Division of the Budget Landon State Office Building Phone: (785) 296-2436 900 SW Jackson Street, Room 504 adam.c.proffitt@ks.gov Topeka, KS 66612 http://budget.kansas.gov Adam C. Proffitt, Director Laura Kelly, Governor Division of the Budget February 19, 2025 The Honorable Susan Humphries, Chairperson House Committee on Judiciary 300 SW 10th Avenue, Room 582-N Topeka, Kansas 66612 Dear Representative Humphries: SUBJECT: Fiscal Note for HB 2352 by House Committee on Judiciary In accordance with KSA 75-3715a, the following fiscal note concerning HB 2352 is respectfully submitted to your committee. HB 2352 would require a duly ordained minister of religion to report certain abuse and neglect, except when reporting would violate the penitential communication privilege, and would require training for persons obligated to report abuse and neglect. Any person required to report abuse would be required to participate in training regarding the reporting requirements, prior to July 1, 2026, or, if the person became subject to the reporting requirements after July 1, 2025, within six months. Training would be provided by the Department for Children and Families (DCF) or a partner approved by the agency. According to DCF, enactment of HB 2352 would increase the volume of reports to the Kansas Protection Report Center by 1.0 percent annually. DCF estimates that expenditures would increase by approximately $89,000 in salary and benefits for an additional Protection Specialist position for the increase in reporting volume beginning in FY 2026. The Office of Judicial Administration indicates that enactment of HB 2352 could increase the number of cases filed in district courts because the bill would expand the list of mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse or neglect. This, in turn, would increase the time spent by district court judicial and nonjudicial personnel in processing, researching, and hearing cases. In addition, the bill would require training for all mandatory reporters, which includes all Court Services Officers in the Judicial Branch. However, the fiscal effect on expenditures by the Judicial Branch cannot be estimated. The bill would not have a fiscal effect on revenues to the Judicial The Honorable Susan Humphries, Chairperson Page 2—HB 2352 Branch. However, the bill could result in the collection of docket fees in possible additional cases filed under the provisions of the bill, which would be deposited in the State General Fund. Any fiscal effect associated with HB 2352 is not reflected in The FY 2026 Governor’s Budget Report. Sincerely, Adam C. Proffitt Director of the Budget cc: Kim Holter, Department for Children & Families Trisha Morrow, Judiciary