Session of 2000
         
SENATE BILL No. 631
         
By Committee on Judiciary
         
2-11
         

  9             AN  ACT concerning sexual abuse of certain persons; relating to reporting
10             requirements; amending K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 39-1402 and repealing the
11             existing section.
12      
13       Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
14             Section  1. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 39-1402 is hereby amended to read as
15       follows: 39-1402. (a) Any person who is licensed to practice any branch
16       of the healing arts, a licensed psychologist, a licensed master level psy-
17       chologist, a chief administrative officer of a medical care facility, an adult
18       care home administrator or operator, a licensed social worker, a licensed
19       professional nurse, a licensed practical nurse, a teacher, a bank trust of-
20       ficer, a guardian or a conservator who has reasonable cause to believe
21       that a resident is being or has been abused, neglected or exploited, or is
22       in a condition which is the result of such abuse, neglect or exploitation
23       or is in need of protective services, shall report immediately such infor-
24       mation or cause a report of such information to be made in any reasonable
25       manner to the department of health and environment with respect to
26       residents defined under (a)(1) and (a)(2) of K.S.A. 39-1401 and amend-
27       ments thereto and to the department of social and rehabilitation services
28       with respect to all other residents, except that when any such person
29       believes that a resident has been sexually abused, such person shall report
30       immediately such information or cause a report of such information to be
31       made in any reasonable manner to a law enforcement agency. Reports
32       made to one department which are required by this subsection to be
33       made to the other department shall be referred by the department to
34       which the report is made to the appropriate department for that report,
35       and any such report shall constitute compliance with this subsection. Re-
36       ports shall be made during the normal working week days and hours of
37       operation of such departments. Reports, not required by this section to
38       be made to a law enforcement agency, shall be made to law enforcement
39       agencies during the time the departments are not open for business. Law
40       enforcement agencies shall submit the report and appropriate informa-
41       tion to the appropriate department on the first working day that such
42       department is open for business. A report made pursuant to K.S.A. 65-
43       4923 or 65-4924 and amendments thereto shall be deemed a report under


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  1       this section.
  2             (b) The report made pursuant to subsection (a) shall contain the
  3       name and address of the person making the report and of the caretaker
  4       caring for the resident, the name and address of the involved resident,
  5       information regarding the nature and extent of the abuse, neglect or ex-
  6       ploitation, the name of the next of kin of the resident, if known, and any
  7       other information which the person making the report believes might be
  8       helpful in an investigation of the case and the protection of the resident.
  9             (c) Any other person having reasonable cause to suspect or believe
10       that a resident is being or has been abused, neglected or exploited, or is
11       in a condition which is the result of such abuse, neglect or exploitation
12       or is in need of protective services may report such information to the
13       department of health and environment with respect to residents defined
14       under (a)(1) and (a)(2) of K.S.A. 39-1401 and amendments thereto and
15       to the department of social and rehabilitation services with respect to all
16       other residents, except that when any such person believes that a resident
17       has been sexually abused, such person shall report such information to a
18       law enforcement agency. Reports made to one department which are to
19       be made to the other department under this section shall be referred by
20       the department to which the report is made to the appropriate depart-
21       ment for that report.
22             (d) Notice of the requirements of this act and the department to
23       which a report is to be made under this act shall be posted in a conspic-
24       uous place in every adult care home and medical care facility in this state.
25             (e) A report involving sexual abuse to a resident shall be in substan-
26       tially the following form:
27      
Statement Regarding Concern for Resident
28      
[All questions must be fully answered.]
29       1.) Name of person concerned for resident:
30       2.) Name of resident:
31       3.) I feel that there is at least a distinct possibility or a substantial suspicion that the above
32                     resident has been sexually molested, abused, or exploited during their stay at the (Name
33                     of Nursing Home).
34                           Yes            No
35       4.) The reason(s) for my concern are as follows:
36       5.) I understand that by checking ``yes'' on question #3, I will cause the nursing home to
37                     report this matter to law enforcement.
38                           Yes            No
39       6.) I have given this statement to:
40      
______________________________
41                                     (Name of Employee in home receiving form)
42      
______________________________
43                                     Signature of Concerned Party


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  1             (f)  (1) Any person required to report information or cause a report
  2       of information to be made under subsection (a) who knowingly fails to
  3       make such report or cause such report to be made shall be guilty of a
  4       class B nonperson misdemeanor.
  5             (2) Any person required to report information or cause a report of
  6       information to be made when there is a belief that a resident has been
  7       sexually abused who knowingly fails to make such report or cause such
  8       report to be made in the form provided by subsection (e) is guilty of a
  9       class A nonperson misdemeanor punishable with a minimum fine of $400. 
10       Sec.  2. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 39-1402 is hereby repealed.
11        Sec.  3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
12       publication in the statute book.