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Minutes for SB284 - Committee on Utilities
Short Title
Establishing the blind information access act to require the state library to provide on-demand information access services to persons who are blind, visually impaired, deafblind or print disabled.
Minutes Content for Thu, Mar 14, 2024
The Chair opened the hearing on SB 284.
Nick Myers gave an overview of the bill. (Attachment 1)
Senator Mary Ware testified in support of the bill and stated that this service, which is for the blind, visually impaired, deaf blind, and print impaired, helps thousands of people across the state to be connected to the world. The conferee stood for questions. (Attachment 2)
Tom Page testified in support of the bill and demonstrated how the service works on cell phones. The conferee stood for questions.(Attachment 3)
Robert Tabor provided written testimony in support of the bill.(Attachment 4)
Michael Monteferrante, Envision, provided written testimony in support of the bill. (Attachment 5)
Daniel McCarville provided written testimony in support of the bill.(Attachment 6)
Susan Stanzel provided written testimony in support of the bill. (Attachment 7)
Dianne Hemphill provided written testimony in support of the bill. (Attachment 8)
Crystal Jensen provided written testimony in support of the bill. (Attachment 9)
Sharon Luka provided written testimony in support of the bill. (Attachment 10)
Donna Wood provided written testimony in support of the bill. (Attachment 11)
Courtney Meyer provided written testimony in support of the bill. (Attachment 12)
Tom Basgall provided written testimony in support of the bill. (Attachment 13)
Virginia Stanzel provided written testimony in support of the bill. (Attachment 14)
Shauna Zepeda provided written testimony in support of the bill (Attachment 15)
Susan Tabor provided written testimony in support of the bill. (Attachment 16)
Jo Ann Mulik provided written testimony in support of the bill. (Attachment 17)
Loretta Stanzel provided written testimony in support of the bill. (Attachment 18)
Laurie Hoag provided written testimony in support of the bill. (Attachment 19)
Randy Phifer provided written testimony in support of the bill. (Attachment 20)
Craig Roebke provided written testimony in support of the bill. (Attachment 21)
Donald Mulik provided written testimony in support of the bill. (Attachment 22)
Jeff McClanahan testified as a neutral conferee on the bill and stated the KCC staff views this a very worthwhile program and use of the Kansas Universal Service Funds. It also will not create any incremental costs. The conferee stood for questions. (Attachment 23)
Ray Walling, State Library of Kansas, provided neutral written testimony on the bill. (Attachment 24)
The Chair asked if anyone in the audience would like to speak.
Robert Tabor, Vice President of the National Federation of the Blind in Kansas, Newsline coordinator, and Newsline subscriber; testified in support of the bill.
The Chair closed the hearing on SB 284.
Meeting adjourned at 2:10.
