2006 Kansas Code - 38-1552a

      38-1552a.   Confidentiality of proceedings; parent ally program allowing attendance of additional parties. Notwithstanding K.S.A. 38-1552, and amendments thereto and any other provision of law to the contrary, the office of judicial administration shall implement a policy for each judicial district in which such judicial district shall implement proceedings under the Kansas code for care of children in which the court may exclude from any hearing all persons except the guardian ad litem, interested parties and their attorneys, officers of the court, the witness testifying, the child's foster parents and up to two people, both of whom have participated in a parent ally orientation program approved by the judicial administrator, and designated by the parent of the child. Such parent ally orientation program shall include but not be limited to information concerning the confidentiality of the proceedings; the child and parent's right to counsel; the definitions and jurisdiction pursuant to the Kansas code for care of children; the types and purposes of the hearings; options for informal supervision and dispositions; placement options; the parent's obligation to financially support the child while the child is in the state's custody; obligations of the secretary of social and rehabilitation services; obligations of entities that contract with the department of social and rehabilitation services for family preservation, foster care and adoption; the termination of parental rights; the procedures for appeals; and the basic rules regarding court procedure. Upon agreement of all interested parties, the court shall allow other persons to attend the proceedings, unless the court finds the presence of the persons would be disruptive to the proceedings. The court may remove the parent's ally or allies from a proceeding if such ally becomes disruptive in the present proceeding or has been found disruptive in a prior proceeding.

      History:   L. 2003, ch. 141, § 1; L. 2005, ch. 197, § 3; July 1.