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Oct. 6, 2021Topeka, Kan. |  By: AP

Kansas governor bypasses lawmakers, creates child advocate

foster care

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Gov. Laura Kelly has created an independent office to review complaints against Kansas' foster care system and recommend changes in child welfare policies.

Her order Monday establishing the new agency fulfills a longtime goal of advocates for abused and neglected children. The Democratic governor's move to create the office by executive order also bypasses the Republican-controlled Legislature.

It deadlocked on the issue earlier this year after some lawmakers pushed to put the new office under the state attorney general.

Some Democrats saw that as a partisan move because Attorney General Derek Schmidt is widely expected to be the GOP nominee challenging Kelly next year.