SESSION OF 2019
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2392
As Amended by House Committee on Federal
and State Affairs

Brief*
HB 2392, as amended, would amend law in the Kansas
Code for Care of Children concerning investigations for child
abuse or neglect.
[Note: the bill contains a whereas clause designating its
provisions as Adrian’s Law.]
Concerning investigations related to reports of child
abuse or neglect, the bill would require that a child who was
an alleged victim of abuse or neglect be visually observed by
the employee of the Kansas Department for Children and
Families (DCF) or the law enforcement agency investigating
the report. The bill would provide that in the event of a joint
investigation by DCF and law enforcement, both would be
required to visually observe such child. All investigation
reports required by the bill would have to include the date,
time, and location of any such visual observation of a child.

Background
The bill was introduced by the House Committee on
Federal and State Affairs at the request of Representative
Louis Ruiz.
At the hearing in the House Committee on Federal and
State Affairs, Representative Louis Ruiz, the Wyandotte
____________________
*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
County District Attorney, and a representative of DCF
appeared in support of the bill.
The House Committee amended the bill by removing
provisions that would have added any adult residing in the
same home as the child to the list of individuals required to
make a report if they suspect a child has been harmed as a
result of physical, mental, or emotional abuse or neglect, or
sexual abuse. The language eliminated by the House
Committee also contained a definition of “adult residing in the
same home” and several immunity provisions.
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, as introduced, DCF has estimated
enactment of the bill would result in an increase of abuse and
neglect reports of up to 15.0 percent, or 823 additional
reports, a 1.1 percent increase, above what was reported in
FY 2018. DCF has indicated the increase will require 1.00
additional Investigator FTE position, at a cost of $62, 415
from the State General Fund. DCF also anticipates
enactment of the bill would increase the workload for regional
staff, but indicated the increase could be absorbed within the
current budget. Any fiscal effect associated with the bill is not
reflected in The FY 2020 Governor’s Budget Report.


2- 2392


Statutes affected:
As introduced: 38-2223, 38-2226
As Amended by House Committee: 38-2223, 38-2226