The bill amends the Kansas code for the care of children to enhance parental rights and notifications during investigations of child abuse or neglect. It requires the secretary for children and families or law enforcement officers to provide both written and verbal notifications to parents when an investigation is initiated or when a child is taken into custody. This notification must include a summary of investigation procedures, the parent's rights, and information on accessing their child if removed from the home. Additionally, the bill mandates documentation of these notifications and the development of compliance materials, while allowing parents to withhold certain information unless ordered by a court.

Moreover, the bill establishes a framework for voluntary agreements between parents and the secretary when a child is removed from the home, clarifying responsibilities and conditions for parental access without implying an admission of abuse or neglect. It also amends laws regarding medical treatment for children in custody, allowing necessary examinations without parental consent in specific situations while preserving parents' rights to contest such actions. The bill emphasizes cooperation among law enforcement, educational institutions, and the secretary in child welfare investigations, detailing access for interviews and visual observations of children, and introduces new circumstances for the secretary's access to children during investigations. It also outlines the process for obtaining investigation-related documents and repeals conflicting statutes, with the bill set to take effect upon publication.

Statutes affected:
As introduced: 38-2217, 38-2226, 38-2229