Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB128

Introduced
1/30/25  
Refer
1/31/25  
Report Pass
2/17/25  
Engrossed
2/19/25  
Refer
2/19/25  

Caption

Creating an exception to certain mandatory reporting obligations for licensed social workers when working under the supervision of an attorney and permitting an attorney to require a licensed social worker to keep ethical obligations of attorney-client privilege while working under the supervision of such attorney.

Impact

The legislation proposes amendments to existing laws, particularly regarding how social workers handle information obtained in their professional practice when collaborating with attorneys. By protecting the confidentiality of clients who are in the midst of legal proceedings or who are seeking representation, the bill aims to encourage individuals to seek help without fear of mandatory reporting that could lead to legal repercussions for themselves or their families. This is particularly pertinent in cases concerning vulnerable populations such as children and elderly adults.

Summary

Senate Bill 128 aims to create an exception to certain mandatory reporting obligations specifically for licensed social workers operating under the supervision of attorneys. The bill allows these social workers to maintain client confidentiality in matters relating to attorney-client privilege, thereby facilitating open communication that is often essential in legal contexts. This change seeks to align the practices of social workers more closely with the ethical obligations that attorneys hold towards their clients, especially in sensitive cases involving abuse, neglect, or other legal ramifications.

Contention

Despite its intentions, SB 128 has sparked a debate among stakeholders regarding the balance between protecting client confidentiality and the necessity of reporting suspected cases of abuse or neglect. Critics may argue that creating such an exception could inadvertently hinder proper reporting practices that are designed to protect vulnerable individuals. Advocates for the bill, on the other hand, contend that the measure ensures essential communications remain confidential and that social workers need the freedom to discuss complicated issues without fearing mandatory disclosures that could damage their cases or the trust of their clients.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS SB7

Authorizing federally licensed firearm dealers, in addition to county sheriffs, to receive applications for concealed carry licenses and forward such applications to the attorney general, prohibiting sheriffs from assessing any fee related to application services and allowing dealers to assess a fee related to application services not to exceed $20.

KS SB1

Modifying income tax rates for individuals, exempting all social security benefits from Kansas income tax, increasing the Kansas standard deduction and the Kansas personal exemption, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, decreasing the privilege tax normal tax, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value for property tax valuation purposes, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund and abolishing the local ad valorem tax reduction fund and the county and city revenue sharing fund.

KS HB2003

Establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, modifying the definition of household income and increasing the appraised value threshold for eligibility of seniors and disabled veterans related to increased property tax claims and citing the section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, providing property tax exemptions for certain personal property including watercraft, marine equipment, off-road vehicles, motorized bicycles and certain trailers, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value, providing for certain exclusions from the prohibition of paying taxes under protest after a valuation notice appeal and providing four prior years' values on the annual valuation notice.

KS SB2

Eliminating the income limit to qualify for the subtraction modification exempting social security benefits, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, citing the increased property tax homestead refund claim section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, decreasing the normal privilege tax rate, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, decreasing the rate of ad valorem tax imposed by a school district; providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund, reducing the state rate of tax on sales of food and food ingredients and modifying the percent credited to the state highway fund from revenue collected.

KS HB2001

Authorizing the secretary of commerce to enter into agreements with major professional sports franchises to establish STAR bond projects for a major professional sports complex, providing for additional revenue sources, expanding the powers and discretion of the secretary and making other changes to the STAR bonds financing act to facilitate such projects, limiting the secretary’s authority to approve such projects to one year unless extended by the legislative coordinating council, authorizing the Kansas development finance authority to issue STAR bonds for such projects, transferring funds under certain circumstances from the state gaming revenues fund to the attracting professional sports to Kansas fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and, if approved by the legislative coordinating council, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

KS SB8

Exempting the sale of firearms, firearms accessories, ammunition, firearm safes and firearm safety devices from the retatilers' sales tax.

KS SB6

Providing a sales tax exemption for sales of electricity to residential premises by municipally owned or operated utilities.

KS HB2002

Expanding medical assistance eligibility and enacting the cutting healthcare costs for all Kansans act.

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

KS SB3

Clarifying the procedures and restrictions on accepting a nomination for an elected office.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.