Requiring a duly ordained minister of religion to report certain abuse and neglect except when reporting would violate the penitential communication privilege and requiring training for persons obligated to report abuse and neglect.

{As Amended by House Committee of the Whole}
Session of 2025
HOUSE BILL No. 2352
By Committee on Judiciary
Requested by Representatives Lewis and Schlingensiepen
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AN ACT concerning children and minors; relating to reporting of certain
abuse and neglect; requiring a duly ordained minister of religion to
report certain abuse and neglect except when reporting would violate
the penitential communication privilege; requiring training for persons
obligated to report abuse and neglect. amending K.S.A. 2024 {2025}
Supp. 38-2223 and repealing the existing section.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
Section 1. K.S.A. 2024 {2025} Supp. 38-2223 is hereby amended to
read as follows: 38-2223. (a) Persons making reports. (1) When any of the
following persons has reason to suspect that a child has been harmed as a
result of physical, mental or emotional abuse or neglect or sexual abuse,
the person shall report the matter promptly as provided in subsections (b)
and (c);:
(A) The following persons providing medical care or treatment:
Persons licensed to practice the healing arts, dentistry and optometry,
persons engaged in postgraduate training programs approved by the state
board of healing arts, licensed professional or practical nurses and chief
administrative officers of medical care facilities;
(B) the following persons licensed by the state to provide mental
health services: Licensed psychologists, licensed masters level
psychologists, licensed clinical psychotherapists, licensed social workers,
licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed clinical marriage and
family therapists, licensed behavioral analysts, licensed assistant
behavioral analysts, licensed professional counselors, licensed clinical
professional counselors and registered alcohol and drug abuse counselors;
(C) teachers, school administrators and other employees of an
educational institution that the child is attending and any member of the
board of directors of the Kansas state high school activities association
referenced in K.S.A. 72-7114, and amendments thereto, and any person
who is employed by or is an officer of such association;
(D) persons licensed by the secretary of health and environment to
provide child care services or the employees of persons so licensed at the
place where the child care services are being provided to the child;
(E) firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, law
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HB 2352—Am. by HCW 2
enforcement officers, juvenile intake and assessment workers, court
services officers, community corrections officers, case managers appointed
under K.S.A. 2024 {2025} Supp. 23-3508, and amendments thereto, and
mediators appointed under K.S.A. 2024 {2025} Supp. 23-3502, and
amendments thereto; and
(F) any person employed by or who works as a volunteer for any
organization, whether for profit or not-for-profit, that provides social
services to pregnant teenagers, including, but not limited to, counseling,
adoption services and pregnancy education and maintenance; and
(G) any duly ordained minister of religion, as defined in K.S.A. 60-
429, and amendments thereto, except that a duly ordained minister of
religion who suspects abuse or neglect based on a penitential
communication is not required to violate penitential communication
privilege as provided in K.S.A. 60-429, and amendments thereto.
(2) In addition to the reports required under subsection (a)(1), any
person who has reason to suspect that a child may be a child in need of
care may report the matter as provided in subsection (b) and (c).
(b) Form of report. (1) The report may be made orally and shall be
followed by a written report if requested. Every report shall contain, if
known: The names and addresses of the child and the child's parents or
other persons responsible for the child's care; the location of the child if
not at the child's residence; the child's gender, race and age; the reasons
why the reporter suspects the child may be a child in need of care; if abuse
or neglect or sexual abuse is suspected, the nature and extent of the harm
to the child, including any evidence of previous harm; and any other
information that the reporter believes might be helpful in establishing the
cause of the harm and the identity of the persons responsible for the harm.
(2) When reporting a suspicion that a child may be in need of care,
the reporter shall disclose protected health information freely and
cooperate fully with the secretary and law enforcement throughout the
investigation and any subsequent legal process.
(c) To whom made. Reports made pursuant to this section shall be
made to the secretary, except as follows:
(1) When the Kansas department for children and families is not open
for business, reports shall be made to the appropriate law enforcement
agency. On the next day that the department is open for business, the law
enforcement agency shall report to the department any report received and
any investigation initiated pursuant to K.S.A. 38-2226, and amendments
thereto. The reports may be made orally or, on request of the secretary, in
writing.
(2) Reports of child abuse or neglect occurring in an institution
operated by the Kansas department of corrections shall be made to the
attorney general or the secretary of corrections. Reports of child abuse or
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HB 2352—Am. by HCW 3
neglect occurring in an institution operated by the Kansas department for
aging and disability services shall be made to the appropriate law
enforcement agency. All other reports of child abuse or neglect by persons
employed by the Kansas department for aging and disability services or
the Kansas department for children and families, or of children of persons
employed by either department, shall be made to the appropriate law
enforcement agency.
(d) Death of child. Any person who is required by this section to
report a suspicion that a child is in need of care and who knows of
information relating to the death of a child shall immediately notify the
coroner as provided by K.S.A. 22a-242, and amendments thereto.
(e) Violations. (1) Willful and knowing failure to make a report
required by this section is a class B misdemeanor. It is not a defense that
another mandatory reporter made a report.
(2) Intentionally preventing or interfering with the making of a report
required by this section is a class B misdemeanor.
(3) Any person who willfully and knowingly makes a false report
pursuant to this section or makes a report that such person knows lacks
factual foundation is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
(f) Immunity from liability. Anyone who, without malice, participates
in the making of a report to the secretary or a law enforcement agency
relating to a suspicion a child may be a child in need of care or who
participates in any activity or investigation relating to the report or who
participates in any judicial proceeding resulting from the report shall have
immunity from any civil liability that might otherwise be incurred or
imposed.
(g) Training required. Each person described in subsection (a) shall
participate in training regarding the provisions of this section prior to July
1, 2026 {2027} , or, if the person becomes subject to the provisions of
subsection (a) after July 1, 2026 {2027}, within six months after becoming
subject to the provisions of subsection (a). Such training shall be provided
by the department for children and families or a partner approved by the
department.
Sec. 2. K.S.A. 2024 {2025} Supp. 38-2223 is hereby repealed.
Sec. 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.
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