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Minutes for HB2549 - Committee on Judiciary
Short Title
Limiting a petition to terminate parental rights under the Kansas adoption and relinquishment act to adoption proceedings and setting requirements for such petitions filed separately from petitions for adoption.
Minutes Content for Wed, Jan 24, 2024
Chairperson Humphries opened the hearing on HB2549. Natalie Scott provided an overview of the bill. (Attachment1) She stood for questions.
Proponent
Austin K. Vincent (Attachment 2) stated the Judicial Council and its Adoption Law Advisory Committee recommend the passage of HB2549. This bill amends K.S.A. 59-2136, which governs the termination of parental rights under the Kansas Adoption and Relinquishment Act. Although it was not the Committee’s intent, the revised statutory language clarifying that a petition to terminate rights may be filed as “an independent action” has given rise to cases being filed by parents simply seeking to terminate the parental rights of the other parent when no adoption is contemplated. The Committee unanimously agreed that no person should be allowed to petition for termination of parental rights under KARA in any case not related to an adoption proceeding. To further discourage attempts to improperly use this statute outside the context of an adoption matter, the Committee drafted several new provisions that are located in what is now subsection (d)(2).
Mr. Vincent stood for questions.
Chairperson Humphries closed the hearing on HB2549.
