KS HB2734

Children under two years of age at the time a child-in-need-of-care petition is filed must achieve permanency within 12 months of out-of-home placement, unless the court determines by clear and convincing evidence that permanency is not currently in the child's best interests.

Permanency hearings for children under two must occur within three months of removal from the home, compared to nine months for other children, with additional hearings every six months until permanency is achieved.

Continuances in proceedings for children under two require clear and convincing evidence of good cause, and venue transfers are presumed detrimental to the child's best interests unless rebutted by a preponderance of evidence.

Courts must hold concurrent adjudication and dispositional hearings whenever possible for children under two, and at permanency hearings must require all parties to show good cause why parental rights should not be terminated.

The Secretary for Children and Families must submit annual reports to the legislature beginning in 2028 evaluating the effectiveness of expedited procedures and cost savings, with a final report due by the 2036 legislative session; the act takes effect January 1, 2027, and applies to petitions filed on or after July 1, 2027.