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Minutes for HB2016 - Committee on Transportation
Short Title
People with certain disabilities; motor vehicle registration information and notation on state-issued identification cards.
Minutes Content for Wed, Feb 1, 2017
Staff briefed the Committee on this bill
Chairman Proehl recognized Representative Finney. Representative Finney requested support of this bill because on August 16, 2016, Joey Weber was killed after he panicked and tried to flee from a law enforcement officer while driving his dad's car. She said many believe that if this bill had been in place at the time of Joey's death there would have been less of an opportunity for this tragedy to occur.(Attachment 5)
The next proponent was Don Hineman, House Majority Leader. Joey Weber, who the bill was named after, was a constituent of Majority Leader Hineman's. He said as tragic as Joey's death was, that perhaps something good could come out of it by drawing attention to others facing challenges of cognition.(Attachment 6)
Mike Oxford, Executive Director of Topeka Independent Living Resource Center, said their mission was to advocate for justice, equality and essential services for a fully integrated and accessible society for people with disabilities.(Attachment 7)
Senator Rick Billinger gave a little background on Joey Weber and the circumstances leading up to his tragic death. He said the purpose of this bill is to prevent this tragedy from ever happening again.(Attachment 8)
The next proponent to speak was John Weber, Joey's father.(Attachment 9) It was his feeling that if a law like this existed prior to Joey's death that Joey might be alive today.
Rick Cagan, Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness was the next proponent. He said NAMI supports the intent of HB2016 to provide the opportunity for individuals with cognitive impairments to have the means to make their condition known to law enforcement officers with the premise it be a completely voluntary option for individuals to disclose their condition.(Attachment 10)
The Chairman drew the Committee's attention to written testimony in support of HB2016 provided by:
Shannon Jones, Special Education Preschool Teacher(Attachment 11)
Jeanie Zortman(Attachment 12)
Kenneth Wasserman, Attorney, Salina, KS(Attachment 13)
Michael Wassmer, Olathe, KS (Attachment 14)
Sheriff John Ketron, Ashland, KS(Attachment 15)
Chairman Proehl recognized Ed Klumpp, representing the KS Association of Chiefs of Police, KS Sheriffs Association and KS Peace Officers Association, who provided neutral testimony.(Attachment 16) Mr. Klumpp said they believe everyone here today has the same goal of minimizing risk to all parties involved in contacts between law enforcement and the citizens. He said the reality is that nothing in this bill or any similar proposal will assure similar incidents will never happen again. He said these interactions are far too fluid, all different and with many unknown variables.
There were no other proponents, neutrals and no opponents, so after all questions were answered, the Chairman closed the hearing on HB2016.
Chairman Proehl announced that the next Committee meeting will be Thursday, February 2nd and the Committee will hear HB2095.
There being no further business before the Committee the meeting was adjourned.
