Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2203

Introduced
2/3/25  

Caption

Including children with fetal alcohol syndrome disorder under the definition of other health impairment in the special education for exceptional children act.

Impact

The implications of HB2203 on state law are substantial as it seeks to align Kansas regulations with evolving understandings of childhood development and disability. By including fetal alcohol syndrome within the definition of other health impairment, the bill could lead to enhanced access to special education services and resources for affected children. This change fosters a more inclusive educational framework that aims to address the needs of students who may previously have been underrepresented in special education programs.

Summary

House Bill 2203 introduces an amendment to the Kansas special education statutes by clarifying and expanding the definition of 'other health impairment.' The notable inclusion of children diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome disorder represents a significant effort to ensure that these individuals are recognized and afforded the assistance required to meet their educational needs. This adjustment highlights an increased awareness of the unique challenges faced by children with fetal alcohol syndrome, positioning them within the larger category of students requiring special education services.

Contention

While the bill generally has wide support concerning the intent to better serve children with disabilities, some points of contention may arise regarding the implementation and adequacy of resources. Stakeholders may express concerns regarding the sufficiency of training for educators on fetal alcohol syndrome, as well as the overall allocation of funds to support the added services necessitated by this expanded definition. Ensuring adequate support and funding will be crucial in making the provisions of this bill effective in practice.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS HB2322

Revising the definition of "children with disabilities" for purposes of providing special education to replace emotional disturbance with emotional disability.

KS HB2536

Establishing the SOUL family legal permanency option for children 16 years of age or older.

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 SB232

House Substitute for Substitute for SB 232 by Committee on Judiciary - Providing for child support orders for unborn children from the date of conception.

KS HB2236

Establishing parents' right to direct the education, upbringing and moral or religious training of their children including the right to object to harmful and inappropriate educational materials.

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.

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 HB2791

Enacting the forbidding abuse child transitions act, restricting use of state funds to promote gender transitioning, prohibiting healthcare professionals from treating children whose gender identity is inconsistent with the child's sex, authorizing a civil cause of action against healthcare professionals for providing such treatments, authorizing professional discipline against a physician who performs such treatment, prohibiting professional liability insurance from covering damages for healthcare providers that provide gender transition treatment to children and adding violation of the act to the definition of unprofessional conduct for physicians and nurses.

KS SB233

House Substitute for SB 233 by Committee on Health and Human Services - Enacting the forbidding abuse child transitions act, restricting use of state funds to promote gender transitioning, prohibiting healthcare providers from treating children whose gender identity is inconsistent with the child's sex, authorizing a civil cause of action against healthcare providers for providing such treatments, requiring professional discipline against a healthcare provider who performs such treatment, prohibiting professional liability insurance from covering damages for healthcare providers that provide gender transition treatment to children and adding violation of the act to the definition of unprofessional conduct for physicians and nurses.

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