Chairperson Humphries opened the Hearing on HB2243.

Jason Thompson, Office of Revisor of Statutes, presented the Bill Brief.  (Attachment 15)

Mr. Thompson stood for questions.

Proponents:

Tammie Perreault (for Michelle Richart), Regional Liaison, United States Department of War Defense State-Liaison Office, testified that the United States Department of War respectfully asks Kansas to join nearly 40 other states who have passed legislation on the issue of child abuse and neglect. She clarified that this is not a military law enforcement matter, but instead a victim advocacy matter and ensures that local law enforcement contacts the Family Advocacy Program (FAP) at the local military installation. The Secretary of War is required under Section 1787 of Title 10 of the US Code to coordinate with civilian child welfare agencies to obtain information on allegations of child abuse and neglect involving children in military families. They are asking for state statute to ensure that these memorandums of understanding (MOU) are in place across the state to support the military families.  (Attachment 16)

Ashley Johnson, Director of Safety & Thriving Families, Performance Improvement, Learning & Development testified that these agencies request a few technical adjustments to this bill. First, for the Department for Children and Families (DCF) to comply with the statutory requirement, it will be important to know how 'military installation' is defined for the purposes of this act. Second, DCF requests that in line 10 the word 'preliminary' be struck so that referrals to family advocacy programs for military members are only mandated when an investigation is opened. Last, to support the ability to enter MOUs with the military installations, DCF requests that at line 17 the words "a military family advocacy program at" be struck. MOUs and memorandums of agreement (MOAs) are typically entered into with the military leadership of the installation (either Commanders or Garrison Commander under current agreements) rather than with the family advocacy program itself.  (Attachment 17)

Proponent Conferees stood for questions.

Chairperson Humphries drew attention to the Proponent Written Only testimonies.

Lieutenant Colonel Keith Marshall, for Brigadier General Paul Schneider, Director of the Joint Staff, Kansas National Guard  (Attachment 18)

Kate Zigtema, Private Citizen  (Attachment 19)

Mike Kelly, President and State Legislative Lead, Kansas Council of Chapters, Military Officers Association of America  (Attachment 20)

Megan Mouzakis, Private Citizen  (Attachment 21)

Chairperson Humphries closed the Hearing on HB2243.