(March 9, 2023) – Today, the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, chaired by Senator Beverly Gossage (R-Eudora), held a hearing on House Bill 2390. The bill establishes the Kansas Overdose Fatality Review Board and excludes tests to detect the presence of fentanyl, ketamine, flunitrazepam or gamma hydroxybutyric acid in a substance from the definition of drug paraphernalia. The legislation previously passed the House on a vote of 121-0.
Conferees included:
- Representative Bill Clifford, MD (R-Garden City)
- Michelle Ponce, Association Director of CMHC’s of Kansas
- Libby Davis, RN Centrist Health
- Erika Holliday, Unified Government of Wyandotte Public Health Department
- Ashley Goss, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
- Andy Brown, Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services
- Seth Dewey, Substance Misuse Health Educator
Nick Reinecker appeared before the committee as an opponent. Reinecker cautioned this should be two bills and suggested the creation of a task force studying this is likely to recommend Medicaid expansion as a solution for policymakers to consider.
The committee will meet again next week.