(March 23, 2023) – Today, the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, chaired by Senator Beverly Gossage (R-Eudora), held hearings on the following bills:

House Bill 2240 requires the clerk of the district court to give notice of qualified residential treatment program placement. The committee heard from one proponent conferee, Tanya Keyes, Kansas Department for Children and Families.

House Bill 2260 increases the medical student loan agreements that may be provided by The University of Kansas School of Medicine and prohibits impediments to switching between residency programs. The committee heard from one proponent, Kyle Kessler, the Association of Community Mental Health Centers.

The committee took final action on the following:

House Bill 2325 adds "maternity center" to the definition of "healthcare provider" for purposes of the Healthcare Provider Insurance Availability Act. The committee added to the bill the original contents of Senate Bill 219. That legislation designates certain health care providers as being ineligible to purchase professional liability insurance from the Health Care Stabilization Fund. The bill was recommended favorably as amended.

Senate Bill 314 prohibits the secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment from requiring COVID-19 vaccination for children attending a childcare facility or school. The committee recommended the bill favorably for passage.

Senate Bill 315 strikes the employer language, the chair broke the four-to-four tie vote in favor of the amendment. Sen. Molly Baumgardner (R-Louisburg) brought an amendment to strike the language related to eliminating the meningitis vaccine requirement to live in student housing. The amendment failed. The committee took a vote to pass as amended, and the motion failed. The bill will remain in committee.

House Bill 2240 requires the clerk of the district court to give notice of qualified residential treatment program placement.

House Bill 2260 increases the number of medical student loan agreements that may be provided by The University of Kansas School of Medicine and prohibits impediments to switching between residency programs. The committee saw a vote adding the contents to Senate Bill 98, which authorizes medical student and residency loan assistance to encourage the practice of obstetrics and gynecology in medically underserved areas of the state. The bill was recommended favorably as amended.

The committee will meet again Friday, March 24.