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Minutes for HB2549 - Committee on Public Health and Welfare
Short Title
Determinations of competency, commitment for treatment and state hospitals catchment areas.
Minutes Content for Tue, Mar 6, 2018
Chairperson Schmidt opened the hearing on HB2549.
Scott Abbott, Staff Revisor, gave an overview of the bill and answered questions from Committee members.
Ed Klumpp presented testimony stating that since the bill was amended by the House, his position has changed from neutral to proponent. The amendment removed the catchment area provisions. He testified the proposed changes better serve citizens with mental health issues and inmates in need of determination of competency ordered by a court. (Attachment 3)
Nathan Eberline testified in support of HB2549 stating that it addresses access to evaluations regarding competency to stand trail. The original HB2549 included the elimination of catchment areas that direct inmates to the Larned State Hospital or the Osawatomie State Hospital. The catchment portion of the bill was a concern but the amended version has full support. (Attachment 4)
Kimberly M.J. Lynch gave supporting testimony for HB2549 stating that passage of the bill allows greater flexibility in the completion of forensic evaluations related to competency and restoration with the goal of reducing the bed availability list for the state psychiatric hospitals. (Attachment 5)
Written neutral testimony was submitted by Colin Thomasset, Associate Director for the Association of Community Health Centers of Kansas Inc. (Attachment 6)
Questions were posed by committee members.
Chairperson Schmidt closed the hearing on HB2549.
