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Minutes for HB2308 - Committee on Federal and State Affairs
Short Title
Suicide evaluation upon admission to certain treatment facilities.
Minutes Content for Tue, Mar 6, 2018
Chairperson Barker opened the hearing on HB2308. Jason Long, Revisor, provided an overview of the bill (Attachment 5).
Chairperson Barker recognized Representative Mike Houser as a proponent of HB2308 (Attachment 6). The number of suicides in Kansas grows bigger each year with 512 in 2016. Every single person admitted for rehab should undergo some type of screening or evaluation to see if they have an inclination to commit suicide. Questions were asked by Representatives Ruiz, Carpenter, and Awerkamp.
Kim Perry was recognized by the Chair as a proponent of HB2308 (Attachment 7). She addressed the committee about the events surrounding the suicide of her husband, Gordon Peterson, on the day he checked into a rehab facility. Her hope for this bill is to change the way a person is evaluated and monitored upon entering any facility, whether state or privately owned. Representative Ruiz had a question.
Abbey Peterson was recognized by Chairperson Barker as a proponent on HB2308 (Attachment 8). She was three years old when her father, Gordon Peterson, committed suicide. She is in favor of this bill so that another family doesn't have to go through what her family has gone through.
Chairperson Barker recognized Monica Kurz as a proponent of HB2308 (Attachment 9). Addressing suicide risk for people while in inpatient settings is an important step to addressing the public health crisis of suicide in Kansas. This bill is a positive step forward for the Kansas State Suicide Prevention Plan and the health of the state of Kansas. It can help save lives. Questions were asked by Chairperson Barker and Representatives Highberger and Rafie.
Andrew Brown provided proponent testimony on HB2308 (Attachment 10). The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) supports the passage of this bill as a preventative measure for the critical public health issue of suicide. Questions were asked by Representatives Horn, Rooker, Weber, and Humphries, as well as Chairperson Barker.
Chairperson Barker directed the Committee's attention to the written proponent testimony of Colin Thomasset (Attachment 11).
Chairperson Barker recognized Stuart Little, Ph.D., who testified as a neutral on HB2308 (Attachment 12). The Behavioral Health Association of Kansas supports efforts to reduce suicide risk, but it does not believe there is a need for a legislative mandated instrument to assess risk. Questions were asked by Representatives Highland and Miller.
Chairperson Barker asked if there were any further proponents, opponents or neutrals on the bill. Seeing none, the hearing on HB2308 was closed.
Chairperson Barker asked if there were any requests for bill introductions. There were none.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:08 a.m.
