Post by Logan on Mar 23, 2016 4:14:20 GMT -6
House advances bill shifting investigation of juvenile abuse claims
The House offered preliminary consent Tuesday for a Senate-passed bill shifting primary responsibility for investigating complaints about children in state custody away from the attorney general to a pair of state agencies.
Attorney General Derek Schmidt informed legislators his two-person staff assigned to abuse complaints involving institutionalized juveniles and disabled adults has been overwhelmed. The attorney general would retain under Senate Bill 408 the power to lead inquiries of abuse, neglect and exploitation among disabled adults. The House advanced the bill to final action, likely to occur Wednesday. The Senate previously adopted the measure on a vote of 40-0.
Rep. Blaine Finch, R-Ottawa, said responsibility for reviewing juvenile abuse claims would become the jurisdiction of the Kansas Department of Corrections or the Kansas Department for Children and Families. Local law enforcement officials and the attorney general could participate in those inquiries if necessary.
He said the attorney general’s office fielded about 1,400 adult and juvenile abuse complaints annually. That work has been divided between two people working for Schmidt.
Read more: cjonline.com/news/state/2016-03-22/house-advances-bill-shifting-investigation-juvenile-abuse-claims
The House offered preliminary consent Tuesday for a Senate-passed bill shifting primary responsibility for investigating complaints about children in state custody away from the attorney general to a pair of state agencies.
Attorney General Derek Schmidt informed legislators his two-person staff assigned to abuse complaints involving institutionalized juveniles and disabled adults has been overwhelmed. The attorney general would retain under Senate Bill 408 the power to lead inquiries of abuse, neglect and exploitation among disabled adults. The House advanced the bill to final action, likely to occur Wednesday. The Senate previously adopted the measure on a vote of 40-0.
Rep. Blaine Finch, R-Ottawa, said responsibility for reviewing juvenile abuse claims would become the jurisdiction of the Kansas Department of Corrections or the Kansas Department for Children and Families. Local law enforcement officials and the attorney general could participate in those inquiries if necessary.
He said the attorney general’s office fielded about 1,400 adult and juvenile abuse complaints annually. That work has been divided between two people working for Schmidt.
Read more: cjonline.com/news/state/2016-03-22/house-advances-bill-shifting-investigation-juvenile-abuse-claims