(Feb. 9, 2023) – Today, the Senate Local Government Committee, chaired by Senator Carolyn McGinn (R-Sedgwick), held a hearing on Senate Bill 194. The legislation allows flexibility of a hospital board member living in a county adjacent to the county where the hospital is located to serve on the hospital's board.

Testifying in support of the legislation was Sen. Rick Billinger (R-Goodland). Sen. Billinger shared how the hospital in Oakley has difficulties recruiting volunteer board members. Oakley is a city in Gove, Logan and Thomas counties in Kansas. It is the county seat of Logan County. The legislation would allow county commissioners, should they choose, to appoint a hospital board member from an adjacent county.

The committee members asked if there is a scenario where someone could vote on taxing authority that doesn't have to pay the taxes. Chairman McGinn did suggest that there will be an amendment to specify this will be for limited counties when the bill is worked.