(March 24, 2023) – Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Senator Kellie Warren (R-Leawood) held a hearing on House Bill 2023. The legislation provides additional protections for health care workers.

Conferees included:

• Tara Mays, Kansas Hospital Association
• Elijah Thompson, director of physical security, Saint Luke's Health System
• Monica Natzke, chief nursing officer, Advent Health South Overland Park
• Chris Buesing, director of Workers' Compensation and workforce safety, Stormont Vail Health

Next, the committee worked the following bills:

Senate Bill 317 permits prosecution for childhood sexual abuse to be commenced at any time, extends the time to file civil actions for recovery of damages caused by childhood sexual abuse and provides exceptions in the Kansas Tort Claims Act for claims arising from such abuse. The committee amended in the following ways:

• Include injury and illness language into the bill
• Language to ensure crimes against those under 18 are also included in the law

The committee moved the contents into House Bill 2127 and recommended House Bill 2127 as amended.

Senate Bill 232 establishes the Office of the Child Advocate as an independent state agency, making orders granting custody for adoption subject to the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, directs the secretary for the Kansas Department of Children and Families to consider foster parents as prospective adoptive parents in certain circumstances and authorizes an appeal of any order of placement of a child.

The committee moved the contents into House Bill 2070 and recommended House Bill 2070 as amended.