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Minutes for HB2523 - Committee on Judiciary
Short Title
Enacting the Kansas assistance animals in housing act.
Minutes Content for Tue, Feb 4, 2020
Natalie Scott provided an overview of bill HB2523. Ms. Scott stood for questions. (Attachment 1)
Martha Smith testified in support of the bill stating she would like to see the House Judiciary Committee follow the Federal Fair Housing law which states what a housing provider can and cannot do. It would help a tenant know what he/she may need to provide when requesting reasonable accommodations for an assistance animal. Ms. Smith provided a copy of the Federal Law with her testimony. She stood for questions. (Attachment 2)
Ed Jaskinia testified in support of the bill. He started by reviewing specific parts of the HUD guidelines. Mr. Jaskinia feels there needs to be specific legislation that would provide guidelines on how Housing Providers should address the ever increasing requests for Emotional Support animals. He stood for questions. (Attachment 3)
Proponent Written
- Mark Tomb, Vice President of Government Affairs, Kansas Association of Realtors (Attachment 4)
Neutral Written
- Christy Molzen, Kansas Judicial Council (Attachment 5)
Chairperson Patton directed the membership to refer to the written testimony for both proponent and neutral positions provided in their bill folders.
Kip Elliot testified as an opponent of the bill. Mr. Elliot feels that in-light if the HUD guidelines recently published this bill needs to be reworked because the bill could run afoul federal guidelines. He also agreed that the HUD guidelines could solve the problems that landlords feel they have. He stood for questions. (Attachment 6)
Ami Weidler-Hyten testified as an opponent of the bill. Ms.Weidler Hyten stated the changes to federal guidance merit additional review to the accommodation process proposed in HB2523. Ms. Weidler-Hyten encouraged this committee to defer action until such time as that can be accomplished. She stood for questions. (Attachment 7)
Opponent Written
- Jill Dudley, Executive Director & Bob Mikesic, Program Manager, Independence, Inc. (Attachment 8)
- Lou Ann Kibbee, Systems Advocacy Manager, SKIL Resource Center (Attachment 9)
Chairperson Patton directed the membership to refer to all written testimony provided in their bill folders. He closed the hearing.
Chairperson Patton reminded the membership there was no meeting tomorrow. He also said the committee would be trying work HB2449, HB2447, HB2450, HB2500 as committee time allowed.
Chairperson Patton adjourned the meeting at 4:48 pm.
