Session of 2000
SENATE BILL No. 633
By Committee on Ways and Means
2-14
10 AN ACT
concerning children in need of care; amending K.S.A. 38-1503,
11 38-1523a, 38-1524,
38-1529, 38-1531, 38-1566, 38-1568 and 75-3329
12 and K.S.A. 1999 Supp.
38-1502, 38-1507, 38-1513, 38-1532, 38-1542,
13 38-1543, 38-1544,
38-1562, 38-1563, 38-1565, 38-1581, 38-1583, 38-
14 1584, 38-1585,
38-1587, 38-1591, 38-1608 and 60-1610 and repealing
15 the existing
sections.
16
17 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the
State of Kansas:
18 New Section
1. There is hereby established in the state treasury the
19 family services and community intervention
fund which shall be admin-
20 istered by the secretary of social and
rehabilitation services. The secretary
21 of social and rehabilitation services may
accept money from any source
22 for the purposes for which money in the
family services and community
23 intervention fund may be expended. Upon
receipt of such money, the
24 secretary shall remit the entire amount at
least monthly to the state trea-
25 surer, who shall deposit it in the state
treasury and credit it to the family
26 services and community intervention fund.
All moneys in the special fund
27 for family services and community
intervention shall be used for the pur-
28 pose of assisting state, county, or local
governments or political subdivi-
29 sions thereof; or community agencies; to
provide services, intervention
30 and support services to children alleged or
adjudged to be a youth in need
31 of community services as defined by K.S.A.
38-1502, and amendments
32 thereto, especially those youth at risk
because of their own actions or
33 behaviors and not due to abuse or neglect
by a parent, guardian or other
34 person responsible for their care. The
purpose of the family services and
35 community intervention fund shall be to
enhance the ability of families
36 and children to resolve problems within the
family and community that
37 might otherwise result in a child becoming
a ward of the court, by the
38 collaboration of governmental and local
service providers. All expendi-
39 tures from the family services and
community intervention fund shall be
40 made in accordance with appropriation acts
upon warrants of the director
41 of accounts and reports issued pursuant to
vouchers approved by the
42 secretary or by a person or persons
designated by the secretary.
43 New Sec.
2. (a) When determining whether reasonable efforts
2
1 have been made to prevent or
eliminate the necessity for removal of a
2 child from the child's home, safety
of the child is paramount. In deter-
3 mining the safety of the child the
court shall consider the likelihood of
4 immediate serious physical, mental or
emotional harm which may result
5 from leaving the child in the child's
current situation and shall balance
6 that concern with the mental and
emotional harm that will result from
7 removing the child from familiar care
and relationships, place and
8 possessions.
9 (b) Before
ordering a child removed from the custody of a parent the
10 court shall find from evidence provided
that allowing the child to remain
11 in the custody of a parent is not in the
best interests of the child. The
12 determination of best interests shall be
made at the first hearing at which
13 the court considers removal of a child from
the child's home, even
14 temporarily.
15 (c) If the court
is presented a plan to provide a child or family services
16 which is reasonably designed to address
safety concerns regarding the
17 child who is the subject of the proceeding,
the court shall not order or
18 authorize removal of the child from the
child's home.
19 (d) If the child
is in the custody of the secretary with authority for
20 the secretary to make a suitable placement
and the secretary removes the
21 child from the child's home, the secretary
shall request a ruling of the
22 court whether the removal was in the best
interests of the child. In making
23 the finding, the court may rely on
documentation submitted by the sec-
24 retary or may set the date for a hearing on
the matter. If the secretary
25 requests a ruling whether removal was in
the best interests of the child,
26 the court shall enter a finding not less
than 45 days from the date of the
27 request and shall provide the secretary
with a written answer not more
28 than 10 days from the date the decision was
rendered.
29 Sec.
3. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 38-1502 is hereby amended to read as
30 follows: 38-1502. As used in this code,
unless the context otherwise
31 indicates:
32 (a) ``Child in
need of care'' means a person less than 18 years of age
33 who: is a child in need
of protection or a youth in need of community
34 services as defined by this
code.
35 (1) Is
without adequate parental care, control or subsistence and
the
36 condition is not due solely to the
lack of financial means of the child's
37 parents or other
custodian;
38 (2) is
without the care or control necessary for the child's
physical,
39 mental or emotional
health;
40 (3) has
been physically, mentally or emotionally abused or
neglected
41 or sexually abused;
42 (4) has
been placed for care or adoption in violation of law;
43 (5) has
been abandoned or does not have a known living parent;
3
1
(6) is not attending school as required by K.S.A. 72-977 or
72-1111,
2 and amendments
thereto;
3
(7) except in the case of a violation of K.S.A. 41-727,
subsection (j)
4 of K.S.A. 74-8810 or
subsection (m) or (n) of K.S.A. 79-3321, and amend-
5 ments thereto, or, except as
provided in subsection (a)(12) of K.S.A. 21-
6 4204a and amendments thereto,
does an act which, when committed by
7 a person under 18 years of
age, is prohibited by state law, city ordinance
8 or county resolution but
which is not prohibited when done by an adult;
9
(8) while less than 10 years of age, commits any act which if
done by
10 an adult would constitute the
commission of a felony or misdemeanor as
11 defined by K.S.A. 21-3105 and
amendments thereto;
12 (9) is
willfully and voluntarily absent from the child's home
without
13 the consent of the child's parent
or other custodian;
14 (10) is
willfully and voluntarily absent at least a second time from
a
15 court ordered or designated
placement, or a placement pursuant to court
16 order, if the absence is without
the consent of the person with whom the
17 child is placed or, if the child is
placed in a facility, without the consent
18 of the person in charge of such
facility or such person's designee;
19 (11) has
been residing in the same residence with a sibling or
another
20 person under 18 years of age, who
has been physically, mentally or emo-
21 tionally abused or neglected, or
sexually abused; or
22
(12) while less than 10 years of age commits the offense
defined in
23 K.S.A. 21-4204a and amendments
thereto.
24 (b) ``Child in
need of protection'' means a person less than 18 years
25 of age who:
26 (1) Has been
physically, mentally or emotionally abused or neglected
27 or sexually abused;
28 (2) has been
placed for care or adoption in violation of law;
29 (3) has been
abandoned or does not have a known living parent; or
30 (4) has been
residing in the same residence with a sibling or another
31 person under 18 years of age, who has
been physically, mentally or emo-
32 tionally abused or neglected, or
sexually abused.
33 (c) ``Youth in
need of community services'' means a person less than
34 18 years of age who:
35 (1) Is without
the care or control necessary for the youth's physical,
36 mental or emotional health;
37 (2) is not
attending school as required by K.S.A. 72-977 or 72-1111,
38 and amendments thereto;
39 (3) except in
the case of a violation of K.S.A. 41-727, subsection (j) of
40 K.S.A. 74-8810 or subsection (m) or (n)
of K.S.A. 79-3321, and amend-
41 ments thereto, or, except as provided in
subsection (a)(12) of K.S.A. 21-
42 4204a, and amendments thereto, does an
act which, when committed by
43 a person under 18 years of age, is
prohibited by state law, city ordinance
4
1 or county resolution but which is
not prohibited when done by an adult;
2
(4) while less than 10 years of age, commits any act which if
done by
3 an adult would constitute the
commission of a felony or misdemeanor as
4 defined by K.S.A. 21-3105, and
amendments thereto;
5 (5) is
willfully and voluntarily absent from the child's home
without
6 the consent of the child's parent
or other custodian;
7 (6) is
willfully and voluntarily absent from a court ordered or
desig-
8 nated placement, or a placement
pursuant to a court order, if the absence
9 is without the consent of the
person with whom the child is placed or, if
10 the child is placed in a facility,
without the consent of the person in charge
11 of such facility or such person's
designee; or
12 (7) while less
than 10 years of age commits the offense defined in
13 K.S.A. 21-4204a, and amendments
thereto.
14 (b)
(d) ``Physical, mental or emotional abuse or
neglect'' means the
15 infliction of physical, mental or emotional
injury or the causing of a de-
16 terioration of a child and may include, but
shall not be limited to, failing
17 to maintain reasonable care and
treatment, negligent treatment or mal-
18 treatment or exploiting a child to the
extent that the child's health or
19 emotional well-being is endangered.
A parent legitimately practicing re-
20 ligious beliefs who does not
provide specified medical treatment for a
21 child because of religious beliefs
shall not for that reason be considered
22 a negligent parent; however, this
exception shall not preclude a court from
23 entering an order pursuant to
subsection (a)(2) of K.S.A. 38-1513 and
24 amendments thereto.
25 (c)
(e) ``Sexual abuse'' means any act committed with a
child which
26 is described in article 35, chapter 21 of
the Kansas Statutes Annotated
27 and those acts described in K.S.A. 21-3602
or 21-3603, and amendments
28 thereto, regardless of the age of the
child.
29 (d)
(f) ``Parent,'' when used in relation to a child or
children, includes
30 a guardian, conservator and every person
who is by law liable to maintain,
31 care for or support the child.
32 (e)
(g) ``Interested party'' means the state, the
petitioner, the child,
33 any parent and any person found to be an
interested party pursuant to
34 K.S.A. 38-1541 and amendments thereto.
35 (f)
(h) ``Law enforcement officer'' means any person who by
virtue
36 of office or public employment is vested by
law with a duty to maintain
37 public order or to make arrests for crimes,
whether that duty extends to
38 all crimes or is limited to specific
crimes.
39 (g)
(i) ``Youth residential facility'' means any home,
foster home or
40 structure which provides 24-hour-a-day care
for children and which is
41 licensed pursuant to article 5 of chapter
65 of the Kansas Statutes
42 Annotated.
43 (h)
(j) ``Shelter facility'' means any public or private
facility or home
5
1 other than a juvenile detention
facility that may be used in accordance
2 with this code for the purpose of
providing either temporary placement
3 for the care of children in need of
care prior to the issuance of a dispos-
4 itional order or longer term care
under a dispositional order.
5
(i) (k) ``Juvenile detention
facility'' means any secure public or private
6 facility used for the lawful custody
of accused or adjudicated juvenile
7 offenders which must not be a
jail.
8
(j) (l) ``Adult correction facility''
means any public or private facility,
9 secure or nonsecure, which is used
for the lawful custody of accused or
10 convicted adult criminal offenders.
11 (k)
(m) ``Secure facility'' means a facility which is
operated or struc-
12 tured so as to ensure that all entrances
and exits from the facility are
13 under the exclusive control of the staff of
the facility, whether or not the
14 person being detained has freedom of
movement within the perimeters
15 of the facility, or which relies on locked
rooms and buildings, fences or
16 physical restraint in order to control
behavior of its residents. No secure
17 facility shall be in a city or county
jail.
18 (l)
(n) ``Ward of the court'' means a child over whom the
court has
19 acquired jurisdiction by the filing of a
petition pursuant to this code and
20 who continues subject to that jurisdiction
until the petition is dismissed
21 or the child is discharged as provided in
K.S.A. 38-1503 and amendments
22 thereto.
23 (m)
(o) ``Custody,'' whether temporary, protective or
legal, means the
24 status created by court order or statute
which vests in a custodian,
25 whether an individual or an agency, the
right to physical possession of
26 the child and the right to determine
placement of the child, subject to
27 restrictions placed by the court.
28 (n)
(p) ``Placement'' means the designation by the
individual or
29 agency having custody of where and with
whom the child will live.
30 (o)
(q) ``Secretary'' means the secretary of social and
rehabilitation
31 services.
32 (p)
(r) ``Relative'' means a person related by blood,
marriage or adop-
33 tion but, when referring to a relative of a
child's parent, does not include
34 the child's other parent.
35 (q)
(s) ``Court-appointed special advocate'' means a
responsible adult
36 other than an attorney guardian ad
litem who is appointed by the court
37 to represent the best interests of a child,
as provided in K.S.A. 38-1505a
38 and amendments thereto, in a proceeding
pursuant to this code.
39 (r)
(t) ``Multidisciplinary child protection team''
means a group of
40 persons, appointed by the court or by the
state department of social and
41 rehabilitation services under K.S.A.
38-1523a and amendments thereto,
42 which has knowledge of the
circumstances of a child in need of care for
43 the purpose of advising or assisting the
department of social and reha-
6
1 bilitation services and law
enforcement agencies in the investigation, as-
2 sessment or safety planning for a
child who is the subject of a report as a
3 child in need of care by reason of
physical, mental or emotional abuse or
4 neglect or sexual abuse.
5
(s) (u) ``Jail'' means:
6 (1) An
adult jail or lockup; or
7 (2) a
facility in the same building or on the same grounds as an
adult
8 jail or lockup, unless the facility
meets all applicable standards and licen-
9 sure requirements under law and there
is (A) total separation of the ju-
10 venile and adult facility spatial areas
such that there could be no haphaz-
11 ard or accidental contact between juvenile
and adult residents in the
12 respective facilities; (B) total separation
in all juvenile and adult program
13 activities within the facilities, including
recreation, education, counseling,
14 health care, dining, sleeping, and general
living activities; and (C) separate
15 juvenile and adult staff, including
management, security staff and direct
16 care staff such as recreational,
educational and counseling.
17 (t)
(v) ``Kinship care'' means the placement of a child in
the home of
18 the child's relative or in the home of
another adult with whom the child
19 or the child's parent already has a close
emotional attachment.
20 (u)
(w) ``Juvenile intake and assessment worker'' means a
responsible
21 adult authorized to perform intake and
assessment services as part of the
22 intake and assessment system established
pursuant to K.S.A. 75-7023, and
23 amendments thereto.
24 (v)
(x) ``Abandon'' means to forsake, desert or cease
providing care
25 for the child without making appropriate
provisions for substitute care.
26 (w)
(y) ``Permanent guardianship'' means a judicially
created rela-
27 tionship between child and caretaker which
is intended to be permanent
28 and self-sustaining without ongoing state
oversight or intervention. The
29 permanent guardian stands in loco parentis
and exercises all the rights
30 and responsibilities of a parent.
Upon appointment of a permanent guard-
31 ian, the child in need of care
proceedings shall be dismissed. A permanent
32 guardian may be appointed after termination
of parental rights or without
33 termination of parental rights, if the
parent consents and agrees to the
34 appointment of a permanent
guardian.
35 (x)
(z) ``Aggravated circumstances'' means the abandonment,
torture,
36 chronic abuse, sexual abuse or chronic,
life threatening neglect of a child.
37 (y)
(aa) ``Permanency hearing'' means a notice and
opportunity to be
38 heard is provided to interested parties,
foster parents, preadoptive parents
39 or relatives providing care for the child.
The court, after consideration of
40 the evidence, shall determine whether
progress toward the case plan goal
41 is adequate or reintegration is a viable
alternative, or if the case should
42 be referred to the county or district
attorney for filing of a petition to
43 terminate parental rights or to appoint a
permanent guardian.
7
1
(z) (bb) ``Extended out of home
placement'' means a child has been
2 in the custody of the secretary and
placed with neither parent for 15 of
3 the most recent 22 months beginning
60 days after the date at which a
4 child in the custody of the secretary
was removed from the home.
5
(aa) (cc) ``Educational institution''
means all schools at the elementary
6 and secondary levels.
7
(bb) (dd) ``Educator'' means any
administrator, teacher or other pro-
8 fessional or paraprofessional
employee of an educational institution who
9 has exposure to a pupil specified in
subsection (a) of K.S.A. 1999 Supp.
10 72-89b03 and amendments thereto.
11
(ee) ``Neglect'' means acts or omissions by a parent,
guardian or per-
12 son responsible for the care of a child
resulting in harm to a child or
13 presenting a likelihood of harm and the
acts or omissions are not due
14 solely to the lack of financial means of
the child's parents or other cus-
15 todian. Neglect may include but shall
not be limited to:
16 (1) Failure to
provide the child with food, clothing or shelter neces-
17 sary to sustain the life or health of
the child;
18 (2) failure to
provide adequate supervision of a child or to remove a
19 child from a situation which requires
judgment or actions beyond the
20 child's level of maturity, physical
condition or mental abilities and that
21 results in bodily injury or a likelihood
of harm to the child; or
22 (3) failure to
use resources available to treat a diagnosed medical con-
23 dition if such treatment will make a
child substantially more comfortable,
24 reduce pain and suffering, correct or
substantially diminish a crippling
25 condition from worsening. A parent
legitimately practicing religious be-
26 liefs who does not provide specified
medical treatment for a child because
27 of religious beliefs shall not for that
reason be considered a negligent
28 parent; however, this exception shall
not preclude a court from entering
29 an order pursuant to subsection (a)(2)
of K.S.A. 38-1513, and amendments
30 thereto.
31
(ff) ``Community intervention team'' means a group of persons,
ap-
32 pointed by the court or by the state
department of social and rehabilitation
33 services for the purpose of assessing
the needs of a child who is alleged to
34 be a youth in need of community
services.
35 Sec.
4. K.S.A. 38-1503 is hereby amended to read as follows:
38-
36 1503. (a) Proceedings concerning any child
who appears to be a child in
37 need of care shall be governed by this
code, except in those instances
38 when the Indian child welfare act of 1978
(25 U.S.C. § § 1901 et seq.)
39 applies.
40 (b) Subject to
the uniform child custody jurisdiction act, K.S.A. 38-
41 1301 et seq. and amendments thereto,
the district court shall have original
42 jurisdiction to receive and determine
proceedings under this code.
43 (c) When
jurisdiction has been acquired by the court over the person
8
1 of a child in need of care it may
continue until the child: (1) Has attained
2 the age of 21 years; (2) has been
adopted; or (3) has been discharged by
3 the court. Any child 18 years of age
or over may request, by motion to
4 the court, that the jurisdiction of
the court cease. Subsequently, the court
5 shall enter an order discharging the
person from any further jurisdiction
6 of the court.
7 (d) When it
is no longer appropriate for the court to exercise juris-
8 diction over a child the court, upon
its own motion or the motion of an
9 interested party, shall enter an
order discharging the child. Except upon
10 request of the child, the court shall not
enter an order discharging a child
11 which reaches 18 years of age before
completing the child's high school
12 education until June 1 of the school year
during which the child became
13 18 years of age as long as the child is
still attending high school.
14 (e) Unless the
court finds that substantial injustice would result, the
15 provisions of this code shall govern with
respect to acts or omissions oc-
16 curring prior to the effective date of this
code, and amendments thereto,
17 and with respect to children alleged or
adjudicated to have done or to
18 have been affected by the acts or
omissions, to the same extent as if the
19 acts or omissions had occurred on or after
the effective date of this code,
20 and amendments thereto, and the
children had been alleged or adjudi-
21 cated to be children in need of care.
22 Sec.
5. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 38-1507 is hereby amended to read as
23 follows: 38-1507. (a) Except as otherwise
provided, in order to protect
24 the privacy of children who are the subject
of a child in need of care
25 record or report, all records and reports
concerning children in need of
26 care, including the juvenile intake and
assessment report, received by the
27 department of social and rehabilitation
services, a law enforcement
28 agency or any juvenile intake and
assessment worker shall be kept con-
29 fidential except: (1) To those persons or
entities with a need for infor-
30 mation that is directly related to
achieving the purposes of this code, or
31 (2) upon an order of a court of competent
jurisdiction pursuant to a
32 determination by the court that disclosure
of the reports and records is
33 in the best interests of the child or are
necessary for the proceedings
34 before the court, or both, and are
otherwise admissible in evidence. Such
35 access shall be limited to in camera
inspection unless the court otherwise
36 issues an order specifying the terms of
disclosure.
37 (b) The
provisions of subsection (a) shall not prevent disclosure of
38 information to an educational institution
or to individual educators about
39 a pupil specified in subsection (a) of
K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 72-89b03 and
40 amendments thereto.
41 (c) When a report
is received by the department of social and reha-
42 bilitation services, a law enforcement
agency or any juvenile intake and
43 assessment worker which indicates a child
may be in need of care, the
9
1 following persons and entities shall
have a free exchange of information
2 between and among them:
3 (1) The
department of social and rehabilitation services;
4 (2) the
commissioner of juvenile justice;
5 (3) the law
enforcement agency receiving such report;
6 (4) members
of a court appointed multidisciplinary child protection
7 team;
8 (5) an
entity mandated by federal law or an agency of any state au-
9 thorized to receive and investigate
reports of a child known or suspected
10 to be in need of care;
11 (6) a military
enclave or Indian tribal organization authorized to re-
12 ceive and investigate reports of a child
known or suspected to be in need
13 of care;
14 (7) a county or
district attorney;
15 (8) a court
services officer who has taken a child into custody pursuant
16 to K.S.A. 38-1527, and amendments
thereto;
17 (9) a guardian ad
litem appointed for a child alleged to be in need of
18 care;
19 (10) an intake
and assessment worker; and
20 (11) any
community corrections program which has the child under
21 court ordered supervision;
22 (12) the
department of health and environment or persons authorized
23 by the department of health and
environment pursuant to K.S.A. 59-512,
24 and amendments thereto, for the purpose
of carrying out responsibilities
25 relating to licensure or registration of
child care providers as required by
26 chapter 65 of article 5 of the Kansas
Statutes Annotated, and amendments
27 thereto; and
28 (13) members
of a duly appointed community intervention team.
29 (d) The following
persons or entities are authorized to provide and
30 shall have access to information, records
or reports created, received by
31 the department of social and
rehabilitation services, a law enforcement
32 agency or any juvenile intake and
assessment worker. Access shall be
33 limited to information
or maintained by such persons or entities but only
34 to the extent reasonably necessary
to carry out their lawful responsibilities
35 to maintain their personal safety and the
personal safety of individuals in
36 their care or to diagnose, treat, care for
or protect a child alleged to be
37 in need of care.
38 (1) A child named
in the report or records.
39 (2) A parent or
other person responsible for the welfare of a child,
40 or such person's legal representative.
41 (3) A
court-appointed special advocate for a child, a citizen review
42 board or other advocate which reports to
the court.
43 (4) A person
licensed to practice the healing arts or mental health
10
1 profession in order to diagnose, care
for, treat or supervise: (A) A child
2 whom such service provider reasonably
suspects may be in need of care;
3 (B) a member of the child's family;
or (C) a person who allegedly abused
4 or neglected the child.
5 (5) A
person or entity licensed or registered by the secretary of
health
6 and environment or approved by the
secretary of social and rehabilitation
7 services to care for, treat or
supervise a child in need of care. In order to
8 assist a child placed for care by the
secretary of social and rehabilitation
9 services in a foster home or child
care facility, the secretary shall provide
10 relevant information to the foster parents
or child care facility prior to
11 placement and as such information becomes
available to the secretary.
12 (6) A coroner or
medical examiner when such person is determining
13 the cause of death of a child.
14 (7) The state
child death review board established under K.S.A. 22a-
15 243, and amendments thereto.
16 (8) A prospective
adoptive parent prior to placing a child in their care.
17 (9) The
department of health and environment or person
authorized
18 by the department of health and
environment pursuant to K.S.A. 59-512,
19 and amendments thereto, for the
purpose of carrying out responsibilities
20 relating to licensure or
registration of child care providers as required by
21 chapter 65 of article 5 of the
Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments
22 thereto.
23
(10) The state protection and advocacy agency as
provided by sub-
24 section (a)(10) of K.S.A. 65-5603 or
subsection (a)(2)(A) and (B) of K.S.A.
25 74-5515, and amendments thereto.
26 (11)
(10) Any educational institution to the extent
necessary to enable
27 the educational institution to provide the
safest possible environment for
28 its pupils and employees.
29 (12)
(11) Any educator to the extent necessary to enable the
educator
30 to protect the personal safety of the
educator and the educator's pupils.
31 (12) The
secretary of social and rehabilitation services.
32 (13) A law
enforcement agency.
33 (14) A
juvenile intake and assessment worker.
34 (e) Information
from a record or report of a child in need of care
35 shall be available to members of the
standing house or senate committee
36 on judiciary, house committee on
appropriations, senate committee on
37 ways and means, legislative post audit
committee and joint committee on
38 children and families, carrying out such
member's or committee's official
39 functions in accordance with K.S.A. 75-4319
and amendments thereto,
40 in a closed or executive meeting. Except in
limited conditions established
41 by 2/3 of the members of such committee,
records and reports received
42 by the committee shall not be further
disclosed. Unauthorized disclosure
43 may subject such member to discipline or
censure from the house of
11
1 representatives or senate.
2 (f) Nothing
in this section shall be interpreted to prohibit the secre-
3 tary of social and rehabilitation
services from summarizing the outcome
4 of department actions regarding a
child alleged to be a child in need of
5 care to a person having made such
report.
6
(g) Disclosure of information from reports or records of a
child in
7 need of care to the public shall be
limited to confirmation of factual details
8 with respect to how the case was
handled that do not violate the privacy
9 of the child, if living, or the
child's siblings, parents or guardians. Further,
10 confidential information may be released to
the public only with the ex-
11 press written permission of the individuals
involved or their representa-
12 tives or upon order of the court having
jurisdiction upon a finding by the
13 court that public disclosure of information
in the records or reports is
14 necessary for the resolution of an issue
before the court.
15 (h) Nothing in
this section shall be interpreted to prohibit a court of
16 competent jurisdiction from making an order
disclosing the findings or
17 information pursuant to a report of alleged
or suspected child abuse or
18 neglect which has resulted in a child
fatality or near fatality if the court
19 determines such disclosure is necessary to
a legitimate state purpose. In
20 making such order, the court shall give due
consideration to the privacy
21 of the child, if, living, or the child's
siblings, parents or guardians.
22 (i) Information
authorized to be disclosed in subsections (d) through
23 (g) shall not contain information which
identifies a reporter of a child in
24 need of care.
25 (j) Records or
reports authorized to be disclosed in this section shall
26 not be further disclosed, except that the
provisions of this subsection shall
27 not prevent disclosure of information to an
educational institution or to
28 individual educators about a pupil
specified in subsection (a) of K.S.A.
29 1999 Supp. 72-89b03 and amendments
thereto.
30 (k) Anyone who
participates in providing or receiving information
31 without malice under the provisions of this
section shall have immunity
32 from any civil liability that might
otherwise be incurred or imposed. Any
33 such participant shall have the same
immunity with respect to participa-
34 tion in any judicial proceedings resulting
from providing or receiving
35 information.
36 (l) No
individual, association, partnership, corporation or other
entity
37 shall willfully or knowingly disclose,
permit or encourage disclosure of
38 the contents of records or reports
concerning a child in need of care
39 received by the department of social and
rehabilitation services, a law
40 enforcement agency or a juvenile intake and
assessment worker except
41 as provided by this code. Violation of this
subsection is a class B
42 misdemeanor.
43 Sec.
6. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 38-1513 is hereby amended to read as
12
1 follows: 38-1513. (a) Physical or
mental care and treatment. (1) When a
2 child less than 18 years of age is
alleged to have been physically, mentally
3 or emotionally abused or neglected
or sexually abused, no consent shall
4 be required to medically examine the
child to determine whether there
5 has been sexual
abuse the child has been maltreated.
6 (2) When
the health or condition of a child who is a ward of the court
7 requires it, the court may consent to
the performing and furnishing of
8 hospital, medical, surgical or dental
treatment or procedures, including
9 the release and inspection of medical
or dental records. A child, or parent
10 of any child, who is opposed to certain
medical procedures authorized by
11 this subsection may request an opportunity
for a hearing thereon before
12 the court. Subsequent to the hearing, the
court may limit the performance
13 of matters provided for in this subsection
or may authorize the perform-
14 ance of those matters subject to terms and
conditions the court considers
15 proper.
16 (3) Prior to
adjudication disposition the person having
custody of the
17 child may give consent to the
following:
18 (A) Dental
treatment for the child by a licensed dentist;
19 (B) diagnostic
examinations of the child, including but not limited to
20 the withdrawal of blood or other body
fluids, x-rays and other laboratory
21 examinations;
22 (C) releases and
inspections of the child's medical history records;
23 (D) immunizations
for the child;
24
(E) administration of lawfully prescribed drugs to the child;
and
25 (F) examinations
of the child including, but not limited to, the with-
26 drawal of blood or other body fluids or
tissues, for the purpose of deter-
27 mining the child's parentage.
28 (4) When the
court has granted legal custody of a child in a disposi-
29 tional hearing to any agency, association
or individual, the custodian or
30 an agent designated by the custodian shall
have authority to consent to
31 the performance and furnishing of hospital,
medical, surgical or dental
32 treatment or procedures or mental care or
treatment other than inpatient
33 treatment at a state psychiatric hospital,
including the release and in-
34 spection of medical or hospital records,
subject to terms and conditions
35 the court considers proper.
36 (5) If a child is
already in the custody of the secretary, the
secretary
37 may consent to the mental care and
treatment of the child, without court
38 approval, so long as such care and
treatment do not include inpatient
39 treatment at a state psychiatric
hospital.
40 (6) Any health
care provider who in good faith renders hospital, med-
41 ical, surgical, mental or dental care or
treatment to any child after a con-
42 sent has been obtained as authorized by
this section shall not be liable in
43 any civil or criminal action for failure to
obtain consent of a parent.
13
1 (7) Nothing
in this section shall be construed to mean that any person
2 shall be relieved of legal
responsibility to provide care and support for a
3 child.
4
(b) Mental care and treatment requiring court action.
If it is brought
5 to the court's attention, while the
court is exercising jurisdiction over the
6 person of a child under this code,
that the child may be a mentally ill
7 person as defined in K.S.A. 1999
Supp. 59-2946 and amendments thereto,
8 the court may:
9 (1) Direct
or authorize the county or district attorney or the person
10 supplying the information to file the
petition provided for in K.S.A. 1999
11 Supp. 59-2957 and amendments thereto and
proceed to hear and deter-
12 mine the issues raised by the application
as provided in the care and
13 treatment act for mentally ill persons;
or
14 (2) authorize
that the child seek voluntary admission to a treatment
15 facility as provided in K.S.A. 1999 Supp.
59-2949 and amendments
16 thereto.
17 The application to
determine whether the child is a mentally ill person
18 may be filed in the same proceedings as the
petition alleging the child to
19 be a child in need of care, or may be
brought in separate proceedings. In
20 either event the court may enter an order
staying any further proceedings
21 under this code until all proceedings have
been concluded under the care
22 and treatment act for mentally ill
persons.
23 Sec.
7. K.S.A. 38-1523a is hereby amended to read as follows:
38-
24 1523a. (a) Upon recommendation of the state
department of social and
25 rehabilitation services or the county or
district attorney, the court may
26 appoint a multidisciplinary child
protection team to advise or assist
in
27 gathering information
the department of social and rehabilitation services
28 and law enforcement agencies in the
investigation, assessment or safety
29 planning regarding a child alleged
to be a child in need of care by reason
30 of physical, mental or emotional abuse or
neglect or sexual abuse. The
31 team may be a standing multidisciplinary
child protection team or may
32 be appointed for a specific child.
Members comprising a multidisciplinary
33 child protection team shall include the
department of social and rehabil-
34 itation services and appropriate law
enforcement agencies and may in-
35 clude other persons having specialized
knowledge concerning the inves-
36 tigation, assessment or safety planning
concerning maltreated children.
37 (b) Any person
appointed as a member of a multidisciplinary child
38 protection team may decline to serve
and shall incur no civil liability as
39 the result of declining to serve.
40 (c) This section
shall be part of and supplemental to the Kansas code
41 for care of children.
42 (d) The
multidisciplinary child protection team may request
disclo-
43 sure of information in regard to a child
alleged to be a child in need of
14
1 care, or a child who has been
adjudged to be a child in need of care, by
2 making a written verified application
to the district court. Upon a finding
3 by the court there is probable cause
to believe the information sought
4 may assist in determining if a child
is a child in need of care as defined
5 in K.S.A. 38-1502 and amendments
thereto, or in assisting a child who
6 has been adjudicated a child in need
of care, then the court may issue a
7 subpoena, subpoena duces tecum or
enter an order for the production of
8 the requested documents, reports or
information and directing the doc-
9 ument, reports or information to be
delivered to the applicant at a spec-
10 ified time, date and place. The time and
date of delivery shall not be
11 sooner than five days after the service of
the subpoena or order, excluding
12 Saturdays, Sundays or holidays. The court
issuing the subpoena or order
13 shall keep all applications filed pursuant
to this subsection and a copy of
14 the subpoena or order in a special file
maintained for such purpose or in
15 the official court file for the child. Upon
receiving service of a subpoena,
16 subpoena duces tecum or an order for
production pursuant to this sub-
17 section, the party served shall give oral
or written notice of service to any
18 person known to have a right to assert a
privilege or assert a right of
19 confidentiality in regard to the documents,
reports or information sought
20 at least three days before the specified
date of delivery.
21 (e) The written
verified application shall be in substantially the fol-
22 lowing form:
23
Name of Court
24 In the Interest of __________ Case No.
25 Name(s)
26 Date of birth: ____________
27 Each a child under 18 years of age.
28
WRITTEN APPLICATION FOR DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
29 County of __________ ss
30 State of Kansas
31 The undersigned
applicant being first duly sworn alleges and states as follows:
32 1. The applicant is
__________
33 2. There is
an investigation being made into the report of alleged neglect or
abuse in
34
regard to the above-named child or children.
35
A petition has been filed alleging the above-named child is
a child in need of care
36
or the child has been adjudicated to be a child
in need of care.
37 3. The
following documents, reports and/or information are requested.
(List specifi-
38
cally.)
39 4. The
reasons for the request are:
40 Further
applicant saith not.
41
_________________________
42
Applicant
43 Subscribed and sworn
to before me
15
1 this ____ day of ________,
19__ (year).
2
_________________________
3
Notary
Public
4 My commission expires:
5 ______________
6 (f) Any
parent, child, guardian ad litem, party subpoenaed or subject
7 to an order of production or person
who claims a privilege or right of
8 confidentiality may request in
writing that the court issuing the subpoena
9 or order for production withdraw the
subpoena, subpoena duces tecum
10 or order for production issued pursuant to
subsection (d). The request
11 shall automatically stay the operation of
the subpoena, subpoena duces
12 tecum or order for production and the
documents, reports or information
13 requested shall not be delivered until the
issuing court has held a hearing
14 to determine if the documents, reports or
information are subject to the
15 claimed privilege or right of
confidentiality, and whether it is in the best
16 interests of the child for the subpoena or
order to produce to be honored.
17 The request to withdraw shall be filed with
the district court issuing the
18 subpoena or order at least 24 hours prior
to the specified time and date
19 of delivery, excluding Saturdays, Sundays
or holidays, and a copy of the
20 written request must be given to the person
subpoenaed or subject to
21 the order for production at least 24 hours
prior to the specified time and
22 date of delivery.
23 Sec.
8. K.S.A. 38-1524 is hereby amended to read as follows:
38-
24 1524. (a) When a report to a law
enforcement agency indicates that a
25 child may be harmed, the law enforcement
agency shall promptly initiate
26 an investigation. If the law enforcement
officer reasonably believes the
27 child will be harmed, the officer shall
remove the child from the location
28 where the child is found as authorized by
K.S.A. 38-1527 and amend-
29 ments thereto.
30 (b) Whenever any
person furnishes information to the state depart-
31 ment of social and rehabilitation services
that a child appears to be a child
32 in need of care youth
in need of community services, the department shall
33 make a preliminary inquiry to determine
whether the interests of the child
34 require further action be taken. Whenever
practicable, the inquiry shall
35 include a preliminary investigation of the
circumstances which were the
36 subject of the information, including the
home and environmental situ-
37 ation and the previous history of the
child. If reasonable grounds to be-
38 lieve abuse or neglect exist, immediate
steps shall be taken to protect the
39 health and welfare of the abused or
neglected child as well as that of any
40 other child under the same care who may be
harmed by abuse or neglect.
41 After the inquiry, if the department
determines it is not possible to pro-
42 vide otherwise those services necessary to
protect the interests of the
43 child, the department shall recommend to
the county or district attorney
16
1 that a petition be filed.
2 Sec.
9. K.S.A. 38-1529 is hereby amended to read as follows:
38-
3 1529. (a) Whenever the state
department of social and rehabilitation serv-
4 ices or any other person refers a
case to the county or district attorney
5 for the purpose of filing a petition
alleging that a child is a child in need
6 of care, the county or district
attorney shall review the facts and recom-
7 mendations of the department and any
other evidence available and make
8 a determination whether or not the
circumstances warrant the filing of
9 the petition. The county or
district attorney shall not file a petition alleg-
10 ing that a child is a child in need of
care unless the petition specifies the
11 facts which are relied upon to support
the petition, including specific
12 actions taken to prevent or eliminate
the need for a petition alleging that
13 a child is a child in need of care, or
the specific facts supporting that an
14 emergency exists which requires the
court to protect the safety of each
15 child. If the petition requests custody
to the secretary or custody to the
16 secretary is likely, the court shall
cause a copy of the petition to be pro-
17 vided to the secretary upon
filing.
18 (b) Any
individual may file a petition alleging a child is a child in
need
19 of care and the individual may be
represented by the individual's own
20 attorney in the presentation of the
case.
21 Sec.
10. K.S.A. 38-1531 is hereby amended to read as follows:
38-
22 1531. (a) Filing of petition. An
action pursuant to this code is commenced
23 by the filing of a petition with the clerk
of the district court.
24 (b) Contents
of petition. (1) The petition shall state, if known:
25 (A) The name,
date of birth and residence address of the child;
26 (B) the name and
residence address of the child's parents;
27 (C) the name and
residence address of any persons having custody
28 or control of the child, or the nearest
known relative if no parent can be
29 found; and
30 (D) plainly and
concisely in the language of the statutory definition,
31 the basis for requesting that the court
assume jurisdiction over the child.
32 (2) The petition
shall also state the specific facts which are relied
33 upon to support the allegation referred to
in the preceding paragraph
34 including any known dates, times and
locations.
35 (3) The
proceedings shall be entitled: ``In the Interest of _______ .''
36 (4) The petition
shall contain a request that the court find the child
37 to be a child in need of care.
38 (5) The petition
shall contain a request that the parent or parents be
39 ordered to pay child support. The request
for child support may be omit-
40 ted with respect to a parent already
ordered to pay child support for the
41 child and shall be omitted with respect to
one or both parents upon
42 written request of the secretary.
43 (6) The
petition shall specify the efforts made by the petitioner,
or
17
1 any other efforts known to the
petitioner, to prevent or eliminate the
2 necessity of filing a petition
alleging the child to be a child in need of care.
3
(c) Motions. Motions may be made orally or in writing.
The motion
4 shall state with particularity the
grounds for the motion and shall state
5 the relief or order sought.
6 Sec.
11. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 38-1532 is hereby amended to read as
7 follows: 38-1532. Upon the filing of
a petition under this code the court
8 shall proceed by one of the following
methods:
9 (a) Issue
summons stating the place and time at which the parties are
10 required to appear and answer the
allegations of the petition, which shall
11 be within 30 days of the date the petition
is filed, and deliver the summons
12 with copies of the petition attached to the
sheriff or a person specially
13 appointed to serve it.
14 (b) If the child
has been taken into protective custody under the
15 provisions of K.S.A. 38-1542 and a
temporary custody hearing is held as
16 required by K.S.A. 38-1543, a copy of the
petition shall be served at the
17 hearing on each interested party who is in
attendance at the hearing and
18 a record of service made a part of the
proceedings. The court shall an-
19 nounce the time the parties will be
required to next appear before the
20 court. Process shall be served on any
interested party not at the temporary
21 custody hearing.
22 Upon the written
request of the petitioner or the county or district
23 attorney separate or additional summons
shall be issued to any interested
24 party.
25 The court shall
attempt to notify both parents, if known.
26 (c) If the
petition requests custody to the secretary or custody to
the
27 secretary is likely, the court shall
cause a copy of the petition to be pro-
28 vided to the secretary upon
filing.
29 Sec.
12. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 38-1542 is hereby amended to read as
30 follows: 38-1542. (a) The court upon
verified application may issue ex
31 parte an order directing that a
child be held in protective custody and, if
32 the child has not been taken into custody,
an order directing that the
33 child be taken into custody. The
application shall state for each child:
34 (1) The
applicant's belief that the child is a child in need of care
and
35 is likely to sustain harm if not
immediately afforded protective custody;
36 and
37 (2) the
specific facts which are relied upon to support
the belief ap-
38 plication, including specific actions
taken to prevent or eliminate the need
39 for an order of protective custody, or
the specific facts supporting that an
40 emergency exists.
41 (b) (1) The
order of protective custody may be issued only after the
42 court has determined there is probable
cause to believe the allegations
43 in the application are true. The order
shall remain in effect until the
18
1 temporary custody hearing provided
for in K.S.A. 38-1543, and amend-
2 ments thereto, unless earlier
rescinded by the court.
3 (2) No
child shall be held in protective custody for more than 72
4 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays
and legal holidays, unless within the
5 72-hour period a determination is
made as to the necessity for temporary
6 custody in a temporary custody
hearing. Nothing in this subsection (b)(2)
7 shall be construed to mean that the
child must remain in protective cus-
8 tody for 72 hours.
9
(c) Whenever the court determines the necessity for an order
of pro-
10 tective custody, the court may place the
child in the protective custody
11 of: (1) A parent or other person having
custody of the child and may enter
12 a restraining order pursuant to subsection
(d) (e); (2) a person, other than
13 the parent or other person having custody,
who shall not be required to
14 be licensed under article 5 of chapter 65
of the Kansas Statutes Anno-
15 tated; (3) a youth residential facility;
or (4) the secretary if the child is
16 alleged to be a child in need of
protection; or (5) the secretary, if recom-
17 mended by the secretary and if the child
is alleged to be a youth in need
18 of community services. When making a
recommendation regarding cus-
19 tody, the secretary shall consider the
assessment of a community inter-
20 vention team, if such team exists and
has made an assessment. When the
21 child is placed in the protective custody
of the secretary, the secretary
22 shall have the discretionary authority to
place the child with a parent or
23 to make other suitable placement for the
child. When circumstances re-
24 quire, a child in protective custody may be
placed in a juvenile detention
25 facility or other secure facility pursuant
to an order of protective custody
26 for not to exceed 24 hours, excluding
Saturdays, Sundays and legal holi-
27 days.
28 (d) The order of
protective custody shall be served on the child's
29 parents and any other person having legal
custody of the child. The order
30 shall prohibit all parties from removing
the child from the court's juris-
31 diction without the court's permission.
32 (e) If the court
issues an order of protective custody, the court may
33 also enter an order restraining any alleged
perpetrator of physical, sexual,
34 mental or emotional abuse of the child from
residing in the child's home;
35 visiting, contacting, harassing or
intimidating the child; or attempting to
36 visit, contact, harass or intimidate the
child. Such restraining order shall
37 be served on any alleged perpetrator to
whom the order is directed.
38 (f) The court
shall not enter an order removing a child from the
39 custody of a parent pursuant to this
section unless the court first finds
40 from evidence presented by the petitioner
that reasonable efforts have
41 been made to prevent or eliminate the need
for removal of the child or
42 that an emergency exists which threatens
the safety of the child and re-
43 quires the that
immediate removal is in the best interest of the child.
Such
19
1 findings shall be included in any
order entered by the court. If the child
2 is placed in the custody of the
secretary, the court shall provide the sec-
3 retary with a written copy of any
orders entered upon making the order.
4 Sec.
13. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 38-1543 is hereby amended to read as
5 follows: 38-1543. (a) Upon notice and
hearing, the court may issue an
6 order directing who shall have
temporary custody and may modify the
7 order during the pendency of the
proceedings as will best serve the child's
8 welfare.
9 (b) A
hearing pursuant to this section shall be held within 72 hours,
10 excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal
holidays, following a child having
11 been taken into protective custody.
12 (c) Whenever it
is determined that a temporary custody hearing is
13 required, the court shall immediately set
the time and place for the hear-
14 ing. Notice of a temporary custody hearing
shall be in substantially the
15 following form:
16
(Name of Court)
17 (Caption of Case)
18
NOTICE OF TEMPORARY CUSTODY HEARING
19 TO:
20
(Names) (Relationship) (Addresses)
21
________________ ________________ _____________________
22
________________ ________________ _____________________
23
________________ ________________ _____________________
24 , 19__ (year), at
__ o'clock __m. the court
25
(day)
(date)
26 will conduct a hearing at ________ to
determine if the above named child or children
27 should be in the temporary custody of some
person or agency other than the parent or other
28 person having legal custody prior to the
hearing on the petition filed in the above captioned
29 case. The court may order one or both
parents to pay child support.
30 ________, an attorney,
has been appointed as guardian ad litem for the child or
31 children. Each parent or other legal
custodian has the right to appear and be heard person-
32 ally, either with or without an attorney.
An attorney will be appointed for a parent who can
33 show that the parent is not financially
able to hire one.
34 Date ________, 19__
(year) Clerk of the District Court
35 by
_____________________________________
36
37
REPORT OF SERVICE
38 I certify that I have
delivered a true copy of the above notice to the persons above
named
39 in the manner and at the times indicated
below:
40 Name Location of
Service Manner of Service Date Time
41 (other than above)
42
________ ______ ______ ______ ______
43
________ ______ ______ ______ ______
20
1
________ ______ ______ ______ ______
2 Date Returned ________,
19__(year)
3
____________________
4
(Signature)
5
____________________
6
(Title)
7 (d) Notice
of the temporary custody hearing shall be given at least
8 24 hours prior to the hearing. The
court may continue the hearing to
9 afford the 24 hours prior notice or,
with the consent of the party, proceed
10 with the hearing at the designated time. If
an order of temporary custody
11 is entered and the parent or other person
having custody of the child has
12 not been notified of the hearing, did not
appear or waive appearance and
13 requests a rehearing, the court shall
rehear the matter without unnec-
14 essary delay.
15 (e) Oral notice
may be used for giving notice of a temporary custody
16 hearing where there is insufficient time to
give written notice. Oral notice
17 is completed upon filing a certificate of
oral notice in substantially the
18 following form:
19
(Name of Court)
20 (Caption of Case)
21
CERTIFICATE OF ORAL NOTICE OF TEMPORARY CUSTODY
HEARING
22 I gave oral notice
that the court will conduct a hearing at ______ o'clock
__m.
23 on ________, 19 __
(year), to the persons listed, in the manner and at the
times
24 indicated below:
25 Name
Relationship Date Time
Method of Communication
26 (in person or telephone)
27
________ __________ ______ ______ ________________
28
________ __________ ______ ______ ________________
29
________ __________ ______ ______ ________________
30 I advised each of the above persons
that:
31 (1) The hearing is to determine
if the above child or children should be in the temporary
32 custody
of a person or agency other than a parent;
33 (2) the court will appoint an
attorney to serve as guardian ad litem for the child or
34 children
named above;
35 (3) each parent or legal
custodian has the right to appear and be heard personally
either
36 with or
without an attorney;
37 (4) an attorney will be
appointed for a parent who can show that the parent is not
38
financially able to hire an attorney; and
39 (5) the court may order one or
both parents to pay child support.
40
_________________________
41
(Signature)
42
_________________________
43
(Name Printed)
21
1
_________________________
2
(Title)
3 (f) The
court may enter an order of temporary custody after deter-
4 mining that: (1) The child is
dangerous to self or to others; (2) the child
5 is not likely to be available within
the jurisdiction of the court for future
6 proceedings; or (3) the health or
welfare of the child may be endangered
7 without further care.
8
(g) Whenever the court determines the necessity for an order
of tem-
9 porary custody the court may place
the child in the temporary custody
10 of: (1) A parent or other person having
custody of the child and may enter
11 a restraining order pursuant to subsection
(h); (2) a person, other than
12 the parent or other person having custody,
who shall not be required to
13 be licensed under article 5 of chapter 65
of the Kansas Statutes Anno-
14 tated; (3) a youth residential facility;
or (4) the secretary if the child is
15 alleged to be a child in need of
protection; or (5) the secretary, if recom-
16 mended by the secretary and if the child
is alleged to be a youth in need
17 of community services. When making a
recommendation regarding cus-
18 tody, the secretary shall consider the
assessment of a community inter-
19 vention team, if such team exists and
has made an assessment. The sec-
20 retary shall present to the court in
writing the specific actions taken to
21 prevent or eliminate the need for
custody to the secretary. When the child
22 is placed in the temporary custody of the
secretary, the secretary shall
23 have the discretionary authority to place
the child with a parent or to
24 make other suitable placement for the
child. When circumstances re-
25 quire, a child may be placed in a juvenile
detention facility or other secure
26 facility, but the total amount of time that
the child may be held in such
27 facility under this section and K.S.A.
38-1542 and amendments thereto
28 shall not exceed 24 hours, excluding
Saturdays, Sundays and legal holi-
29 days. The order of temporary custody shall
remain in effect until modified
30 or rescinded by the court or a disposition
order is entered but not ex-
31 ceeding 60 days, unless good cause is shown
and stated on the record.
32 (h) If the court
issues an order of temporary custody, the court may
33 enter an order restraining any alleged
perpetrator of physical, sexual,
34 mental or emotional abuse of the child from
residing in the child's home;
35 visiting, contacting, harassing or
intimidating the child; or attempting to
36 visit, contact, harass or intimidate the
child.
37 (i) The court
shall not enter an order removing a child from the cus-
38 tody of a parent pursuant to this section
unless the court first finds from
39 evidence presented by the petitioner that
reasonable efforts have been
40 made to prevent or eliminate the need for
removal of the child or that
41 an emergency exists which threatens the
safety of the child and requires
42 the that immediate
removal is in the best interest of the child. Such find-
43 ings shall be included in any order entered
by the court. If the child is
22
1 placed in the custody of the
secretary, the court shall provide the secretary
2 with a written copy of any orders
entered upon making the order.
3 Sec.
14. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 38-1544 is hereby amended to read as
4 follows: 38-1544. (a) At any time
after filing a petition, but prior to an
5 adjudication, the court may enter an
order for continuance and informal
6 supervision without an adjudication
if no interested party objects. Upon
7 granting the continuance, the court
shall include in the order any con-
8 ditions with which the interested
parties are expected to comply and
9 provide the parties with a copy of
the order. The conditions may include
10 appropriate dispositional alternatives
authorized by K.S.A. 38-1563 and
11 amendments thereto.
12 (b) An order for
informal supervision may remain in force for a period
13 of up to six months and may be extended,
upon hearing, for an additional
14 six-month period for a total of one
year.
15 (c) The court
after notice and hearing may revoke or modify the order
16 with respect to a party upon a showing that
the party, being subject to
17 the order for informal supervision, has
substantially failed to comply with
18 the terms of the order, or that
modification would be in the best interests
19 of the child. Upon revocation, proceedings
shall resume pursuant to this
20 code.
21 (d) Parties to
the order for informal supervision who successfully
22 complete the terms and period of
supervision shall not again be pro-
23 ceeded against in any court based solely
upon the allegations in the orig-
24 inal petition and the proceedings shall be
dismissed.
25 (e) If the
court issues an order for informal supervision pursuant to
26 this section, the court may enter an
order restraining any alleged perpe-
27 trator of physical, sexual, mental or
emotional abuse of the child from
28 residing in the child's home, visiting,
contacting, harassing or intimidating
29 the child; or attempting to visit,
contact, harass or intimidate the child.
30 Sec.
15. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 38-1562 is hereby amended to read as
31 follows: 38-1562. (a) At any time after a
child has been adjudicated to be
32 a child in need of care and prior to
disposition, the judge shall permit any
33 interested parties, and any persons
required to be notified pursuant to
34 subsection (b), to be heard as to proposals
for appropriate disposition of
35 the case.
36 (b) Before
entering an order placing the child in the custody of a
37 person other than the child's parent, the
court shall require notice of the
38 time and place of the hearing to be given
to all the child's grandparents
39 at their last known addresses or, if no
grandparent is living or if no living
40 grandparent's address is known, to the
closest relative of each of the
41 child's parents whose address is known, and
to the foster parent, prea-
42 doptive parent or relative providing care.
Such notice shall be given by
43 restricted mail not less than 10 business
days before the hearing and shall
23
1 state that the person receiving the
notice shall have an opportunity to be
2 heard at the hearing. The provisions
of this subsection shall not require
3 additional notice to any person
otherwise receiving notice of the hearing
4 pursuant to K.S.A. 38-1536 and
amendments thereto. Individuals receiv-
5 ing notice pursuant to this
subsection shall not be made a party to the
6 action solely on the basis of this
notice and opportunity to be heard.
7 (c) Prior
to entering an order of disposition, the court shall give con-
8 sideration to the child's physical,
mental and emotional condition; the
9 child's need for assistance; the
manner in which the parent participated
10 in the abuse, neglect or abandonment of the
child; any relevant infor-
11 mation from the intake and assessment
process; and the evidence re-
12 ceived at the dispositional hearing. In
determining when reunification is
13 a viable alternative, the court shall
specifically consider whether the par-
14 ent has been found by a court to have: (1)
Committed murder in the first
15 degree, K.S.A. 21-3401 and amendments
thereto, murder in the second
16 degree, K.S.A. 21-3402 and amendments
thereto, capital murder, K.S.A.
17 21-3439 and amendments thereto, voluntary
manslaughter, K.S.A. 21-
18 3403 and amendments thereto or violated a
law of another state which
19 prohibits such murder or manslaughter of a
child; (2) aided or abetted,
20 attempted, conspired or solicited to commit
such murder or voluntary
21 manslaughter of a child as provided in
subsection (c)(1); (3) committed a
22 felony battery that resulted in bodily
injury to the child or another child;
23 (4) subjected the child or another child to
aggravated circumstances as
24 defined in subsection (x)
of K.S.A. 38-1502 and amendments thereto; (5)
25 parental rights of the parent to another
child have been terminated in-
26 voluntarily; or (6) the child has been in
extended out of home placement
27 as defined in subsection (z)
of K.S.A. 38-1502 and amendments thereto.
28 If reintegration is not a viable
alternative, the court shall consider whether
29 a compelling reason has been documented in
the case plan to find neither
30 adoption nor permanent guardianship are in
the best interests of the
31 child, the child is in a stable placement
with a relative, or services set out
32 in the case plan necessary for the safe
return of the child have been made
33 available to the parent with whom
reintegration is planned. If reintegra-
34 tion is not a viable alternative and either
adoption or permanent guardi-
35 anship might be in the best interests of
the child, the county or district
36 attorney or the county or district
attorney's designee shall file a motion
37 to terminate parental rights or a motion
to establish permanent guardi-
38 anship within 30 days and the court shall
set a hearing on such motion
39 within 90 days of the filing of such
motion. No such hearing is required
40 when the parents voluntarily relinquish
parental rights or agree to ap-
41 pointment of a permanent guardian.
42 Sec.
16. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 38-1563 is hereby amended to read as
43 follows: 38-1563. (a) After consideration
of any evidence offered relating
24
1 to disposition, the court may retain
jurisdiction and place the child in the
2 custody of the child's parent subject
to terms and conditions which the
3 court prescribes to assure the proper
care and protection of the child,
4 including supervision of the child
and the parent by a court services of-
5 ficer, or may order the child and the
parent to participate in programs
6 operated by the secretary or another
appropriate individual or agency.
7 The terms and conditions may require
any special treatment or care which
8 the child needs for the child's
physical, mental or emotional health.
9 (b) The
duration of any period of supervision or other terms or con-
10 ditions shall be for an initial period of
no more than 18 12 months. The
11 court, at the expiration of that period,
upon a hearing and for good cause
12 shown, may make successive extensions of
the supervision or other terms
13 or conditions for up to 12 months at a
time.
14 (c) The court may
order the child and the parents of any child who
15 has been adjudged a child in need of care
to attend counseling sessions
16 as the court directs. The expense of the
counseling may be assessed as
17 an expense in the case. No mental health
center shall charge a greater
18 fee for court-ordered counseling than the
center would have charged to
19 the person receiving counseling if the
person had requested counseling
20 on the person's own initiative.
21 (d) If the court
finds that placing the child in the custody of a parent
22 will not assure protection from physical,
mental or emotional abuse or
23 neglect or sexual abuse or will not be in
the best interests of the child,
24 the court shall enter an order awarding
custody of the child, until the
25 further order of the court, to one of the
following:
26 (1) A relative of
the child or a person with whom the child has close
27 emotional ties;
28 (2) any other
suitable person;
29 (3) a shelter
facility; or
30 (4) the
secretary., if the child is adjudged to be a
child in need of care
31 by reason of a finding by the court that
the child is a child in need of
32 protection; or
33 (5) the
secretary, if recommended by the secretary and if the child
is
34 adjudged to be a child in need of care
by reason of a finding by the court
35 that the child is a youth in need of
community services. When making a
36 recommendation regarding custody, the
secretary shall consider the as-
37 sessment of a community intervention
team, if such team exists and has
38 made an assessment. The secretary shall
present to the court in writing
39 the specific actions taken to prevent or
eliminate the need for custody to
40 the secretary.
41 In making such a
custody order, the court shall give preference, to the
42 extent that the court finds it is in the
best interests of the child, first to
43 granting custody to a relative of the child
and second to granting custody
25
1 of the child to a person with whom
the child has close emotional ties. If
2 the court has awarded legal custody
based on the finding specified by this
3 subsection, the legal custodian shall
not return the child to the home of
4 that parent without the written
consent of the court.
5 (e) When
the custody of the child is awarded to the secretary:
6 (1) The
court may recommend to the secretary where the child
7 should be placed.
8 (2) The
secretary shall notify the court in writing of any placement
9 of the child or, within 10 days of
the order awarding the custody of the
10 child to the secretary, any proposed
placement of the child, whichever
11 occurs first.
12 (3) The court may
determine if such placement is in the best interests
13 of the child, and if the court determines
that such placement is not in the
14 best interests of the child, the court
shall notify the secretary who shall
15 then make an alternative placement subject
to the procedures established
16 in this paragraph. In determining if such
placement is in the best interests
17 of the child, the court, after providing
the parties with an opportunity to
18 be heard, shall consider the health and
safety needs of the child and the
19 resources available to meet the needs of
children in the custody of the
20 secretary.
21 (4) When the
secretary provides the court with a plan to provide
22 services to a child or family which the
court finds is reasonably designed
23 to address safety concerns regarding the
child, the court shall approve the
24 return of the child to the child's
home.
25 (f) If custody of
a child is awarded under this section to a person
26 other than the child's parent, the court
may grant any individual reason-
27 able rights to visit the child upon motion
of the individual and a finding
28 that the visitation rights would be in the
best interests of the child.
29 (g) If the court
issues an order of custody pursuant to this section,
30 the court may enter an order restraining
any alleged perpetrator of phys-
31 ical, sexual, mental or emotional abuse of
the child from residing in the
32 child's home; visiting, contacting,
harassing or intimidating the child; or
33 attempting to visit, contact, harass or
intimidate the child.
34 (h) The court
shall not enter an order removing a child from the
35 custody of a parent pursuant to this
section unless the court first finds
36 from evidence presented by the petitioner
that reasonable efforts have
37 been made to prevent or eliminate the need
for removal of the child; or
38 reasonable efforts are not necessary
because reintegration is not a viable
39 alternative; or that an emergency exists
which threatens the safety of the
40 child and requires the
that immediate removal is in the best interest of
41 the child. If the child is placed in the
custody of the secretary, the court
42 shall provide the secretary with a copy
of any orders entered as soon as
43 practicable but within 10 days of making
the order. Reintegration may
26
1 not be a viable alternative when the:
(1) Parent has been found by a court
2 to have committed murder in the first
degree, K.S.A. 21-3401, and
3 amendments thereto, murder in the
second degree, K.S.A. 21-3402, and
4 amendments thereto, capital murder,
K.S.A. 21-3439, and amendments
5 thereto, voluntary manslaughter,
K.S.A. 21-3403, and amendments
6 thereto, or violated a law of
another state which prohibits such murder
7 or manslaughter of a child; (2)
parent aided or abetted, attempted, con-
8 spired or solicited to commit such
murder or voluntary manslaughter of
9 a child as provided in subsection
(h)(1); (3) parent committed a felony
10 battery that resulted in bodily injury to
the child or another child; (4)
11 parent has subjected the child or another
child to aggravated circum-
12 stances as defined in subsection
(x) of K.S.A. 38-1502, and amendments
13 thereto; (5) parental rights of the parent
to another child have been ter-
14 minated involuntarily or (6) the child has
been in extended out of home
15 placement as defined in subsection
(z) of K.S.A. 38-1502, and amend-
16 ments thereto. Such findings shall be
included in any order entered by
17 the court.
18 (i) In addition
to or in lieu of any other order authorized by this
19 section, if a child is adjudged to be a
child in need of care by reason of a
20 violation of the uniform controlled
substances act (K.S.A. 65-4101 et seq.,
21 and amendments
thereto), or K.S.A. 41-719, 41-804,
41-2719, 65-4152,
22 65-4153, 65-4154 or 65-4155, and amendments
thereto, the court shall
23 order the child to submit to and complete
an alcohol and drug evaluation
24 by a community-based alcohol and drug
safety action program certified
25 pursuant to K.S.A. 8-1008, and
amendments thereto, and to pay a fee not
26 to exceed the fee established by that
statute for such evaluation. If the
27 court finds that the child and those
legally liable for the child's support
28 are indigent, the fee may be waived. In no
event shall the fee be assessed
29 against the secretary or the department of
social and rehabilitation serv-
30 ices.
31 (j) In addition
to any other order authorized by this section, if child
32 support has been requested and the parent
or parents have a duty to
33 support the child, the court may order one
or both parents to pay child
34 support and, when custody is awarded to the
secretary, the court shall
35 order one or both parents to pay child
support. The court shall determine,
36 for each parent separately, whether the
parent is already subject to an
37 order to pay support for the child. If the
parent is not presently ordered
38 to pay support for any child who is a ward
of the court and the court has
39 personal jurisdiction over the parent, the
court shall order the parent to
40 pay child support in an amount determined
under K.S.A. 38-1595, and
41 amendments thereto. Except for good cause
shown, the court shall issue
42 an immediate income withholding order
pursuant to K.S.A. 23-4,105 et
43 seq., and amendments
thereto, for each parent ordered to pay support
27
1 under this subsection, regardless of
whether a payor has been identified
2 for the parent. A parent ordered to
pay child support under this subsec-
3 tion shall be notified, at the
hearing or otherwise, that the child support
4 order may be registered pursuant to
K.S.A. 38-1597, and amendments
5 thereto. The parent shall also be
informed that, after registration, the
6 income withholding order may be
served on the parent's employer with-
7 out further notice to the parent and
the child support order may be en-
8 forced by any method allowed by law.
Failure to provide this notice shall
9 not affect the validity of the child
support order.
10 Sec.
17. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 38-1565 is hereby amended to read as
11 follows: 38-1565. (a) If a child is placed
outside the child's home and no
12 permanency plan is made a part of
the record of the dispositional hearing,
13 a written permanency plan shall be
prepared which provides for reinte-
14 gration of the child into the child's
family or, if reintegration is not a
15 viable alternative, for other
permanent placement of the child. Reinte-
16 gration may not be a viable alternative
when the: (1) Parent has been
17 found by a court to have committed murder
in the first degree, K.S.A.
18 21-3401 and amendments thereto, murder in
the second degree, K.S.A.
19 21-3402 and amendments thereto, capital
murder, K.S.A. 21-3439 and
20 amendments thereto, voluntary manslaughter,
K.S.A. 21-3403 and
21 amendments thereto or violated a law of
another state which prohibits
22 such murder or manslaughter of a child; (2)
parent aided or abetted,
23 attempted, conspired or solicited to commit
such murder or voluntary
24 manslaughter of a child as provided in
subsection (a)(1); (3) parent com-
25 mitted a felony battery that resulted in
bodily injury to the child or an-
26 other child; (4) parent has subjected the
child or another child to aggra-
27 vated circumstances as defined in
subsection (x) of K.S.A. 38-1502, and
28 amendments thereto; (5) parental rights of
the parent to another child
29 have been terminated involuntarily; or (6)
the child has been in extended
30 out of home placement as defined in
subsection (z) of K.S.A. 38-1502
31 and amendments thereto. If the
permanency goal is reintegration into the
32 family, the permanency plan shall
include measurable objectives and time
33 schedules for reintegration. The plan shall
be submitted to the court not
34 later than 30 days after the dispositional
order is entered. If the child is
35 placed in the custody of the secretary, the
plan shall be prepared and
36 submitted by the secretary. If the child is
placed in the custody of a facility
37 or person other than the secretary, the
plan shall be prepared and sub-
38 mitted by a court services officer.
39 (b) A court
services officer or, if the child is in the secretary's
custody,
40 the secretary shall submit to the court, at
least every six months, a written
41 report of the progress being made toward
the goals of the permanency
42 plan submitted pursuant to subsection (a).
If the child is placed in foster
43 care, the foster parent or parents shall
submit to the court, at least every
28
1 six months, a report in regard to the
child's adjustment, progress and
2 condition. The department of social
and rehabilitation services shall notify
3 the foster parent or parents of the
foster parent's or parent's duty to
4 submit such report, on a form
provided by the department of social and
5 rehabilitation services, at least two
weeks prior to the date when the
6 report is due, and the name of the
judge and the address of the court to
7 which the report is to be submitted.
Such report shall be confidential and
8 shall only be reviewed by the court
and the child's guardian ad litem. The
9 court shall review the
progress being made toward whether reasonable
10 efforts have been made to achieve
the goals of the permanency plan and
11 the foster parent report
and, if the court determines that progress is
12 inadequate or that the permanency
plan is no longer viable, the court
13 shall hold a hearing pursuant to subsection
(c). If the secretary has custody
14 of the child, such hearing shall be held no
more than 12 months after the
15 child is placed outside the child's home
and at least every 12 months
16 thereafter. For children in the
custody of the secretary prior to July 1,
17 1998, within 30 days of receiving a
request from the secretary, a perma-
18 nency hearing shall be
held. At each hearing, the court shall make a
19 written finding whether reasonable
efforts have been made to accomplish
20 the permanency goal and whether
continued out of home placement is
21 necessary for the child's safety. If
the goal of the permanency plan sub-
22 mitted pursuant to subsection (a) is
reintegration into the family and the
23 court determines after 12 months from the
time such plan is first sub-
24 mitted that progress is inadequate, the
court shall hold a hearing pursuant
25 to subsection (c). Nothing in this
subsection shall be interpreted to pro-
26 hibit termination of parental rights prior
to the expiration of 12 months.
27 (c) Whenever a
hearing is required under subsection (b), the court
28 shall notify all interested parties and the
foster parents, preadoptive par-
29 ents or relatives providing care for the
child and hold a hearing. Individ-
30 uals receiving notice pursuant to this
subsection shall not be made a party
31 to the action solely on the basis of this
notice and opportunity to be heard.
32 After providing the interested parties,
foster parents, preadoptive parents
33 or relatives providing care for the child
an opportunity to be heard, the
34 court shall determine whether the child's
needs are being adequately met
35 and whether reintegration continues to be a
viable alternative. If the court
36 finds reintegration is no longer a viable
alternative, the court shall con-
37 sider whether the child is in a stable
placement with a relative, services
38 set out in the case plan necessary for the
safe return of the child have
39 been made available to the parent with whom
reintegration is planned or
40 compelling reasons are documented in the
case plan to support a finding
41 that neither adoption nor permanent
guardianship are in the child's best
42 interest. If reintegration is not a viable
alternative and either adoption or
43 permanent guardianship might be in the best
interests of the child, the
29
1 county or district attorney or the
county or district attorney's designee
2 shall file a motion to terminate
parental rights or for a motion to
establish
3 a permanent guardianship
within 30 days and the court shall set a hearing
4 on such motion within 90 days of the
filing of such motion. When the
5 court finds reintegration continues
to be a viable alternative, the court
6 shall set a date for the child to
be returned home; may rescind any of its
7 prior dispositional orders and enter
any dispositional order authorized by
8 this code or may order that a new
plan for the reintegration be prepared
9 and submitted to the court. No such
hearing is required when the parents
10 voluntarily relinquish parental rights or
agree to appointment of a per-
11 manent guardian.
12 Sec.
18. K.S.A. 38-1566 is hereby amended to read as follows:
38-
13 1566. (a) Except as provided
in K.S.A. 38-1567, and amendments
14 thereto, if a child has been in the
same foster home or shelter facility for
15 six months or longer, or has been placed by
the secretary in the home of
16 a parent or relative, the secretary shall
give written notice of any plan to
17 move the child to a different placement.
The notice shall be given to (a)
18 (1) the court having jurisdiction
over the child; (b) (2) each parent
whose
19 address is available; (c)
(3) the foster parent or custodian from whose
20 home or shelter facility it is proposed to
remove the child; (d) (4) the
21 child, if 12 or more years of age; and
(e) (5) the child's guardian ad
litem.
22 The notice shall state the home or shelter
facility to which the secretary
23 plans to transfer the child and the reason
for the proposed action. The
24 notice shall be delivered or mailed 30 days
in advance of the planned
25 transfer, except that the secretary shall
not be required to wait 30 days
26 to transfer the child if all persons
enumerated in clauses (b) (2) through
27 (e) (5) consent in
writing to the transfer. Within 10 days after receipt of
28 the notice any person receiving notice as
provided above may request,
29 either orally or in writing, that the court
conduct a hearing to determine
30 whether or not the change in placement is
in the best interests of the
31 child concerned. When the request has been
received, the court shall
32 schedule a hearing and immediately notify
the secretary of the request
33 and the time and date the matter will be
heard. The court shall give notice
34 of the hearing to persons enumerated in
clauses (b) (2) through
(e) (5).
35 The secretary shall not change the
placement of the child unless the
36 change is approved by the court.
37 (b) When a
child in the custody of the secretary is removed from the
38 home of a parent after having been
placed in the home of a parent for a
39 period of six months or longer, the
secretary shall request a finding by
40 the court whether reasonable efforts
were made to prevent the necessity
41 for removal and whether the removal was
in the best interests of the child.
42 In making the finding, the court may
rely on documentation submitted
43 by the secretary or may set the date for
a hearing on the matter. If the
30
1 secretary requests such finding,
the court shall provide the secretary with
2 a written copy of the finding by
the court not more than 45 days from
3 the date of the request.
4 Sec.
19. K.S.A. 38-1568 is hereby amended to read as follows:
38-
5 1568. (a) Valid court order.
During proceedings under this code, the court
6 to remain in a present or future
placement if:
7 (1) The
court makes a finding that the child has been adjudicated to
8 be a child in need of care pursuant
to: (A) Subsection (a)(10) (c)(6) of
9 K.S.A. 38-1502, and amendments
thereto; or (B) any of the subsections
10 (a)(1) through (a)(9) or
(a)(11) (b), (c)(1) through (c)(5) or (c)(7) of
K.S.A.
11 38-1502, and amendments thereto, and the
court determines that the
12 child is not likely to be available within
the jurisdiction of the court for
13 future proceedings;
14 (2) the child and
the child's guardian ad litem are present before the
15 court at the time the order is entered;
and
16 (3) the child and
the child's guardian ad litem are given adequate and
17 fair warning, both orally and in writing,
of the consequences of violation
18 of the order and a copy of such warning is
recorded in the official file of
19 the case.
20
(b) Application. Any person may file with the court a
verified appli-
21 cation for a determination that a child has
violated an order entered pur-
22 suant to subsection (a) and for an order
authorizing the holding of such
23 child in a secure facility as provided by
this section. Such application shall
24 state the applicant's belief that the child
has violated a valid court order
25 entered pursuant to subsection (a) and the
specific facts which are relied
26 upon to support the belief.
27 (c) Ex parte
order. Upon the filing of an application in accordance
28 with subsection (b), the court may enter
ex parte an order directing that
29 the child be taken into custody and held in
a secure facility designated
30 by the court if the court determines that
there is probable cause to believe
31 the allegations in the application. The
order shall remain in effect for not
32 more than 24 hours following the child's
being taken into custody. The
33 order shall be served on the child's
parents, any legal custodian of the
34 child and the child's guardian ad
litem.
35
(d) Preliminary hearing. Within 24 hours following a
child's being
36 taken into custody pursuant to an order
issued under subsection (c), the
37 court shall hold a hearing to determine
whether the child admits or denies
38 the allegations of the application and, if
the child denies such allegations,
39 whether there is probable cause to hold the
child in a secure facility
40 pending a hearing on the application
pursuant to subsection (e). Notice
41 of the time and place of the preliminary
hearing shall be given orally or
42 in writing to the child's parents, any
legal custodian of the child and the
43 child's guardian ad litem. At the
hearing, the child shall have the right to:
31
1 (1) Have in writing the alleged
violation and the facts relied upon in the
2 application; (2) a guardian ad
litem pursuant to K.S.A. 38-1505, and
3 amendments thereto; and (3) the right
to confront and present witnesses.
4 If, upon the hearing, the court finds
that the child admits the allegations
5 of the application, the court shall
proceed without delay to hold a hearing
6 on the application pursuant to
subsection (e). If, upon the hearing, the
7 court finds that the child denies the
allegations of the application, the
8 court may enter an order directing
that the child be held in a secure
9 facility pending a hearing pursuant
to subsection (e) if the court finds
10 that there is probable cause to believe
that the child has violated a valid
11 court order entered pursuant to subsection
(a) and that secure detention
12 of the child is necessary for the
protection of the child or to assure the
13 appearance of the child at the hearing on
the application pursuant to
14 subsection (e).
15 (e) Hearing on
violation of order; authorization. The court shall hold
16 a hearing on an application filed pursuant
to subsection (b) within 24
17 hours following the child's being taken
into custody, if the child admits
18 the allegations of the application, or
within 72 hours following the child's
19 being taken into custody, if secure
detention of the child is ordered pur-
20 suant to subsection (d). Notice of the time
and place of such hearing shall
21 be given orally or in writing to the
child's parents, any legal custodian of
22 the child and the child's guardian ad
litem. Upon such hearing, the court
23 may enter an order awarding custody of the
child to the secretary, if the
24 secretary does not have legal custody of
the child, and authorizing the
25 secretary to place the child in a secure
facility if the court determines
26 that:
27 (1) The child has
been adjudicated to be a child in need of care
28 pursuant to subsection (a)(10) of K.S.A.
38-1502, and amendments
29 thereto;
30 (2) the child has
violated a valid court order entered pursuant to sub-
31 section (a);
32 (3) the child has
been provided at the hearing with the right to: (A)
33 Have the alleged violation in writing and
served upon the child a reason-
34 able time before the hearing; (B) a hearing
before the court on the issue
35 of placement in a secure facility; (C) an
explanation of the nature and
36 consequences of the proceeding; (D) a
guardian ad litem pursuant to
37 K.S.A. 38-1505, and amendments thereto; (E)
confront and present wit-
38 nesses; (F) have a transcript or record of
the proceedings; and (G) appeal;
39 and
40 (4) there is no
less restrictive alternative appropriate to the needs of
41 the juvenile and the community.
42 The authorization to
place a child in a secure facility pursuant to this
43 subsection shall expire 60 days, including
Saturdays, Sundays and legal
32
1 holidays, after it is issued. The
court may grant extensions of such au-
2 thorization for two additional
periods not exceeding 60 days, including
3 Saturdays, Sundays and legal
holidays, upon rehearing pursuant to K.S.A.
4 38-1564, and amendments thereto.
Payment by the secretary to a secure
5 facility for child care services
provided pursuant to this subsection shall
6 be paid only upon receipt by the
secretary of a copy of a valid court order.
7
(f) Limitations on facilities used. Nothing in this
section shall author-
8 ize placement of a child in a
juvenile detention facility, except that a child
9 may be held in any such facility
which, if in an adult jail, is in quarters
10 separated by sight and sound from adult
prisoners:
11 (1) When ordered
by a court pursuant to subsection (c) or (d), for
12 not longer than the times permitted by
those subsections; or
13 (2) when ordered
by a court pursuant to subsection (e), for not more
14 than 24 hours following the hearing
provided for by that subsection, ex-
15 cept that nothing in this subsection shall
allow a child to be held in an
16 adult jail for more than 24 hours.
17 (g) Time
limits, computation. Except as otherwise specifically pro-
18 vided by subsection (e), Saturdays, Sundays
and legal holidays shall not
19 be counted in computing any time limit
imposed by this section.
20 (h) This section
shall be part of and supplemental to the Kansas code
21 for care of children.
22 Sec.
20. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 38-1581 is hereby amended to read as
23 follows: 38-1581. (a) Either in the
petition filed under this code or in a
24 motion made in proceedings under this code,
any interested party may
25 request that either or both parents be
found unfit and the parental rights
26 of either or both parents be terminated or
a permanent guardianship be
27 appointed.
28 (b) Whenever a
pleading is filed requesting termination of parental
29 rights, the pleading shall contain a
statement of specific facts which are
30 relied upon to support the request,
including dates, times and locations
31 to the extent known.
32 (c) The county or
district attorney or the county or district attorney's
33 designee shall file pleadings alleging a
parent is unfit and requesting ter-
34 mination of parental rights or the
establishment of a permanent guardi-
35 anship within 30 days after the court has
determined reintegration is not
36 a viable alternative and
unless the court has not found a compelling
reason
37 why adoption or permanent guardianship may
not be in the best interest
38 of the child. The court shall set a hearing
on such pleadings and matters
39 within 90 days of the filing of such
pleadings.
40 Sec.
21. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 38-1583 is hereby amended to read as
41 follows: 38-1583. (a) When the child has
been adjudicated to be a child
42 in need of care, the court may terminate
parental rights when the court
43 finds by clear and convincing evidence that
the parent is unfit by reason
33
1 of conduct or condition which renders
the parent unable to care properly
2 for a child and the conduct or
condition is unlikely to change in the
3 foreseeable future.
4 (b) In
making a determination hereunder the court shall consider,
5 but is not limited to, the following,
if applicable:
6
(1) Emotional illness, mental illness, mental deficiency or
physical
7 disability of the parent, of such
duration or nature as to render the parent
8 unlikely to care for the ongoing
physical, mental and emotional needs of
9 the child;
10 (2) conduct
toward a child of a physically, emotionally or sexually
11 cruel or abusive nature;
12 (3) excessive use
of intoxicating liquors or narcotic or dangerous
13 drugs;
14 (4) physical,
mental or emotional neglect of the child;
15 (5) conviction of
a felony and imprisonment;
16 (6) unexplained
injury or death of another child or stepchild of the
17 parent;
18 (7) reasonable
efforts by appropriate public or private child caring
19 agencies have been unable to rehabilitate
the family; and
20 (8) lack of
effort on the part of the parent to adjust the parent's cir-
21 cumstances, conduct or conditions to meet
the needs of the child.
22 (c) In addition
to the foregoing, when a child is not in the physical
23 custody of a parent, the court, in
proceedings concerning the termination
24 of parental rights, shall also consider,
but is not limited to the following:
25 (1) Failure to
assure care of the child in the parental home when able
26 to do so;
27 (2) failure to
maintain regular visitation, contact or communication
28 with the child or with the custodian of the
child;
29 (3) failure to
carry out a reasonable plan approved by the court di-
30 rected toward the integration of the child
into the parental home; and
31 (4) failure to
pay a reasonable portion of the cost of substitute physical
32 care and maintenance based on ability to
pay.
33 In making the above
determination, the court may disregard incidental
34 visitations, contacts, communications or
contributions.
35 (d) The rights of
the parents may be terminated as provided in this
36 section if the court finds that the parents
have abandoned the child or
37 the child was left under such circumstances
that the identity of the par-
38 ents is unknown and cannot be ascertained,
despite diligent searching,
39 and the parents have not come forward to
claim the child within three
40 months after the child is found.
41 (e) The existence
of any one of the above standing alone may, but
42 does not necessarily, establish grounds for
termination of parental rights.
43 The determination shall be based on an
evaluation of all factors which
34
1 are applicable. In considering any of
the above factors for terminating the
2 rights of a parent, the court shall
give primary consideration to the phys-
3 ical, mental or emotional condition
and needs of the child. If presented
4 to the court and subject to the
provisions of K.S.A. 60-419, and amend-
5 ments thereto, the court shall
consider as evidence testimony from a
6 person licensed to practice medicine
and surgery, a licensed psychologist
7 or a licensed social worker
expressing an opinion relating to the physical,
8 mental or emotional condition and
needs of the child. The court shall
9 consider any such testimony only if
the licensed professional providing
10 such testimony is subject to
cross-examination.
11 (f) A termination
of parental rights under the Kansas code for care
12 of children shall not terminate the right
of the child to inherit from or
13 through the parent. Upon such termination,
all the rights of birth parents
14 to such child, including their right to
inherit from or through such child,
15 shall cease.
16 (g) If, after
finding the parent unfit, the court determines a compel-
17 ling reason why it is not in the best
interests of the child to terminate
18 parental rights or upon agreement of the
parents, the court may award
19 permanent guardianship to an individual
providing care for the child, a
20 relative or other person with whom the
child has a close emotional at-
21 tachment. Prior to awarding permanent
guardianship, the court shall re-
22 ceive and consider an assessment as
provided in K.S.A. 59-2132 and
23 amendments thereto of any potential
permanent guardian. Upon appoint-
24 ment of a permanent guardian, the court
shall enter an order discharging
25 the child from the court's
jurisdiction continue to have jurisdiction to
26 review placement and appoint a successor
guardian or guardians.
27 (h) If a parent
is convicted of an offense as provided in subsection
28 (7) of K.S.A. 38-1585 and amendments
thereto or is adjudicated a juvenile
29 offender because of an act which if
committed by an adult would be an
30 offense as provided in subsection (7) of
K.S.A. 38-1585 and amendments
31 thereto, and if the victim was the other
parent of a child, the court may
32 disregard such convicted or adjudicated
parent's opinions or wishes in
33 regard to the placement of such child.
34 Sec.
22. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 38-1584 is hereby amended to read as
35 follows: 38-1584. (a) Purpose of
section. The purpose of this section is to
36 provide stability in the life of a child
who must be removed from the
37 home of a parent, to acknowledge that time
perception of a child differs
38 from that of an adult and to make the
ongoing physical, mental and emo-
39 tional needs of the child the decisive
consideration in proceedings under
40 this section. The primary goal for all
children whose parents' parental
41 rights have been terminated is placement in
a permanent family setting.
42 (b) Actions by
the court. (1) Custody for adoption. When parental
43 rights have been terminated and it appears
that adoption is a viable al-
35
1 ternative, the court shall enter one
of the following orders:
2 (A) An
order granting custody of the child, for adoption proceedings,
3 to a reputable person of good moral
character, the secretary or a corpo-
4 ration organized under the laws of
the state of Kansas authorized to care
5 for and surrender children for
adoption as provided in K.S.A. 38-112 et
6 seq. and amendments thereto.
The person, secretary or corporation shall
7 have authority to place the child in
a family home, be a party to proceed-
8 ings and give consent for the legal
adoption of the child which shall be
9 the only consent required to
authorize the entry of an order or decree of
10 adoption.
11 (B) An order
granting custody of the child to proposed adoptive par-
12 ents and consenting to the adoption of the
child by the proposed adoptive
13 parents.
14 (2) Custody
for long-term foster care permanent
guardianship. When
15 parental rights have been terminated and it
does not appear that adoption
16 is a viable alternative, the court
shall may enter an order granting
custody
17 of the child for foster
care permanent guardianship to a reputable
person
18 of good moral character, a youth
residential facility, the secretary or a
19 corporation or association willing
to receive the child, embracing in its
20 objectives the purpose of caring
for or obtaining homes for children.
21
(3) Preferences in custody for adoption or
long-term foster care per-
22 manent guardianship. In making an
order under subsection (b)(1) or (2),
23 the court shall give preference, to the
extent that the court finds it is in
24 the best interests of the child, first to
granting such custody to a relative
25 of the child and second to granting such
custody to a person with whom
26 the child has close emotional ties.
27 (c) Guardian
and conservator of child. The secretary shall be guard-
28 ian and conservator of any child placed in
the secretary's custody, subject
29 to any prior conservatorship.
30 (d) Reports
and review of progress reasonable efforts
to implement a
31 permanency plan of adoption or permanent
guardianship. After parental
32 rights have been terminated and up to the
time an adoption has been
33 accomplished, the person or agency awarded
custody of the child shall
34 within 60 days submit a written plan for
permanent placement which shall
35 include measurable objectives and time
schedules and shall thereafter not
36 less frequently than each six months make a
written report to the court
37 stating the progress having been made
toward finding an adoptive or long-
38 term foster care
permanent guardianship placement for the child. Upon
39 the receipt of each report the court shall
review the contents thereof and
40 determine whether or not a hearing should
be held on the subject. In
41 any case, the court shall notify all
interested parties and hear evidence
42 regarding progress toward finding an
adoptive home or the acceptability
43 of the long-term foster
care permanent guardianship plan within
18 12
36
1 months after parental rights have
been terminated and every 12 months
2 thereafter. If the court determines
that inadequate progress is being rea-
3 sonable efforts have not been
made toward finding an adoptive placement
4 or establishing an acceptable
long-term foster care plan for
permanent
5 guardianship, the court may
rescind its prior orders and make other or-
6 ders regarding custody and adoption
that are appropriate under the cir-
7 cumstances. Reports of a proposed
adoptive placement need not contain
8 the identity of the proposed adoptive
parents.
9
(e) Discharge upon adoption. When the adoption of a
child has been
10 accomplished, the court shall enter an
order discharging the child from
11 the court's jurisdiction in the pending
proceedings.
12 Sec.
23. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 38-1585 is hereby amended to read as
13 follows: 38-1585. (a) It is presumed in the
manner provided in K.S.A. 60-
14 414 and amendments thereto that a parent is
unfit by reason of conduct
15 or condition which renders the parent
unable to fully care for a child, if
16 the state establishes by clear and
convincing evidence that:
17 (1) A parent has
previously been found to be an unfit parent in pro-
18 ceedings under K.S.A. 38-1581 et
seq. and amendments thereto, or com-
19 parable proceedings under the laws of
another state, or the federal gov-
20 ernment;
21 (2) a parent has
twice before been convicted of a crime specified in
22 article 34, 35, or 36 of chapter 21 of the
Kansas Statutes Annotated, or
23 comparable offenses under the laws of
another state, the federal govern-
24 ment or any foreign government, or an
attempt or attempts to commit
25 such crimes and the victim was under the
age of 18 years;
26 (3) on two or
more prior occasions a child in the physical custody of
27 the parent has been adjudicated a child in
need of care as defined by
28 subsection (a)(3)
(b)(1) of K.S.A. 38-1502 and amendments thereto;
29 (4) the parent
has been convicted of causing the death of another
30 child or stepchild of the parent;
31 (5) the child has
been in an out-of-home placement, other than kin-
32 ship care, under court order for a
cumulative total period of one year or
33 longer and the parent has substantially
neglected or willfully refused to
34 carry out a reasonable plan, approved by
the court, directed toward re-
35 integration of the child into the parental
home;
36 (6) (1) the
child has been in an out-of-home placement, other than
37 kinship care, under court order for a
cumulative total period of two years
38 or longer; (2) the parent has failed to
carry out a reasonable plan, ap-
39 proved by the court, directed toward
reintegration of the child into the
40 parental home; and (3) there is a
substantial probability that the parent
41 will not carry out such plan in the near
future; or
42 (7) a parent has
been convicted of capital murder, K.S.A. 21-3439
43 and amendments thereto, murder in the first
degree, K.S.A. 21-3401 and
37
1 amendments thereto, murder in the
second degree, K.S.A. 21-3402 and
2 amendments thereto or voluntary
manslaughter, K.S.A. 21-3403 and
3 amendments thereto, or if a juvenile
has been adjudicated a juvenile of-
4 fender because of an act which if
committed by an adult would be an
5 offense as provided in this
subsection, and the victim of such murder was
6 the other parent of the child.
7 (b) The
burden of proof is on the parent to rebut the presumption.
8 If a parent has been convicted of
capital murder, K.S.A. 21-3439 and
9 amendments thereto or murder in the
first degree, K.S.A. 21-3401 and
10 amendments thereto as provided in
subsection (a)(7), the burden of proof
11 is on the parent to rebut the presumption
by clear and convincing evi-
12 dence. In the absence of proof that the
parent is presently fit and able to
13 care for the child or that the parent will
be fit and able to care for the
14 child in the foreseeable future, the court
shall now terminate the parents
15 parental rights in proceedings pursuant to
K.S.A. 38-1581 et seq. and
16 amendments thereto.
17 Sec.
24. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 38-1587 is hereby amended to read as
18 follows: 38-1587. (a) A permanent guardian
may be appointed after a
19 finding of unfitness pursuant to K.S.A.
38-1583 and amendments thereto
20 or with the consent and agreement of the
parents.
21 (b) Upon
appointment of the permanent guardian, the child in
need
22 of care proceeding shall be
dismissed court shall continue to have juris-
23 diction to review placement and appoint
a successor guardian or guard-
24 ians. If the child is in the custody of
the secretary, the court shall enter
25 an order discharging the child from the
custody of the secretary.
26 Sec.
25. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 38-1591 is hereby amended to read as
27 follows: 38-1591. (a) An appeal may be
taken by any interested party from
28 any adjudication, disposition, termination
of parental rights or order of
29 temporary custody in any proceedings
pursuant to this code.
30 (b) An appeal
from an order entered by a district magistrate judge
31 shall be to a district judge. The appeal
shall be heard within 30 days from
32 the date the notice of appeal is filed. If
no record was made of the pro-
33 ceedings, the trial shall be de novo.
34 (c) Procedure on
appeal shall be governed by article 21 of chapter
35 60 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated.
36
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the
contrary, ap-
37 peals under this section shall have
priority over all other cases.
38 (e) Every
notice of appeal, docketing statement and brief shall be
ver-
39 ified by the interested party. Failure
to have the required verification shall
40 result in the dismissal of the
appeal.
41 Sec.
26. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 38-1608 is hereby amended to read as
42 follows: 38-1608. (a) All records of law
enforcement officers and agencies
43 and municipal courts concerning a public
offense committed or alleged
38
1 to have been committed by a juvenile
under 14 years of age shall be kept
2 readily distinguishable from criminal
and other records and shall not be
3 disclosed to anyone except:
4 (1) The
judge and members of the court staff designated by the judge
5 of a court having the juvenile before
it in any proceedings;
6 (2) parties
to the proceedings and their attorneys;
7 (3) the
department of social and rehabilitation services;
8 (4) any
individual, or any officer of a public or private agency or in-
9 stitution, having custody of the
juvenile under court order or providing
10 educational, medical or mental health
services to the juvenile or a court-
11 approved advocate for the juvenile;
12 (5) any
educational institution to the extent necessary to enable the
13 educational institution to provide the
safest possible environment for its
14 pupils and employees;
15 (6) any educator
to the extent necessary to enable the educator to
16 protect the personal safety of the educator
and the educator's pupils;
17 (7) law
enforcement officers or county or district attorneys or their
18 staff when necessary for the discharge of
their official duties;
19 (8) the central
repository, as defined by K.S.A. 22-4701 and amend-
20 ments thereto, for use only as a part of
the juvenile offender information
21 system established under K.S.A. 38-1618 and
amendments thereto;
22 (9) juvenile
intake and assessment workers;
23 (10) juvenile
justice authority;
24 (11) any other
person when authorized by a court order, subject to
25 any conditions imposed by the order;
and
26 (12) as provided
in subsection (c).
27 (b) The
provisions of this section shall not apply to records concern-
28 ing:
29 (1) A violation,
by a person 14 or more years of age, of any provision
30 of chapter 8 of the Kansas Statutes
Annotated or of any city ordinance or
31 county resolution which relates to the
regulation of traffic on the roads,
32 highways or streets or the operation of
self-propelled or nonself-propelled
33 vehicles of any kind;
34 (2) a violation,
by a person 16 or more years of age, of any provision
35 of chapter 32 of the Kansas Statutes
Annotated; or
36 (3) an offense
for which the juvenile is prosecuted as an adult.
37 (c) All records
of law enforcement officers and agencies and munic-
38 ipal courts concerning a public offense
committed or alleged to have been
39 committed by a juvenile 14 or more years of
age shall be subject to the
40 same disclosure restrictions as the records
of adults. Information identi-
41 fying victims and alleged victims of sex
offenses, as defined in K.S.A.
42 chapter 21, article 35, shall not be
disclosed or open to public inspection
43 under any circumstances. Nothing in this
section shall prohibit the victim
39
1 or any alleged victim of any sex
offense from voluntarily disclosing such
2 victim's identity.
3
(d) Relevant information, reports and records shall be made
available
4 to the department of corrections upon
request and a showing that the
5 former juvenile has been convicted of
a crime and placed in the custody
6 of the secretary of the department of
corrections.
7 (e) All
records, reports and information obtained as a part of the
8 juvenile intake and assessment
process for juvenile offenders shall be
9 confidential and shall not be
disclosed except as provided in this section
10 or by rules and regulations established by
the commissioner of juvenile
11 justice.
12 (1) Any court of
record may order the disclosure of such records,
13 reports and other information to any person
or entity.
14 (2) The head of
any juvenile intake and assessment program, certified
15 pursuant to the commissioner of juvenile
justice, may authorize disclosure
16 of such records, reports and other
information to:
17 (A) A person
licensed to practice the healing arts who has before that
18 person a child whom the person reasonably
suspects may be abused or
19 neglected;
20 (B) a
court-appointed special advocate for a child, which advocate
21 reports to the court, or an agency having
the legal responsibility or au-
22 thorization to care for, treat or supervise
a child;
23 (C) a parent or
other person responsible for the welfare of a child,
24 or such person's legal representative, with
protection for the identity of
25 persons reporting and other appropriate
persons;
26 (D) the child or
the guardian ad litem for such child;
27 (E) the police or
other law enforcement agency;
28 (F) an agency
charged with the responsibility of preventing or treat-
29 ing physical, mental or emotional abuse or
neglect or sexual abuse of
30 children, if the agency requesting the
information has standards of con-
31 fidentiality as strict or stricter than the
requirements of the Kansas code
32 for care of children or the Kansas juvenile
justice code, whichever is
33 applicable;
34 (G) a person who
is a member of a multidisciplinary child protection
35 team;
36 (H) an agency
authorized by a properly constituted authority to di-
37 agnose, care for, treat or supervise a
child who is the subject of a report
38 or record of child abuse or neglect;
39 (I) any
individual, or public or private agency authorized by a
properly
40 constituted authority to diagnose, care
for, treat or supervise a child who
41 is the subject of a report or record of
child abuse or neglect and specif-
42 ically includes the following: Physicians,
psychiatrists, nurses, nurse prac-
43 titioners, psychologists, licensed social
workers, child development spe-
40
1 cialists, physicians' assistants,
community mental health workers, alcohol
2 and drug abuse counselors and
licensed or registered child care providers;
3 (J) a
citizen review board;
4 (K) an
educational institution if related to a juvenile offender that
5 attends such educational institution;
and
6
(L) educators who have exposure to the juvenile offender or
who are
7 responsible for pupils who have
exposure to the juvenile offender.
8 (3) To any
juvenile intake and assessment worker of another certified
9 juvenile intake and assessment
program.
10 Sec.
27. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 60-1610 is hereby amended to read as
11 follows: 60-1610. A decree in an action
under this article may include
12 orders on the following matters:
13 (a) Minor
children. (1) Child support and education. The court
shall
14 make provisions for the support and
education of the minor children. The
15 court may modify or change any prior order,
including any order issued
16 in a title IV-D case, within three years of
the date of the original order
17 or a modification order, when a material
change in circumstances is
18 shown, irrespective of the present domicile
of the child or the parents. If
19 more than three years has passed since the
date of the original order or
20 modification order, a material change in
circumstance need not be shown.
21 The court may make a modification of child
support retroactive to a date
22 at least one month after the date that the
motion to modify was filed with
23 the court. Any increase in support ordered
effective prior to the date the
24 court's judgment is filed shall not become
a lien on real property pursuant
25 to K.S.A. 60-2202 and amendments thereto.
Regardless of the type of
26 custodial arrangement ordered by the court,
the court may order the child
27 support and education expenses to be paid
by either or both parents for
28 any child less than 18 years of age, at
which age the support shall ter-
29 minate unless: (A) The parent or parents
agree, by written agreement
30 approved by the court, to pay support
beyond the time the child reaches
31 18 years of age; (B) the child reaches 18
years of age before completing
32 the child's high school education in which
case the support shall not ter-
33 minate automatically, unless otherwise
ordered by the court, until June
34 30 of the school year during which the
child became 18 years of age if
35 the child is still attending high school;
or (C) the child is still a bona fide
36 high school student after June 30 of the
school year during which the
37 child became 18 years of age, in which case
the court, on motion, may
38 order support to continue through the
school year during which the child
39 becomes 19 years of age so long as the
child is a bona fide high school
40 student and the parents jointly
participated or knowingly acquiesced in
41 the decision which delayed the child's
completion of high school. The
42 court, in extending support pursuant to
subsection (a)(1)(C), may impose
43 such conditions as are appropriate and
shall set the child support utilizing
41
1 the guideline table category for
16-year through 18-year old children.
2 Provision for payment of support and
educational expenses of a child after
3 reaching 18 years of age if still
attending high school shall apply to any
4 child subject to the jurisdiction of
the court, including those whose sup-
5 port was ordered prior to July 1,
1992. If an agreement approved by the
6 court prior to July 1, 1988, provides
for termination of support before the
7 date provided by subsection
(a)(1)(B), the court may review and modify
8 such agreement, and any order based
on such agreement, to extend the
9 date for termination of support to
the date provided by subsection
10 (a)(1)(B). If an agreement approved by the
court prior to July 1, 1992,
11 provides for termination of support before
the date provided by subsec-
12 tion (a)(1)(C), the court may review and
modify such agreement, and any
13 order based on such agreement, to extend
the date for termination of
14 support to the date provided by subsection
(a)(1)(C). For purposes of this
15 section, ``bona fide high school student''
means a student who is enrolled
16 in full accordance with the policy of the
accredited high school in which
17 the student is pursuing a high school
diploma or a graduate equivalency
18 diploma (GED). In determining the amount to
be paid for child support,
19 the court shall consider all relevant
factors, without regard to marital
20 misconduct, including the financial
resources and needs of both parents,
21 the financial resources and needs of the
child and the physical and emo-
22 tional condition of the child. Until a
child reaches 18 years of age, the
23 court may set apart any portion of property
of either the husband or wife,
24 or both, that seems necessary and proper
for the support of the child.
25 Every order requiring payment of child
support under this section shall
26 require that the support be paid through
the clerk of the district court or
27 the court trustee except for good cause
shown.
28 (2) Child
custody and residency. (A) Changes in custody. Subject
to
29 the provisions of the uniform child custody
jurisdiction act (K.S.A. 38-
30 1301 et seq., and amendments
thereto), the court may change or modify
31 any prior order of custody when a material
change of circumstances is
32 shown, but no ex parte order shall have the
effect of changing the custody
33 of a minor child from the parent who has
had the sole de facto custody
34 of the child to the other parent unless
there is sworn testimony to support
35 a showing of extraordinary circumstances.
If an interlocutory order is
36 issued ex parte, the court shall hear a
motion to vacate or modify the
37 order within 15 days of the date that a
party requests a hearing whether
38 to vacate or modify the order.
39
(B) Examination of parties. The court may order
physical or mental
40 examinations of the parties if requested
pursuant to K.S.A. 60-235 and
41 amendments thereto.
42 (3) Child
custody or residency criteria. The court shall determine
43 custody or residency of a child in
accordance with the best interests of
42
1 the child.
2 (A) If the
parties have a written agreement concerning the custody
3 or residency of their minor child, it
is presumed that the agreement is in
4 the best interests of the child. This
presumption may be overcome and
5 the court may make a different order
if the court makes specific findings
6 of fact stating why the agreement is
not in the best interests of the child.
7 (B) In
determining the issue of custody or residency of a child, the
8 court shall consider all relevant
factors, including but not limited to:
9 (i) The
length of time that the child has been under the actual care
10 and control of any person other than a
parent and the circumstances
11 relating thereto;
12 (ii) the desires
of the child's parents as to custody or residency;
13 (iii) the desires
of the child as to the child's custody or residency;
14 (iv) the
interaction and interrelationship of the child with parents,
15 siblings and any other person who may
significantly affect the child's best
16 interests;
17 (v) the child's
adjustment to the child's home, school and community;
18 (vi) the
willingness and ability of each parent to respect and appre-
19 ciate the bond between the child and the
other parent and to allow for a
20 continuing relationship between the child
and the other parent; and
21 (vii) evidence of
spousal abuse.
22 Neither parent shall
be considered to have a vested interest in the
23 custody or residency of any child as
against the other parent, regardless
24 of the age of the child, and there shall be
no presumption that it is in the
25 best interests of any infant or young child
to give custody or residency to
26 the mother.
27 (4) Types of
custodial arrangements. Subject to the provisions of this
28 article, the court may make any order
relating to custodial arrangements
29 which is in the best interests of the
child. The order shall include, but
30 not be limited to, one of the following, in
the order of preference:
31 (A) Joint
custody. The court may place the custody of a child with
32 both parties on a shared or joint-custody
basis. In that event, the parties
33 shall have equal rights to make decisions
in the best interests of the child
34 under their custody. When a child is placed
in the joint custody of the
35 child's parents, the court may further
determine that the residency of the
36 child shall be divided either in an equal
manner with regard to time of
37 residency or on the basis of a primary
residency arrangement for the child.
38 The court, in its discretion, may require
the parents to submit a plan for
39 implementation of a joint custody order
upon finding that both parents
40 are suitable parents or the parents, acting
individually or in concert, may
41 submit a custody implementation plan to the
court prior to issuance of a
42 custody decree. If the court does not order
joint custody, it shall include
43 in the record the specific findings of fact
upon which the order for custody
43
1 other than joint custody is
based.
2 (B) Sole
custody. The court may place the custody of a child with
one
3 parent, and the other parent shall be
the noncustodial parent. The cus-
4 todial parent shall have the right to
make decisions in the best interests
5 of the child, subject to the
visitation rights of the noncustodial parent.
6
(C) Divided custody. In an exceptional case, the court
may divide the
7 custody of two or more children
between the parties.
8
(D) Nonparental custody. If during the proceedings the
court deter-
9 mines that there is probable cause to
believe that: (i) The child is a child
10 in need of care as defined by subsections
(a)(1), (2) or (3) (b)(1) or (c)(1)
11 of K.S.A. 38-1502 and amendments thereto;
(ii) neither parent is fit to
12 have custody; or (iii) the child is
currently residing with such child's grand-
13 parent, grandparents, aunt or uncle and
such relative has had actual phys-
14 ical custody of such child for a
significant length of time, the court may
15 award temporary custody of the child to
such relative, another person or
16 agency if the court finds the award of
custody to such relative, another
17 person or agency is in the best interests
of the child. In making such a
18 custody order, the court shall give
preference, to the extent that the court
19 finds it is in the best interests of the
child, first to awarding such custody
20 to a relative of the child by blood,
marriage or adoption and second to
21 awarding such custody to another person
with whom the child has close
22 emotional ties. The court may make
temporary orders for care, support,
23 education and visitation that it considers
appropriate. Temporary custody
24 orders are to be entered in lieu of
temporary orders provided for in K.S.A.
25 38-1542 and 38-1543, and amendments
thereto, and shall remain in effect
26 until there is a final determination under
the Kansas code for care of
27 children. An award of temporary custody
under this paragraph shall not
28 terminate parental rights nor give the
court the authority to consent to
29 the adoption of the child. When the court
enters orders awarding tem-
30 porary custody of the child to an agency or
a person other than the parent
31 but not a relative as described in subpart
(iii), the court shall refer a
32 transcript of the proceedings to the county
or district attorney. The county
33 or district attorney shall file a petition
as provided in K.S.A. 38-1531 and
34 amendments thereto and may request
termination of parental rights pur-
35 suant to K.S.A. 38-1581 and amendments
thereto. The costs of the pro-
36 ceedings shall be paid from the general
fund of the county. When a final
37 determination is made that the child is not
a child in need of care, the
38 county or district attorney shall notify
the court in writing and the court,
39 after a hearing, shall enter appropriate
custody orders pursuant to this
40 section. If the same judge presides over
both proceedings, the notice is
41 not required. Any disposition pursuant to
the Kansas code for care of
42 children shall be binding and shall
supersede any order under this section.
43 When the court enters orders awarding
temporary custody of the child
44
1 to a relative as described in subpart
(iii), the court shall annually review
2 the temporary custody to evaluate
whether such custody is still in the best
3 interests of the child. If the court
finds such custody is in the best interests
4 of the child, such custody shall
continue. If the court finds such custody
5 is not in the best interests of the
child, the court shall determine the
6 custody pursuant to this section.
7
(b) Financial matters. (1) Division of property.
The decree shall di-
8 vide the real and personal property
of the parties, including any retire-
9 ment and pension plans, whether owned
by either spouse prior to mar-
10 riage, acquired by either spouse in the
spouse's own right after marriage
11 or acquired by the spouses' joint efforts,
by: (A) a division of the property
12 in kind; (B) awarding the property or part
of the property to one of the
13 spouses and requiring the other to pay a
just and proper sum; or (C)
14 ordering a sale of the property, under
conditions prescribed by the court,
15 and dividing the proceeds of the sale. Upon
request, the trial court shall
16 set a valuation date to be used for all
assets at trial, which may be the
17 date of separation, filing or trial as the
facts and circumstances of the case
18 may dictate. The trial court may consider
evidence regarding changes in
19 value of various assets before and after
the valuation date in making the
20 division of property. In dividing
defined-contribution types of retirement
21 and pension plans, the court shall allocate
profits and losses on the non-
22 participant's portion until date of
distribution to that nonparticipant. In
23 making the division of property the court
shall consider the age of the
24 parties; the duration of the marriage; the
property owned by the parties;
25 their present and future earning
capacities; the time, source and manner
26 of acquisition of property; family ties and
obligations; the allowance of
27 maintenance or lack thereof; dissipation of
assets; the tax consequences
28 of the property division upon the
respective economic circumstances of
29 the parties; and such other factors as the
court considers necessary to
30 make a just and reasonable division of
property. The decree shall provide
31 for any changes in beneficiary designation
on: (A) Any insurance or an-
32 nuity policy that is owned by the parties,
or in the case of group life
33 insurance policies, under which either of
the parties is a covered person;
34 (B) any trust instrument under which one
party is the grantor or holds a
35 power of appointment over part or all of
the trust assets, that may be
36 exercised in favor of either party; or (C)
any transfer on death or payable
37 on death account under which one or both of
the parties are owners or
38 beneficiaries. Nothing in this section
shall relieve the parties of the ob-
39 ligation to effectuate any change in
beneficiary designation by the filing
40 of such change with the insurer or issuer
in accordance with the terms
41 of such policy.
42
(2) Maintenance. The decree may award to either party
an allowance
43 for future support denominated as
maintenance, in an amount the court
45
1 finds to be fair, just and equitable
under all of the circumstances. The
2 decree may make the future payments
modifiable or terminable under
3 circumstances prescribed in the
decree. The court may make a modifi-
4 cation of maintenance retroactive to
a date at least one month after the
5 date that the motion to modify was
filed with the court. In any event, the
6 court may not award maintenance for a
period of time in excess of 121
7 months. If the original court decree
reserves the power of the court to
8 hear subsequent motions for
reinstatement of maintenance and such a
9 motion is filed prior to the
expiration of the stated period of time for
10 maintenance payments, the court shall have
jurisdiction to hear a motion
11 by the recipient of the maintenance to
reinstate the maintenance pay-
12 ments. Upon motion and hearing, the court
may reinstate the payments
13 in whole or in part for a period of time,
conditioned upon any modifying
14 or terminating circumstances prescribed by
the court, but the reinstate-
15 ment shall be limited to a period of time
not exceeding 121 months. The
16 recipient may file subsequent motions for
reinstatement of maintenance
17 prior to the expiration of subsequent
periods of time for maintenance
18 payments to be made, but no single period
of reinstatement ordered by
19 the court may exceed 121 months.
Maintenance may be in a lump sum,
20 in periodic payments, on a percentage of
earnings or on any other basis.
21 At any time, on a hearing with reasonable
notice to the party affected,
22 the court may modify the amounts or other
conditions for the payment
23 of any portion of the maintenance
originally awarded that has not already
24 become due, but no modification shall be
made without the consent of
25 the party liable for the maintenance, if it
has the effect of increasing or
26 accelerating the liability for the unpaid
maintenance beyond what was
27 prescribed in the original decree. Every
order requiring payment of main-
28 tenance under this section shall require
that the maintenance be paid
29 through the clerk of the district court or
the court trustee except for good
30 cause shown.
31 (3) Separation
agreement. If the parties have entered into a separa-
32 tion agreement which the court finds to be
valid, just and equitable, the
33 agreement shall be incorporated in the
decree. The provisions of the
34 agreement on all matters settled by it
shall be confirmed in the decree
35 except that any provisions for the custody,
support or education of the
36 minor children shall be subject to the
control of the court in accordance
37 with all other provisions of this article.
Matters settled by an agreement
38 incorporated in the decree, other than
matters pertaining to the custody,
39 support or education of the minor children,
shall not be subject to sub-
40 sequent modification by the court except:
(A) As prescribed by the agree-
41 ment or (B) as subsequently consented to by
the parties.
42 (4) Costs and
fees. Costs and attorney fees may be awarded to either
43 party as justice and equity require. The
court may order that the amount
46
1 be paid directly to the attorney, who
may enforce the order in the attor-
2 ney's name in the same case.
3
(c) Miscellaneous matters. (1) Restoration of
name. Upon the request
4 of a spouse, the court shall order
the restoration of that spouse's maiden
5 or former name.
6
(2) Effective date as to remarriage. Any marriage
contracted by a
7 party, within or outside this state,
with any other person before a judg-
8 ment of divorce becomes final shall
be voidable until the decree of divorce
9 becomes final. An agreement which
waives the right of appeal from the
10 granting of the divorce and which is
incorporated into the decree or
11 signed by the parties and filed in the case
shall be effective to shorten
12 the period of time during which the
remarriage is voidable.
13 Sec.
28. K.S.A. 75-3329 is hereby amended to read as follows:
75-
14 3329. As used in this act:
15 (a) ``Board''
means the secretary of social and rehabilitation services.
16 (b) ``State
institution'' means institution as defined in K.S.A. 76-
17 12a01, and amendments thereto.
18 (c) ``Child'' or
``children'' means a person or persons under the age
19 of eighteen (18)
18.
20 (d) ``Private
children's home'' means any licensed home, institution
21 or charitable organization which is
operated by a corporation organized
22 not for profit under the
laws of this state which the secretary finds has
23 and maintains adequate facilities and is
properly staffed to provide ade-
24 quate care, custody, education, training
and treatment for any child which
25 the secretary may place therein under the
authority of this act, or a li-
26 censed foster care home, boarding home,
personal care home or nursing
27 home.
28 Sec. 29. K.S.A. 38-1503,
38-1523a, 38-1524, 38-1529, 38-1531, 38-
29 1566, 38-1568 and 75-3329 and K.S.A. 1999
Supp. 38-1502, 38-1507, 38-
30 1513, 38-1532, 38-1542, 38-1543, 38-1544,
38-1562, 38-1563, 38-1565,
31 38-1581, 38-1583, 38-1584, 38-1585 38-1587,
38-1591, 38-1608 and 60-
32 1610 are hereby repealed.
33 Sec. 30. This act shall
take effect and be in force from and after its
34 publication in the statute book.