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Minutes for SB128 - Committee on Judiciary
Short Title
Creating an exception to certain mandatory reporting obligations for licensed social workers when working under the supervision of an attorney and permitting an attorney to require a licensed social worker to keep ethical obligations of attorney-client privilege while working under the supervision of such attorney.
Minutes Content for Mon, Mar 10, 2025
Chair Humphries opened the hearing on SB128.
Jason Thompson, Office of Revisor of Statutes, presented the bill brief. (Attachment 4)
Proponent Heather Cessna, Executive Director of Kansas State Board of Indigents' Defense Services (BIDS), testified that the bill would allow licensed social workers to fully participate in BIDS' defense teams and provide the most effective legal representation for the attorneys' clients. (Attachment 5)
Proponent Karen Leve, Kansas State Board of Indigents' Defense Services (BIDS), testified that the bill would allow licensed social workers to operate more fully as members of the legal team and increase their ability to provide client-centered advocacy and defense. (Attachment 6)
Proponent Marilyn Harp, Private Citizen, testified that passage of this bill would allow the clients of both civil and criminal attorneys to get the benefits of a multi-disciplinary staffing by the law office, including social workers. (Attachment 7)
Proponent James Pratt, Pratt Law LLC, testified that licensed social workers could assist with providing information that is vital to representing clients properly in criminal defense cases. (Attachment 8)
Proponent Tim Burdick, Assistant Federal Public Defender, District of Kansas, testified that clients must be able to develop a level of trust in those who are representing them in legal cases. This bill would allow licensed social workers who work alongside attorneys to provide the best outcome for clients. (Attachment 9)
Proponent Noel O'Neill, Federal Public Defender, District of Kansas, testified that modification to current law would enable social workers collaborating with attorneys to determine the most appropriate course of action, while maintaining the confidentiality essential to effective representation. (Attachment 10)
Chair Humphries drew attention to the Proponent Written Only testimonies:
Melody Brannon, Federal Public Defender, District of Kansas (Attachment 11)
Dr. Tim Davis, Private Citizen (Attachment 12)
Michelle Ewert, Washburn Law Clinic (Attachment 13)
Courtney Ellis, Midwest Innocence Project (Attachment 14)
Becky Fast, National Assoc of Social Workers, Kansas Chapter (Attachment 15)
No opponent or neutral testimony was submitted.
Chair Humphries closed the hearing on SB128 at 4:34pm.
