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Minutes for SB211 - Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
Short Title
Authorizing the members of the wildlife and parks commission to submit proposed rules and regulations to such commission.
Minutes Content for Wed, Feb 26, 2025
Tamera Lawrence, Revisor, gave an overview of SB211.
Opponent testimony:
Justin Cobb, the Nature Conservancy spoke to the bill. (Attachment 1) The statute (K.S.A.32-805(d)) currently provides the secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Parks with the sole authority to initiate the regulatory process through a submission to the department's commission. The commission then has the authority to approve, modify and approve, or reject rules or regulation. This change would fundamentally alter the process and remove the oversight of the state's biologists on decision that can have substantial impacts on wildlife populations.
Mr. Cobb stood for questions.
Lauren Sill, who is a past commissioner, asks the committee to limit further unnecessary politicalization of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Commission.(Attachment 2) Mechanisms are already in place for members of the Commission, the public, and the secretary and staff to request consideration of regulation changes.
Ms. Sill stood for questions.
Chairman Peck closed the hearing on SB211 at 9:04 a.m.
