SESSION OF 2021
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2151
As Amended by Senate Committee on Public
Health and Welfare

Brief*
HB 2151, as amended, would create and amend law
regarding elder and dependent adult abuse multidisciplinary
teams.
The bill would require the Attorney General to appoint a
Kansas elder and dependent abuse multidisciplinary team
coordinator (coordinator) and, within limits of available
appropriations, appoint such additional staff as necessary to
support the coordinator. The coordinator would be required to
facilitate the convening of an elder and dependent adult
abuse multidisciplinary team (team) in each judicial district.
Each team would be composed of the following
individuals (or designees):
● The sheriff of each county within the judicial district;
● The county or district attorney of each county
within the judicial district;
● The Secretary for Children and Families;
● The Secretary for Aging and Disability Services;
and
● The State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.

____________________
*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
 The bill would allow each team to also include the
following individuals:
● A representative from any law enforcement agency
not already included;
● A medical provider;
● A legal services provider;
● A housing provider or representative of elder or
dependent adult housing facilities;
● The district coroner or a medical examiner;
● A representative of the financial services or
banking industry;
● A representative of the Area Agencies on Aging; or
● Any other individual deemed necessary by the
team.
Each team would be required to coordinate
investigations of elder and dependent adult abuse, as defined
by the relevant statutes, and would be authorized to identify
opportunities within local jurisdictions to improve policies and
procedures in the notification of and response to abuse,
neglect, and exploitation of elder or dependent adults, within
the limits of local resources.
Each team would determine the manner and frequency
of meetings and would be required to meet at least quarterly.
Meetings would not be subject to the provisions of the
Kansas Open Meetings Act.
Each team could create and enter into memorandums of
understanding with any governmental agency or private entity
deemed necessary by the team.

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 All documents, materials, and other information obtained
by or discussed by a team would be confidential and
privileged and not subject to the Kansas Open Records Act.
This records provision would expire on July 1, 2026, unless
the Legislature reviews and reenacts the provision prior to
that date.
Beginning in 2022, the Attorney General would be
required to submit a report to the Legislature, on or before the
first day of each regular legislative session, on the
implementation and use of the teams.
The statute creating the Abuse, Neglect, and
Exploitation of Persons Unit (Unit) in the Office of the Attorney
General (OAG) would be amended to allow the Unit to assist
in any investigation or discussion of any elder and dependent
adult abuse multidisciplinary team, pursuant to the bill.

Background
The bill was introduced by the House Committee on
Children and Seniors at the request of the OAG.

House Committee on Children and Seniors
In the House Committee hearing, representatives of the
OAG and the Department for Children and Families (DCF)
provided proponent testimony on the bill, stating it would
facilitate communication and investigation of complex cases
of adult abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Representatives of
AARP Kansas, Disability Rights Center of Kansas, Kansas
Bankers Association, Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and
Domestic Violence, the Kansas Department for Aging and
Disability Services (KDADS), and the Kansas Department of
Health and Environment submitted written-only proponent
testimony.
No neutral or opponent testimony was provided.

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Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare
In the Senate Committee hearing, representatives of
Kansas Advocates for Better Care, Kansas Council on
Developmental Disabilities, and the OAG provided
proponent testimony. Proponents stated the bill originates
from the Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Prevention
Council, and the bill would allow multidisciplinary teams to
meet and discuss complex cases and maintain confidentiality
when necessary for investigations.
Written-only proponent testimony was provided by
representatives of AARP Kansas, Kansas Association of Area
Agencies on Aging and Disabilities, Kansas Bankers
Association, Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic
Violence, KDADS, DCF, and Disability Rights Center of
Kansas. No other testimony was provided.
The Senate Committee amended the bill to include a
representative of the Area Agencies on Aging as a person
who may be added to the multidisciplinary team.

Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, as introduced, the OAG indicates
enactment of the bill would increase expenditures by $97,077
from the State General Fund for FY 2022, including salary
and benefits of $67,232 for 1.0 FTE position (the coordinator)
and other operating expenses of $29,845.
DCF, KDADS, and the Kansas Association of Counties
indicate enactment of the bill would have no fiscal effect on
the agencies or counties.
Enactment of the bill could potentially increase the
number of cases filed in district courts and could result in
collection of additional docket fees. If it does, the Office of
Judicial Administration indicates there would be a fiscal effect
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on the operations of the court system. However, a fiscal effect
cannot be determined, because it it not possible to estimate
the number of additional court cases that would arise or how
complex and time-consuming they would be.
Any fiscal effect associated with enactment of the bill is
not reflected in The FY 2022 Governor’s Budget Report.
Elder and dependent abuse; multidisciplinary team coordinator; multidisciplinary
teams; Attorney General


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Statutes affected:
As introduced: 75-723
As Amended by Senate Committee: 75-723