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HB 2243

Relating to laws concerning job-protected leave from work.

2025 Regular Session

The bill requires Kansas DCF to partner with military Family Advocacy Programs at each installation to refer and coordinate protections for children of military personnel.

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · HB 2243

Summary — HB 2243 (Kansas)

Title: Require the Secretary for Children and Families to enter into memoranda of understanding with military installations to refer children in need of care cases involving children of military personnel to a military family advocacy program

Purpose

HB 2243 directs the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) to coordinate formally with military installations in Kansas so that when a preliminary investigation involves a child whose parent or legal guardian is military personnel, the case is identified and referred to the installation’s Military Family Advocacy Program (MFAP). The intent is to ensure military families are connected with DoD-provided child abuse/neglect prevention and family support services while preserving DCF’s authority to protect children.

Key provisions

  • Requires DCF (the Secretary for Children and Families) to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with an MFAP at each military installation in Kansas for referrals of identified cases.
  • MOU must include:
    • a method to identify whether a child’s parent/legal guardian is military personnel at a Kansas installation;
    • the process for referring identified cases to the MFAP;
    • a requirement to notify the MFAP when DCF refers a case to the county/district attorney for filing a petition under K.S.A. 38-2233; and
    • provisions ensuring compliance with state and federal confidentiality laws.
  • Amends K.S.A. 38-2230 to require that DCF, when making a preliminary inquiry (preliminary investigation) into a reported child in need of care, include inquiry into the military status of a parent or legal guardian.
  • Clarifies that nothing in the section limits DCF’s duty to take actions necessary to protect the child, including recommending filing a petition with the county/district attorney.
  • Defines “military family advocacy program” as the DoD-established program at installations addressing child abuse and neglect in military families.
  • Declares the section supplemental to the Kansas Code for Care of Children; intended effective upon publication.

Who is affected

  • Military families in Kansas (parents/legal guardians who are active-duty military assigned to Kansas installations)
  • Kansas Department for Children and Families staff and investigators
  • Military installation MFAPs and installation commands (for coordination and intake)
  • County/district attorneys and courts handling child-in-need-of-care petitions

Fiscal impact

  • Division of the Budget fiscal note (Feb. 11, 2025) reports DCF indicates enactment would have no fiscal effect on the agency.

Legislative status / timeline (Kansas)

  • Introduced: Jan 29, 2025
  • Passed House and Senate (May 2025; recorded committee and floor actions)
  • Sent to Governor: June 1, 2025
  • Vetoed by Governor: June 22, 2025 (As vetoed, the bill did not become law unless the Legislature later overrides the veto.)

Note: Multiple unrelated bills in other states also use the number HB 2243 (Arizona, Illinois); this summary focuses on the Kansas HB 2243 provided above.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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