The bill amends the Kansas Code for Care of Children by establishing new requirements for permanency hearings for children in custody. It mandates that a permanency hearing must be held within nine months of a child's removal from their home, with subsequent hearings required every six months thereafter. The bill also outlines the responsibilities of the court and the secretary in these hearings, including assessing reasonable efforts made for family rehabilitation, ensuring the child has opportunities for age-appropriate activities, and documenting efforts to prepare the child for a successful transition to adulthood.

Additionally, the bill modifies existing legal language regarding the permanency goals for children, specifying the conditions under which a child may be reintegrated with their parents, placed for adoption, or assigned to a permanent custodian. It emphasizes the need for judicial determinations regarding the best permanency plan for the child and requires documentation of ongoing efforts to secure appropriate placements. The bill repeals the previous version of K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 38-2264, thereby updating the legal framework governing these proceedings.

Statutes affected:
As introduced: 38-2264
As Amended by House Committee: 38-2264
As Amended by Senate Committee: 38-2264
{As Amended by Senate Committee of the Whole}: 38-2264