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Minutes for HB2811 - Committee on Appropriations

Short Title

Directing the department of corrections to establish a correctional center nursery for incarcerated expectant mothers and their child to allow certain expectant mothers to care and bond with their child for up to 36 months while incarcerated.

Minutes Content for Wed, Mar 13, 2024

Chairperson Waymaster opened the hearing on HB2811.

Jill Wolters, First Assistant Revisor, Office of Revisor of Statutes, provided information about HB2811. (Attachment 1)

Revisor Wolters answered questions from the committee on the following items:

  • Child will live, not visit, with the mother for up to 36 months
  • Supervision over the parent and child
  • Maximum occupancy of the new facility
  • Timing of child(ren)'s birth with incarceration date
  • Women offenders at the Topeka facility

Shirley Morrow answered questions from committee members on information provided from the fiscal note for the bill.

Proponent testimony - in person:

  • Senator Kristen O'Shea, State of Kansas Senator District 18 (Attachment 2) Senator O'Shea answered questions asked earlier in the meeting by committee committees and informed them that SB489 and HB2811 have similar language and there was a proposed amendment to SB 489 for their consideration. (Attachment 3)

  • Gloria Geither, Executive Director, Facility Management for Kansas Department of Corrections (Attachment 4) Gloria Geither answered questions from committee members.

  • Abriona Markham, Executive Director, Topeka Doula Project (Attachment 5) The committee had no questions for the conferee.

  • Amy Pinger, Volunteer, Ministry to Incarcerated Families, United Women in Faith (Attachment 6) The committee had no questions for the conferee.

  • Teresa Tuchscherer, Chairperson, Ministry to Incarcerated Families, United Women in Faith (Attachment 7) The committee had no questions for the conferee.

Proponent testimony - written only:

  • Brenda Bandy, Executive Director, Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition, Inc. (Attachment 8)
  • Kelson Bohnet, Capital Public Defender, Kansas State Board of Indigents' Defense Services (Attachment 9)
  • Kathy Damron, Community Volunteer, Board of the Kansas Children's Discovery Center (Attachment 10)
  • Dena Hubbard, MD, FAAP, Public Policy Chair, Kansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (Attachment 11)
  • Brittany Jones, Director of Policy and Engagement, Kansas Family Voice (Attachment 12)
  • Jessica Lahnherr, President and Chief Executive Officer, United Way of Kaw Valley (Attachment 13)
  • Nathan Madden, PhD, Policy Impact Strategist, Health Forward Foundation (Attachment 14)
  • Michelle McCormick, Executive Director, Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence (Attachment 15)
  • Lucrecia Nold, Policy Specialist, Kansas Catholic Conference (Attachment 16)
  • Adrienne Olejnik, Vice President, Kansas Action for Children (Attachment 17)
  • Kirsten Price, Retreat Coordinator, Ministry to Incarcerated Families, United Women in Faith (Attachment 18)
  • David Ranney, Private Citizen (Attachment 19)
  • Tracy Russell, Executive Director, Nurture KC (Attachment 20)
  • April Terry, PhD, LMLP, Criminal Justice Program, Fort Hays State University (Attachment 21)
  • Tammy Thomas, Kansas State Director, Safe Families for Children (Attachment 22)

No neutral testimony was given.

Opponent testimony - in person:

  • Sapphire Garcia-Lies, Executive Director, Kansas Birth Justice Society (Attachment 23) Sapphire Garcia-Lies answered questions from committee members.

Chairperson Waymaster closed the public hearing on HB2811.