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Minutes for SB15 - Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance
Short Title
Amending the definition of "service-connected" in the Kansas police and firemen's retirement system.
Minutes Content for Wed, Feb 6, 2019
Chairman Olson open the hearing on the bill and he called for a Revisor of Statutes overview. Eileen Ma provided the overview on the bill. (Attachment 6)
Chairman Olson called for the neutral testimony to precede others.
Neutral Alan Conroy discussed the proposed changes to the law, referenced policy considerations and potential impacts to retirement systems. He pointed out some complexities that could be expected by the law/bill's current language, but assured that his agency would make them work. (Attachment 7)
Proponent Captain Robert Wing asserted that firefighters work with significant risk of cancer as well as other line-of-duty risks. (Attachment 8)
Proponent Ed Klumpp explained the risks to police officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel. He proposed amendments to the bill that would cover contagious diseases and situations typically encountered by first responders. (Attachment 9)
Chairman Olson appointed conferees Alan Conroy and Ed Klumpp to meet in order to resolve any differences and report back to the committee.
Bill Schnieder, emphasized the bill's language that would cover first responder exposures and risks that do not present themselves for many years. (Attachment 10)
Written Only Proponent Testimony:
Dave Johnston, Kansas Emergency Medical Services Association (KEMSA) (Attachment 11)
Mik Shanks, Kansas State Lodge - Fraternal Order of Police (Attachment 12)
Steve Kearney, Kansas State Troopers Association (Attachment 13)
Kevin Flory, President - Kansas State Firefighters Association (Attachment 14)
Jay Hall, Kansas Association of Counties (Attachment 15)
Harold Sielert, Retired Firefighters - Lenexa, Kansas (Attachment 16)
Jarod Wasinger and Scott French - City of Manhattan, Kansas (Attachment 17)
Seeing no additional testimony Chairman Olson closed the hearing on the bill.
