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Minutes for HB2624 - Committee on Veterans and Military
Short Title
Requiring that federal disability determinations for veterans be probative.
Minutes Content for Tue, Feb 6, 2024
Staff briefed the Committee on the contents of this bill.(Attachment 1) and stood for questions.
The Chairman recognized Mike Kelly, State Legislative Chair, KS Council of Chapters, MOAA.(Attachment 2) According to Mr. Kelly, this bill defines the terms "veteran" "service-connected," and "non-service-connected" in order to reduce administrative burdens on service-connected disabled veterans and surviving family members. He said this bill would codify the documentation needed to establish a service-connected disability determination and will ease burdens and avoid disputes in administration of state programs. He stood for questions.
Representative Ken Collins was the next proponent. (Attachment 3) He said it is a simple bill that requires findings of a service-connected disability or death by federal officials to be probative in Kansas. According to Representative Collins, this bill would prohibit state agencies from requesting or demanding a veteran's private health information for the purpose of determining eligibility for service-connected or non-service connected disability benefits and would prohibit the reconsideration of disability determination made by federal officials as specified in the bill. The finding of disability by federal agencies would be final for purposes of the State of Kansas, when proof is provided by the federal entities.
There were no other proponents, opponents or neutrals so the Chairman closed the hearing on HB2624 and opened the hearing on HB2625.
