Kansas 2023-2024 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2553

Introduced

1/18/24

Refer

1/18/24

Failed

4/30/24

Caption

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.

Impact

The introduction of HB2553 is poised to amend existing statutes related to missing persons, specifically tailoring them to children in custody of the Secretary for Children and Families. The bill emphasizes a structured protocol for immediate reporting and updating of information about missing children, thereby aligning local law enforcement actions with state and national systems for missing persons. This could significantly increase the chances of locating missing children more rapidly and efficiently, thereby enhancing child welfare.

Summary

House Bill 2553 seeks to establish specific procedures for law enforcement agencies and the Kansas Secretary for Children and Families when a child under their custody is reported missing. The bill mandates that within two hours of receiving a missing report, law enforcement must enter key information regarding the child into national and state missing person databases. This will facilitate a swift response to potential cases of child abduction or disappearance, enhancing the overall operational framework for addressing such critical situations.

Contention

While proponents advocate for the bill as a vital step toward improving child safety, critics may raise concerns regarding the implementation and enforcement of these provisions. Questions may arise regarding the adequacy of training for law enforcement personnel on these new protocols and whether existing resources are sufficient to support the expedited processes mandated by the bill. Additionally, the focus on centralizing authority through legislation could lead to discussions about overreach and the potential for misapplication of the new procedures.

Latest HB2553 Activity

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

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 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 HB2552

Prohibiting the secretary for children and families from using federal benefits of a child in need of care for the care and custody of the child and requiring the secretary to create and maintain an account of such benefits received for such child.

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 HB2554

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.

KS SB145

Requiring immediate notification of a report of abuse or neglect to a law enforcement agency and providing for law enforcement agencies to request resources from the secretary for children and families.

KS HB2628

Requiring the secretary for children and families to release certain information related to a child fatality when criminal charges are filed alleging that a person caused such fatality.

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 HB2075

Determining when a law enforcement officer may or shall take a child into custody and requiring that the secretary provide support to such law enforcement officers, the court review involvement in permanency planning and a permanency hearing for a child in custody of the secretary be held within nine months from such child's removal from the and every subsequent hearing 6 months thereafter.

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.

Similar Bills

KS SB145

KS HB2024

Expanding legal surrender of an infant to include newborn safety devices, requiring a referral of an alleged victim of child abuse or neglect for an examination as part of an investigation, creating a program in the department of health and environment to provide training and payment for such examinations, enacting the Representative Gail Finney memorial foster care bill of rights, applying the federal Indian child welfare act to certain actions under the revised Kansas code for care of children.

CA AB317

Foster care.

WV HB5181

Requiring child protective services (“CPS”) workers to record, via audio, all interactions during CPS visits.

KS HB2103

Including participation in certain learning experiences and agricultural activities as a valid excuse for absence from school and authorizing school boards to make rules therefor.

WV SB919

Requiring CPS workers to audio record all interactions during visits

WV SB821

Requiring child protective services workers to wear body-worn cameras

KS HB2175

Requiring the secretary for children and families to notify the parent of a child who is the subject of an investigation of abuse or neglect of such parent's rights during such investigation and to complete a written report upon closing such an investigation, providing for an agreement between the parent of a child and the secretary if such child is removed from the home during an investigation of abuse or neglect and a parent to withhold certain information except when otherwise ordered by a court.