Brief (1)
HB 2355 would authorize a memorial for people who are buried on the grounds of the former Topeka State Hospital. The state would retain title to the portion of the grounds where the burial plots are, and the area would be titled the Topeka State Hospital Cemetery. A plaque inscribed with the names of people buried in the cemetery and fencing would be added to the cemetery. The bill would require the Director of Architectural Services to approve the design and construction of the memorial. The Secretary of Administration would be required to maintain the memorial and the cemetery grounds.
The Secretary would also appoint an advisory committee of persons interested in establishing and maintaining the memorial. The members of the committee would receive no compensation for their participation. Gifts, grants, contributions, and bequests could be accepted and deposited into a newly established Topeka State Hospital Memorial Gift Fund. All expenditures from that fund would have to be approved by the Secretary of Administration or the Secretary's designee. The fund would be credited with interest earnings on the average daily balance in the fund.
Background
The Senate Committee amended the bill to specify that the Secretary of Administration may enter into contracts with private individuals or entities for maintenance of the memorial and cemetery. The Committee also amended the bill to make it effective upon publication in the Kansas Register.
From 1879 to 1954, 1,157 persons who died while committed to Topeka State Hospital were buried on the hospital grounds. An estimated 15 of the grave sites have headstones. A conferee testified the bill is necessary to preserve the cemetery and that it is appropriate for a memorial to be erected as a reminder to future generations of the people who lived and died at the hospital.
Representative Nancy Kirk and a representative of the mental health community spoke in support of the bill.
The Department of Administration estimates that it would cost $150,000 to fence the cemetery and install the monument. The fiscal note assumes that the cost would be borne by donations.
1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/bill_search.html