38-2213. Records of law enforcement agencies; limited disclosure; exchange of information; access; court ordered disclosure. (a) Principle of limited disclosure. Information contained in confidential law enforcement records concerning a child alleged or adjudicated to be in need of care may be disclosed as provided in this section. Disclosure shall in all cases be guided by the principle of providing access only to persons or entities with a need for information that is directly related to achieving the purposes of this code.

(b) Free exchange of information. Pursuant to K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 38-2210, and amendments thereto, a law enforcement agency shall participate in the free exchange of information concerning a child who is alleged or adjudicated to be in need of care.

(c) Access to information in law enforcement records. In order to discharge their official duties, the following persons or entities shall have access to confidential law enforcement records concerning a child alleged or adjudicated to be in need of care.

(1) The court having jurisdiction over the proceedings, including the presiding judge and any court personnel designated by the judge.

(2) The secretary.

(3) The commissioner of juvenile justice.

(4) Law enforcement officers or county or district attorneys or their staff.

(5) Any juvenile intake and assessment worker.

(6) Members of a court-appointed multidisciplinary team.

(7) Any other federal, state or local government executive branch entity, or any agent of such entity, having a need for such information in order to carry out such entity's responsibilities under law to protect children from abuse and neglect.

(8) Persons or entities allowed access pursuant to subsection (f) of K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 38-2212, and amendments thereto.

(d) Necessary access. The following persons or entities shall have access to information from law enforcement records when reasonably necessary to carry out their lawful responsibilities, to maintain their personal safety and the personal safety of individuals in their care, or to educate, diagnose, treat, care for or protect a child alleged or adjudicated to be in need of care. Information authorized to be disclosed in this subsection shall not contain information which identifies a reporter of a child alleged or adjudicated to be a child in need of care.

(1) Any individual, or public or private agency authorized by a properly constituted authority to diagnose, care for, treat or supervise a child who is the subject of a report or record of child abuse or neglect, including physicians, psychiatrists, nurses, nurse practitioners, psychologists, licensed social workers, child development specialists, physician assistants, community mental health workers, alcohol and drug abuse counselors, and licensed or registered child care providers.

(2) School administrators shall have access to but shall not copy law enforcement records and may disclose information to teachers, paraprofessionals and other school personnel as necessary to meet the educational needs of the child or to protect the safety of students and school employees.

(3) The department of health and environment or persons authorized by the department of health and environment pursuant to K.S.A. 65-512, and amendments thereto, for the purposes of carrying out responsibilities relating to licensure or registration of child care providers as required by article 5 of chapter 65 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto.

(e) Legislative access. Information from law enforcement records of a child alleged or adjudicated to be in need of care shall be available to members of the standing house or senate committee on judiciary, house committee on corrections and juvenile justice, house committee on appropriations, senate committee on ways and means, legislative post audit committee and any joint committee with authority to consider children's and families' issues, when carrying out such member's or committee's official functions in accordance with K.S.A. 75-4319, and amendments thereto, in a closed or executive meeting. Except in limited conditions established by 2/3 of the members of such committee, records and reports received by the committee shall not be further disclosed. Unauthorized disclosure may subject such member to discipline or censure from the house of representatives or senate.

(f) Court order. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a court of competent jurisdiction, after in camera inspection, may order disclosure of confidential law enforcement records pursuant to a determination that the disclosure is in the best interests of the child who is the subject of the reports or that the records are necessary for the proceedings of the court and otherwise admissible as evidence. The court shall specify the terms of disclosure and impose appropriate limitations.

History: L. 1982, ch. 182, § 8; L. 1983, ch. 140, § 15; L. 1984, ch. 153, § 2; L. 1992, ch. 318, § 3; L. 1996, ch. 229, § 35; L. 1997, ch. 156, § 42; L. 2004, ch. 178, § 5; July 1.

Revisor's Note:

Section was also amended by L. 2004, ch. 144, § 2, but that version was repealed by L. 2004, ch. 178, § 7.