House Status:
Senate Status:
Senate Status:
Minutes for SB153 - Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
Short Title
Providing for department of health and environment response operations for water and soil pollutant release, discharge or escape.
Minutes Content for Wed, Jan 29, 2020
Chairperson Kerschen opened the hearing on SB153.
Tamera Lawrence with the Revisor of Statutes Office explained the bill and distributed a balloon amendment which she also explained.
Senator Pyle asked Tamara who had offered this amendment. Tamara responded that she was not at liberty to say. Chairperson Kerschen informed Senator Pyle that he would find out who specifically put forth the amendment.
Leo Henning spoke in support of the bill. The bill appeared before the committee in the 2019 session,but never made it out of committee. New language has been agreed upon in a balloon amendment that revises the definition of pollutant and includes an exclusion for normal agricultural activities from the definition of release. (Attachment 3)(Attachment 4)
Several others were recognized to speak in regard to the bill. Michael Gillaspie of ONEOK and Randy Stookey with Kansas Grain and Feed told the committee that they supported the bill. Aaron Popelka with the Kansas Livestock Association told the committee that they opposed the bill last session, but if the committee adopted the amendment their position would move to neutral.
After a question and answer period, Chairperson Kerschen closed the hearing on SB153.
With no other business before the committee, Chairperson Kerschen adjourned the meeting at 9:20.
