social service entities, raising questions about the concrete provisions for funding and support to facilitate these processes effectively.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS HB2553

Establishing procedures for law enforcement agencies and the secretary for children and families to follow and use when a child in custody of the secretary is reported missing and requiring the secretary to obtain a nondrivers' identification card for such reports.

KS SB149

Requiring that a haircare plan is part of the case plan for a child in custody of the secretary for children and family services and requiring the secretary to offer training on culturally competent haircare to caregivers.

KS HB2581

Eliminating the court's requirement to order child support be paid to the secretary when custody of a child is awarded to the secretary.

KS HB2299

Directing the secretary for children and families to consider foster parents as prospective adoptive parents under certain circumstances.

KS HB2189

Substitute for HB 2189 by Committee on Child Welfare and Foster Care - Granting jurisdiction to the court to extend custody of non-minor dependents and allow the secretary for children and families to provide reentry services to an eligible young adult.

KS HB2070

Senate Substitute for HB 2070 by Committee on Judiciary - Establishing the office of the child advocate as an independent state agency, making orders granting custody for adoption subject to the federal Indian child welfare act, directing the secretary for children and families to consider foster parents as prospective adoptive parents in certain circumstances and authorizing appeal of any order of placement of a child.

KS HB2302

Requiring a law enforcement officer to consult with the secretary for children and families before taking a child into custody and that the secretary respond and offer consultation to such law enforcement officer outside of the secretary's operating hours.

KS SB00286

An Act Concerning Out-of-home Placements For Children In The Custody Of The Department Of Children And Families.

KS HB2742

Requiring the secretary for children and families to reimburse hospitals when a child in custody of the secretary remains at such hospital and is no longer receiving medical services.

KS HB2673

Directing the secretary for children and families to request a waiver from supplemental nutrition assistance program rules and prohibit the purchase of candy and soft drinks with food assistance.

Similar Bills

KS HB2369

Enacting the Kansas indian child welfare act.

KS HB2132

Substitute for HB2132 by Committee on Child Welfare and Foster Care - Modifying the definition of neglect in the revised Kansas code for care of children, prohibiting the removal of a child from such child's home due solely to a lack of financial resources, requiring that facts of serious harm demonstrate more than one fact of certain listed facts, determining when a law enforcement officer may or shall take a child into custody and requiring the secretary for children and families to provide means for a law enforcement officer to refer potential cases of abuse or neglect and provide a response to such referrals.

KS HB2033

Changing the criteria used to refer and admit juveniles to a juvenile crisis intervention center.

KS HB2021

Requiring the secretary for children and families to assess certain children and the secretary of corrections to provide certain services to juveniles in detention, changing the criteria used to refer and admit juveniles to a juvenile crisis intervention center, allowing evidence-based program account money to be used on certain children, requiring the department of corrections to build data systems and allowing for overall case length limit extensions for certain juvenile offenders.

KS SB217

Including the conduct of utilizing any electronic tracking system or acquiring tracking information to determine the targeted persons location, movement or travel patterns in the crime of stalking when done as part of an unlawful course of conduct and authorizing orders to prohibit such conduct under the Kansas family law code, the revised Kansas code for care of children, the protection from abuse act and the protection from stalking, sexual assault or human trafficking act and increasing the time of an initial restraining order and possible extensions issued in a protection from abuse order or a protection from stalking, sexual assault or human trafficking order.