House Status:
Senate Status:
Senate Status:
Minutes for HB2638 - Committee on Child Welfare and Foster Care
Short Title
Requiring that a child in custody of the secretary be provided information regarding the child's rights and the secretary maintain confirmation of the child's notification and understanding of such child's rights in child in need of care proceedings.
Minutes Content for Wed, Feb 11, 2026
The Chair opened the hearing on HB2638.
Jessie Pringle, Assistant Revisor, gave the bill brief for HB2638 to the committee; the bill amends and builds on the Representative Gail Finney Memorial Foster Care Bill of Rights. (Attachment 1) Ms. Pringle stood for questions from the committee.
Brenna Visocsky, Just Campaign Director, Kansas Appleseed, spoke of support for the bill to make rights known and understood by children in need of care. (Attachment 2) Ms. Visocsky stood for questions from the committee.
Kerrie Lonard, Child Advocate, OCA, spoke in favor of the bill to make sure children receive and understand their rights. (Attachment 3) Ms. Lonard stood for questions from the committee.
Tanya Keys, Deputy Secretary, DCF, spoke on the procedures used by DCF in informing children and asked for consistency in informing very young children of rights. (Attachment 4) Ms. Keys stood for questions from the committee.
Adaylia Nisly, Private Citizen, spoke of her own experience in foster care and submitted some amendments to the current bill of rights. (Attachment 5) (Attachment 6)
Allison Wiggs, Private Citizen, spoke of her interest in the foster care bill of rights and comparison of the current with the proposed amendments. (Attachment 7)
Ms. Nisly and Ms. Wiggs stood for questions from the committee.
Kristalle Hedrick, CEO, Children's Alliance of Kansas, submitted written-only proponent testimony. (Attachment 8)
No opponent testimony was submitted.
No neutral testimony was submitted.
The Chair closed the hearing on HB2638.
