MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR
House Bill No. 2329
An Act concerning children and minors; changing the name of juvenile crisis intervention centers to juvenile stabilization centers; modifying the intake criteria for such centers; prohibiting certain rules and regulations for such centers; modifying the treatment and services provided by such centers; relating to the revised Kansas juvenile justice code; increasing the cumulative detention limit for juvenile offenders and criminal penalties for juvenile offenders who use a firearm in the commission of an offense or who are repeat offenders; providing for increased placement of juvenile offenders in non-foster home beds in youth residential facilities; requiring the secretary of corrections to pay for the costs associated with such placements between July 1, 2026, and July 1, 2030; requiring the Kansas juvenile justice oversight committee to monitor the impact and effectiveness of such placements; authorizing the secretary to make expenditures from the evidence-based programs account of the state general fund moneys to contract for such beds in youth residential facilities prior to July 1, 2030; transferring moneys from such account of the state general fund to the department for children and families to provide juvenile stabilization services; amending K.S.A. 38-2232, 38-2242, 38-2361, 38-2365, 38-2369, 38-2399, 75-52,161 and 75-7023 and K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 38-2243, 38-2330, 38-2391, 65-536 and 75-52,164 and repealing the existing sections.
Message to the Legislature of the State of Kansas
In 2016, after much thoughtful fact-finding and deliberation, the Kansas Legislature passed SB 367, a monumental overhaul of our approach to our juvenile justice system. The effort was led by Representative Russ Jennings, the late former Commissioner of the Kansas Juvenile Justice Authority and a nationally recognized expert in the field. The intent of the reforms in SB 367 was to reduce the number of children in the “system” by providing more effective diversion and treatment programs in the community. Overall, the reforms worked. But they also exposed some gaps in the system, primarily centered around appropriate placement for children whose behaviors made it hard to find suitable placement for them in the community. HB 2329 was a well-intentioned response to that problem. Unfortunately, while looking for a solution for one problem, HB 2329 would reverse much of the forward progress made under SB 367. I encourage the Legislature to set up a special committee to study this issue again, in depth, and craft legislation that will build on the successes of SB 367 and retain Kansas’ position as a leader in the Juvenile Justice realm.
Therefore, pursuant to Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution of the State of Kansas, I hereby veto House Bill 2329.
Laura Kelly, Governor
Dated April 8, 2026.
