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Minutes for SB115 - Committee on Child Welfare and Foster Care

Short Title

Changing the lists of persons who are required to be given notice of the hearing on a petition for an independent or stepparent, private agency or public agency adoption.

Minutes Content for Wed, Mar 15, 2023

The meeting was called to order and the Hearing on SB115 was opened by the Chair. Assistant Revisor Jessie Pringle (Revisor) gave an overview of the bill. (Attachment 1) The following proponents of the bill presented before the committee:

  • Mr. Austin K. Vincent, Kansas Judicial Council (KJC)  Mr. Vincent reported the KJC believes by reorganizing the current governing statute, and by separating agency adoptions into two categories, with the notice requirements for private agency adoptions in one sections and the more limited notice requirements for public agency adoptions in another,  this legislation addresses issues of concern relating to notice of hearing on petition for adoption, and clarifies the list of persons entitled to receive notice of the hearing on a petition for adoption to independent, stepparent, private agency, and public agency adoptions.   By reorganizing the current governing statute, and separating agency adoptions into two categories, with the notice requirements for private agency adoptions in one sections and the more limited notice requirements for public agency adoptions in another (Attachment 2)   The conferee stood for questions
  • Mr. Matt Stephens, Saint Francis Ministries, urged the committee to adopt SB115;  as the bill corrects unintended and unfortunate consequences relating to notice of hearing on petition of adoptions, including further traumatizing a vulnerable child by having a biological parent, who has previously relinquished parental rights, show up in person at the hearing.  (Attachment 3) The conferee stood for questions.

There were no neutrals or opponents present.  The Chair closed the hearing on SB115.