The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-22
HELP CHILDREN
Legislative Program Being
Prepared by DIR. SherbOn.
Urge Establishment of Research
Department at Il. q.
FOR CHILD WELFARE WORK
VIII Aid County Boards in
Carrying on Reform.
Many New Laws and Amend.
ments Are Recommended.

The most comprehensive legislative
program ever prepared covering child
welfare work in Kansas will be pre-
sented to the next legislature, accord
ing to DIR. Florence Brown Sherbon
chief of the division of child hygiene
of the State Board of Health. Doctor
Sherbon is chairman of the Kansas
Childrens Code Commission which
was appointed by Governor Allen.
To Establish Research Department.
The program outlined by the com
mission includes the establishment of
q department of research at the Uni,
versity of Kansas which would investi-
gate fundamental problems concerning
child and family life. Then a bill will
be proposed creating county boards of
welfare with a director in the State
Board of Administration. These
county boards would combine the
work now done by several agencies in
Guiding charity, and handling of tru-
ancy and other forms of delinquency
among children.
To aid these county boards in carry
ing out a program of reform and gen
eral welfare work a series of bills have
been prepared providing for stricter
motion picture censorship and regula-
ton of other public amusements, and
stronger marriage, child labor and
other laws vitality affecting the well
fare of children.
Many New Laws Recommended.
Among the new laws and amuse-
ments which will be recommended to
the legislature by the commission are:
Bill for establishment at the state train-
ing school at Winfield of a department for
tai detectives
for infants and children under two years
of age, and state supervision of all child
placing within bounds of state including
public and private individuals and agencies
and also agencies from other states
Bill to amend present law providing for
license and inspection of maternity homes
charitable institutions from paying license
fee, and to provide for full time inspector
in child hygiene division of state board OF
health for carrying out inspection law.
Bill to amend law establishing detention
homes, bringing these homes clearly under
provisions of inspection law and providing
for separate detention of delinquent and
dependent children.
Bill to amend the present mothers pen
sion laws making the issuance of mothers
pensions mandatory and increasing maxi
mum allowance.
Bill to permit expenditure of city and
county funds for establishing health serv-
ice of any kind determined by ordinance
or referendum. Said service may include
full time health officers, public health
nurses, health centers, laboratories, sani-
tary inspectors and others.
Bill providing for physical examination,
mciud1ng Iree dehlaI lIlSpeeIaon OF an
school children at least once every year.
Bill for protection of the rights of choid
born out of wedlock.
Bill to amend present child labor laws
providing more strict an dequable defini-
ton of hazards" for children in industry;
for more strict definition of age. for chill
dren entering industry. harmonizing this
with compulsory education law.
BHl to amend marriage laws: TO require
public notice in person Of intent to marry
given by both parties to contract, ten days
before legal ceremony: to require presenta-
tion of specified certificates of mental and
physical examination by all applicants for
marriage certificate; to strengthen the law
which makes it a misdemeanor to perform
marriage ceremony in violation Of pro-
visions of law.