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Minutes for HB2353 - Committee on Judiciary
Short Title
Increasing the amount of time a person may be held for treatment and adding criteria for when continued treatment may be ordered under the care and treatment act for mentally ill persons.
Minutes Content for Tue, Mar 19, 2024
Chairwoman Warren opened the hearing on HB2353
Jason Thompson provided an overview of the bill and stood for questions.(Attachment 9)
Steven Green, Dugan Consulting on behalf of Cicero Action, provided testimony in support of the bill. He stated this bill will put more tools in the hands of families, medical professionals, and officials that will allow the state to understand better demand for the continuum of care and better address the most extreme cases of mental illness in Kansas. (Attachment 10)
Susan Crain Lewis, President/CEO Mental Health America of the Heartland provided testimony in strong support of the bill. She states this bill provides clarity and appropriate guard rails and due process, while enabling the court system and providers to effectively use this option to serve Kansans in imminent and urgent need of mental health treatment.(Attachment 11)
Chris Schneider, Assistant District Attorney, Wyandotte County, supports this bill. He states that being able to provide care in the least restrictive environment that provides for the safety of the patient and community, allows the courts to reduce the trauma experienced by those with mental health struggles, which often results in more successful recovery. (Attachment 12)
Drew Adkins, Commissioner, Behavioral Health Services, Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, supports this bill. He stated that passing HB2353 can improve today's program but mot importantly get the small but often missed population the help they need to become stable and productive members of society. (Attachment 13)
Nick Hart, Private Citizen, supports this bill. He said passage of the bill will positively change the lives of families with loved ones with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness, and improve community safety prior to mental health escalations. (Attachment 14)
Written only testimony in support of HB2353 was submitted by the following:
- Itzel Moya, LMSW, NAMI, Kansas, AOT Director and lifelong Kansas Resident (Attachment 15)
- Isaac Johnson, NAMI Kansas Resource Line Director (Attachment 16)
- Christopher Chastain, Public Policy and Advocacy Director, NAMI Kansas (Attachment 17)
- Susan Wallace, NAMI Kansas and lifelong Kansas Resident (Attachment 18)
- Rhonda Melton, LMSW and Assisted Outreach Coordinator/Clinician for Cowley county, Four County Mental Health Center (Attachment 19)
- Andrew Stein, District Judge in the 16th Judicial District (Attachment 20)
- Lane Williams, Legal Director at the Disability Rights Center of Kansas (Attachment 21)
- Michelle Ponce, Associate Director for the Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas (Attachment 22)
- Connie Hart, Private Citizen (Attachment 23)
- Annarose White Private Citizen (Attachment 24)
There being no further conferees, Chairwoman Warren closed the hearing on HB2353
