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Minutes for HB2160 - Committee on Local Government
Short Title
Enacting the municipal employee whistleblower act to provide statutory protections for municipal employees who report or disclose unlawful or dangerous conduct.
Minutes Content for Fri, Feb 14, 2025
Jason Long, Revisor of Statutes, (Attachment 5) gave an overview of the bill. He explained that an employer could not take disciplinary action against an employee for engaging in certain conduct.
Representative Carrie Barth brought this bill forward and testified as a proponent. No written testimony was provided.
Catherine Ellsworth, citizen, (Attachment 6), testified as a proponent. She explained that the state needs to protect county whistleblowers.
The following provided written proponent testimony
- Patricia DeDamos, citizen (Attachment 8)
- Lyn Levine, Precinct Committee Precinct Committeeman (Attachment 9)
- Brett Anderson, Republican Precinct Committeeman (Attachment 10)
- Kari Sue Vosburgh, Sedgwick County Precinct Committeewoman (Attachment 11)
- Anne Dare, citizen (Attachment 12)
- John Ims, Senate District #1 (Attachment 13)
- Tammy Mininhan, Republican Precinct Committeewoman (Attachment 14)
- Susan Walker, Bourbon County Clerk (Attachment 15)
- Shane Walker, Chief Operating Officer, Bourbon(Attachment 16)
Spencer Duncan, League of Municipalities, (Attachment 17) testified as neutral to the bill. He asked that if the bill moves forward, the Committee examine the need for departing from the Act for state employees and consider adopting the same language found in that Act and to take employer policies on reporting violations into account.
Jay Hall, Kansas Association of Counties,(Attachment 18) testified as neutral to the bill. He explained that extending whistleblower protections beyond reporting illegal activities or violations of rules could create unintended consequences.
The following person provided written only opponent testimony
- Dick Carter, on behalf of City of Overland Park,(Attachment 19)
Representative Blex,moved, seconded by Representative Wolf to approve minutes from February 3, 2025. Motion passed.
Representative Blex,moved, seconded by Representative Wolf to approve minutes from February 5 2025. Motion passed.
Representative Blex,moved, seconded by Representative Wolf to approve minutes from February 10 2025. Motion passed.
Chairman Bergquist closed the hearing on HB2160.
Meeting adjourned at 9:55 a.m.
