House Status:
Senate Status:
Senate Status:
Minutes for SB29 - Committee on Health and Human Services
Short Title
Substitute for SB 29 by Committee on Public Health and Welfare - Removing the authority of the county or joint board of health or local health officer to prohibit public gatherings when necessary for the control of infectious or contagious disease.
Minutes Content for Fri, Mar 7, 2025
Carly Choi, Revisor of Statutes provided an overview of SB29.
Tiffany Ellison, Private Citizen, provided testimony in support of SB29 (Attachment 1). It is the job of legislators to first weigh all government actions against the protection of the right of individual choice of healthy practices. It is irresponsible to assume that a government agency can enforce policies that would irradiate all known health risks. Please consider changing the language of the bill back to the original SB29 language. Please consider strengthening the protection of citizens when making changes to Chapter 65 to allow secretaries of health to "make recommendations".
Jacklyn Paletta, Private Citizen, provided testimony in support of SB29 (Attachment 2). Ms. Paletta provided a story of a girl who was quarantined for exposure of chicken pox. At issue is that there was no specific section in statute, specifically chapter 65 that afforded the child due process or redress. The legislature may be thinking that any confusion over applicability or enforceability in this chapter ought to be cleared up by a judge. This only works if the legislative intent is clear. We all need to do our part to facilitate a healthy Kansas while still protecting the liberties of Kansans.
Ms. Paletta responded to questions from the committee.
Ann Roberts, Private Citizen, provided testimony in support of SB29 (Attachment 3). Ms. Roberts provided the details surrounding her daughter's experience being quarantined for exposure to chicken pox and the legal issues that they had concerning due process and redress.
Ms. Roberts responded to questions from the committee.
The following provided written only proponent testimony:
Melissa Campbell, Private Citizen (Attachment 4)
Kari Sue Vosburgh, Private Citizen (Attachment 5)
Dale Enyart, Private Citizen (Attachment 6)
Randy Bowman. Executive Director, Kansas Association of Local Health Departments. provided testimony in opposition to SB29 (Attachment 7). The restrictions imposed in this bill are ill-advised. Current headlines make it clear that infectious diseases continue to pose a threat, especially to those who choose not to protect themselves, their families, and their communities through available vaccinations. Beyond domestic concerns, we must also consider global health threats. Mr. Bowman urged the committee to recognize that this legislation would not improve the ability to respond to public health threats.
Mr. Bowman responded to questions from the committee.
The following provided written only opponent testimony:
Charlie Hunt, Director, Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (Attachment 8)
Kimberly Martin, Legislative Chair, Kansas School Nurses Organization (Attachment 9)
Heather Braum, Senior Policy Advisor, Kansas Action for Children (Attachment 10)
Sanna Schneeberger, Executive Director, Kansas Public Health Association (Attachment 11)
Troy Knoell, Private Citizen (Attachment 12)
Cassie Woolworth, Private Citizen (Attachment 13)
Tracy Russell, Executive Director, Nurture KC (Attachment 14)
Susan Moore, Assistant Director, Franklin County Health Department (Attachment 15)
Erin Kibbe, Administrator, Osborne County Health Department (Attachment 16)
Jonathan Smith, Executive Director, Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health (Attachment 17)
Dr. Dena Hubbard, Public Committee Chair, Kansas Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (Attachment 18)
Nathan Madden, Impact Strategist-Policy, Health Forward Foundation (Attachment 19)
Dr. Amy Voelker, Private Citizen (Attachment 20)
The hearing was closed.
