SESSION OF 2020
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON SENATE BILL NO. 157
As Amended by Senate Committee of the Whole

Brief*
SB 157, as amended, would amend the revised Kansas
Family Code statute governing temporary parenting plans to
add the following two presumptions:
● If there is presentation of documentation or other
information by a parent that would support a finding
of good cause that domestic abuse has occurred or
is occurring, there would be a presumption it is not
in the best interests of the child for the parents to
have temporary joint legal custody and share
equally in parenting time; and
● In making an order for a temporary parenting plan,
there would be a presumption it is in the best
interests of the child for fit, willing, and able parents
to have temporary joint legal custody and share
equally in parenting time.
The bill also would amend the parenting plan definitions
statute to add definitions of “equal parenting time,” “joint legal
custody,” and “parenting time.”

Background
The bill was introduced by Senators Hilderbrand, Alley,
Berger, Doll, Faust-Goudeau, Francisco, Goddard, Haley,
Holland, Longbine, Olson, Petersen, Skubal, Suellentrop,
____________________
*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
http://www.kslegislature.org
Taylor, Wagle, and Wilborn. As introduced, the bill contained
the presumption regarding fit, willing, and able parents.
In the 2019 Senate Committee on Judiciary hearing,
Senator Faust-Goudeau; representatives of the Dads Care 2
Project, Fathers’ Rights Movement, Kansas Family
Preservation Coalition, and National Parents Organization;
and private citizens testified in support of the bill. An attorney
and private citizens provided written-only proponent
testimony.
A Johnson County district court judge, two attorneys, a
psychologist and attorney, a law professor, and
representatives of the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and
Domestic Violence and Kansas District Judges’ Association
testified in opposition to the bill. An attorney provided written-
only opponent testimony.
The Kansas Judicial Council and a professor from
Arizona State University provided written-only neutral
testimony.
The Senate Committee amended the bill in 2019 to add
the presumption related to domestic abuse and the new
definitions.
The 2020 Senate Committee of the Whole amended the
bill to make technical updates to statutory references.
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget in 2019 on the bill, as introduced, the Office of
Judicial Administration indicates enactment of the bill could
increase time spent by district court judicial personnel, but it
is not possible to estimate the amount of time spent. Any
fiscal effect associated with enactment of the bill is not
reflected in The FY 2020 Governor’s Budget Report.


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Statutes affected:
As introduced: 23-3212
As Amended by Senate Committee: 23-3211, 23-3212
{As Amended by Senate Committee of the Whole}: 23-3211, 23-3212