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Minutes for HB2601 - Committee on Education
Short Title
Specifying the required childhood immunizations for child care facility and school attendance.
Minutes Content for Thu, Feb 13, 2020
Chairperson Huebert opened the hearing on HB2601.
Revisor Jason Long gave an overview of the bill. (Attachment 1)
Proponent Verbal Testimony:
Attorney William Mize testified as a proponent and gave the history of this particular bill. He stated that the regulatory procedure is problematic because the decisions made on mandatory vaccines for school entry do not include the parents of children who will be affected by immunization. (Attachment 2)
Erik Leon addressed the recent mandating of Meningitis and Hepititas A vaccines for school entry by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. He urged the Committee to pass this bill in order to allow the legislature to have a say in an unfair process. (Attachment 3) (Attachment 4)
Danae Schonberg focused on HPV and the Gardisil vaccine, and shared the adverse reactions that many children have had from the vaccine. The risk of the vaccine is much higher than the HPV disease which is sexually transmitted. (Attachment 5)
JoAnn Farb spoke from here experience as a microbiologist with Merck pharmaceutical company. She shared her experience working for Merck and how her understanding changed as she began to research the effect of vaccines on children. Her thinking was completely shifted by the evidence she found in medical literature. She urged the Committee to look at the testimony she provided, referencing polio history, and a study of vaccines in an urban African community. (Attachment 6)
Dr. Goodbinder addressed herd immunity, vaccines, and shared information about various live attenuated vaccines. (Attachment 7)
Nick Reinnecker shared some specific information and urged the Committee to look at other (non-vaccine) possibilities of creating health in our youth. (Attachment 8)
Rachel Price showed a visual example of how many vaccines have been common in different generations holding up actual syringes: a) 5 in her childhood, b) 24 in her children's youth, and c) 70 for her grandchildren. (Attachment 9)
Danielle Weinbrenner told the Committee she has two vaccine damaged children. She showed the many medicines that are part of her family's daily life. (Attachment 10)
Audrey Goff testified that she was never informed about the side effects of vaccines and her son has been greatly damaged by them. (Attachment 11)
Judy Pilewski testified about her granddaughter Alaina and all the physical problems that have resulted from her early vaccines. (Attachment 12)
Heidi Romenius told of her own son's illness that came from the vaccines he was given. She shared the difficulties of his chronic physical illnesses. (Attachment 13)
Jeri Ann Mills shared her concerns about an appointed official who can mandate vaccines for children in school. Her sons are not vaccinated and have robust immune systems. (Attachment 14)
Katie Moore was a registered medical assistant and shared she was never trained there could be immunization injury or reaction, but she saw it many times. Her two year old son has been vaccine injured. She urged this is not a one size fits all issue. (Attachment 15)
Kelly Stewart told about her child Maggie who had a reaction to a Vitamin K shot and ensuing vaccines. Maggie eventually developed autism. She urged the Committee to support the bill that would offer checks and balances on mandatory school age vaccines. Maggie came running in during the testimony and said hello to everyone. (Attachment 16)
Written Only Proponent Testimony:
Ackerman, Jan (Attachment 17)
Aggson, Janene (Attachment 18)
Albers, Vala RN (Attachment 19)
Alvarez, Elizabeth (Attachment 20)
Anderson, Courtney (Attachment 21)
Anonymous (Salina, KS) (Attachment 22)
Arnold, Dr. Jamie (Attachment 23)
Austin, Laurel (Attachment 24)
Bauer, Cindy (Attachment 25)
Baker, Rachel (Attachment 26)
Baker, Joanna (Attachment 27)
Baldwin, Steve and Deborah (Attachment 28)
Balzer, Holle (Attachment 29)
Baltuska, Cassi (Attachment 30)
Beesley, Jerri (Attachment 31)
Belcher, Jack (Attachment 32)
Belcher, Jennifer BOCPD (Attachment 33)
Bennett, Tamara (Attachment 34)
Berner, Rebecca RN, BSN (Attachment 35)
Beyer, Elizabeth (Attachment 36)
Bielinski, Rebecca and Mark (Attachment 37)
Bohi, Lauren (Attachment 38)
Bree RN (Attachment 39)
Brogan, Brant (Attachment 40)
Brown, Hilary (Attachment 41)
Bruns, Andrea (Attachment 42)
Byrne, Patrick and Kristine (Attachment 43)
Butler, Jordan (Attachment 44)
Cardoza, Linda (Attachment 45)
Carr, Karen RN (Attachment 46)
Carr, Karen (Attachment 47)
Chaney, A. (Attachment 48)
Clark, Alan (Attachment 49)
Clark, Loralie (Attachment 50)
Clements, Chris (Attachment 51)
Clinesmith, Julie (Attachment 52)
Concerned parents from Wichita (Attachment 53)
Concerned Kansas Resident (Attachment 54)
Concerned Mom from Independence (Attachment 55)
Concerned parent and voter from Ellis (Attachment 56)
Concerned resident of rural north central Kansas (Attachment 57)
Concerned Citizen of Topeka (Attachment 58)
Concerned Citizen of Wichita (Attachment 59)
Cook, Aimee (Attachment 60)
Copeland, Lara (Attachment 61)
Coursey, Briana (Attachment 62)
Cox, Heidi (Attachment 63)
Davis, Amber (Attachment 64)
Deason, Kristen (Attachment 65)
Denson, Emily (Attachment 66)
Denson, Lucas (Attachment 67)
Dishberger, Tonya (Attachment 68)
Dodd, Meredith (Attachment 69)
Dodson, Corina (Attachment 70)
Dohr, Tammy (Attachment 71)
Downie, Bonnie (Attachment 72)
Dressler, Emily (Attachment 73)
Duggan, Karen (Attachment 74)
Dunn, Jacquelyn (Attachment 75)
Duston, Stephanie (Attachment 76)
Duston, James (Attachment 77)
Elliott, Lea (Attachment 78)
Enegren, Jeri (Attachment 79)
Eskridge, Heather (Attachment 80)
Eastwood, Charla (Attachment 81)
Fairbanks-Ishmael, Tamara (Attachment 82)
Fischer, Kelly (Attachment 83)
Flax, Tori (Attachment 84)
Franklin, Catherine (Attachment 85)
Freeman, Catherine (Attachment 86)
Garret, Juanell (Attachment 87)
Glover, Kristi (Attachment 88)
Glover, Megan (Attachment 89)
Goates, Jennifer LPC (Attachment 90)
Grace, Emily (Attachment 91)
Graham, Robert (Attachment 92)
Graham, Sheri (Attachment 93)
Grant Family (Attachment 94)
Goff, Erik (Attachment 95)
Goodman, Terri (Attachment 96)
Haag, Marilyn (Attachment 97)
Haas, Tasha (Attachment 98)
Hall, Amy (Attachment 99)
Hall, Brittany (Attachment 100)
Harders, Kelsey (Attachment 101)
Harders, Bethany (Attachment 102)
Harders, Sandra (Attachment 103)
Harwood, LaLayne (Attachment 104)
Haspels, Melanie (Attachment 105)
Hatch, Nate (Attachment 106)
Hatch, Jamie (Attachment 107)
Haught, Nina (Attachment 108)
Hendrickson, Lynette D.C. CAACP (Attachment 109)
Hentzen, Kelsey (Attachment 110)
Hershey, Karen (Attachment 111)
Hixson, Ashlea (Attachment 112)
Horsch, Brandon and Kristy (Attachment 113)
Howard, LaChrisha (Attachment 114)
Hobbs, Shari (Attachment 115)
Ingram, Sharon (Attachment 116)
Jensen, Cameron (Attachment 117)
Johnston, Jerlynn (Attachment 118)
Johnston, Jarrod (Attachment 119)
Johnson, Bobbie (Attachment 120)
Johnston, Linda RN BSN (Attachment 121)
Jones, Andrea (Attachment 122)
Jones, Betty (Attachment 123)
Julia from Goodland, Kansas (Attachment 124)
Kay, Yvonne (Attachment 125)
Kearney, Julie Ed. S (Attachment 126)
Keeling, David (Attachment 127)
Kelley, Lori (Attachment 128)
Keller, Amanda (Attachment 129)
Keller, David (Attachment 130)
Kendrick, Magdalene (Attachment 131)
Kephart, Barb (Attachment 132)
Kern, Erin (Attachment 133)
Kleveter, Heather (Attachment 134)
Kuhlmeier, Erica (Attachment 135)
Lackey, Andrea Nielson DC (Attachment 136)
Lasker, Lisa Kathleen BS MPA (Attachment 137)
Lee, Sue (Attachment 138)
Leebrick, Daniel (Attachment 139)
Leon, Tiffiny (Attachment 140)
Loughry, Marissa (Attachment 141)
Lueth, Heather (Attachment 142)
McCann, Christie (Attachment 143)
Newcome, Connie (Attachment 144)
Martin, Molly (Attachment 145)
McCann, Jen (Attachment 146)
McDonald, Melissa (Attachment 147)
McGuire, Joy (Attachment 148)
McNutt, Miriam (Attachment 149)
McNutt, Aaron (Attachment 150)
Melinda (Attachment 151)
Mendez, Felicity (Attachment 152)
Menning, Holly (Attachment 153)
Menteer, Andrea (Attachment 154)
Miller, Adrienne (Attachment 155)
Miller, Stephanie (Attachment 156)
Miller, Erin (Attachment 157)
Miller, Heather (Attachment 158)
Mize, Debra (Attachment 159)
Morris, Michelle (Attachment 160)
Mueller, Heather (Attachment 161)
Mueller, Robert (Attachment 162)
Mukhija, Andrea (Attachment 163)
Mukhija, Tushar (Attachment 164)
Muth, Ross and Vicki (Attachment 165)
Muth, Vicki (Attachment 166)
Neville, Melissa (Attachment 167)
Neidens, Devon (Attachment 168)
Oehmler, Claudia (Attachment 169)
Olsen, L.E. (Attachment 170)
Ostermann, Charlotte (Attachment 171)
Palmer, Angela (Attachment 172)
Pearson, Marci (Attachment 173)
Peck, Sheri RN (Attachment 174)
Peniston, Michele (Attachment 175)
Perry, Amelia (Attachment 176)
Phillips, Amber (Attachment 177)
Phillips, Jacia (Attachment 178)
Phillips, Michael (Attachment 179)
Psota, Jackie (Attachment 180)
R, Sarah (Attachment 181)
Rapp, Maria DC (Attachment 182)
Riner, Hannah (Attachment 183)
Roberts, Tammy (Attachment 184)
Rodrock, Dr. Amelia DC (Attachment 185)
Romenius, Tom Educator (Attachment 186)
Rowley, Tonda (Attachment 187)
Rowley, Bethany (Attachment 188)
Ruckersfeldt, Michelle (Attachment 189)
Ruckersfeldt, Kevin (Attachment 190)
Ruff, Lacey (Attachment 191)
Sallman, Angela (Attachment 192)
Salt, Margo (Attachment 193)
Schaeffer, Barbi (Attachment 194)
Schieber, Kayla (Attachment 195)
Schlomer, Bonny (Attachment 196)
Schmeidler, Elizabeth (Attachment 197)
Schneider, Whitney (Attachment 198)
Schroeder, Luke (Attachment 199)
Schroeder, Laura (Attachment 200)
Scott, Chelsee (Attachment 201)
Sears, Kara (Attachment 202)
Seiler, Karin (Attachment 203)
Senior, Deborah (Attachment 204)
Sheafer, Tiffany (Attachment 205)
Shibler, Emily (Attachment 206)
Shibler, Gregory (Attachment 207)
Simpson, Ashly (Attachment 208)
Sims, Anastasia (Attachment 209)
Smith, Leslie (Attachment 210)
Smith, Kelly (Attachment 211)
Smith, Katie (Attachment 212)
Sneath, Brandi (Attachment 213)
Snider, Brooklyn (Attachment 214)
Snow, Heather (Attachment 215)
Sowers, Becca (Attachment 216)
Sowers, Joel (Attachment 217)
Stephenson, Deja (Attachment 218)
Stephenson, Nicholas (Attachment 219)
Sturdy, Christy (Attachment 220)
Strong, Wendy RN, BSN (Attachment 221)
Swafford, Erin (Attachment 222)
Tanya from Wellington, KS (Attachment 223)
Tague, Anna (Attachment 224)
Thies, Jesslynn (Attachment 225)
Tholen, Mark (Attachment 226)
Tholen, Anndrea (Attachment 227)
Thornton, Melissa (Attachment 228)
Titzman, Lauren (Attachment 229)
Tovar, Beverly (Attachment 230)
Troyer, Dianna (Attachment 231)
Turney, Kyndal (Attachment 232)
Waddle, Rachel (Attachment 233)
Weilert, Mary (Attachment 234)
Weinmaster, Linda and Kerry (Attachment 235)
Weinbrenner, Eric (Attachment 236)
Westmoreland, Ashley (Attachment 237)
White, Briana (Attachment 238)
Winter, Lindsy (Attachment 239)
Wohler, Lindsay (Attachment 240)
Wohler, Miken (Attachment 241)
Wright, Liesl (Attachment 242)
Wyatt, Dustin (Attachment 243)
Wyatt, Sicily (Attachment 244)
Vetter, Pam (Attachment 245)
Vetter-Scruggs, Vickie (Attachment 246)
Yardley, Sara (Attachment 247)
York, Erica (Attachment 248)
Younger, Alyssa (Attachment 249)
Opponent Verbal Testimony:
Dr. Dena Hubbard, American Academy of Pediatrics, stated that vaccines are so effective that we forget how powerful they have been. She believes these decisions should be in the hands of health professionals, not in the legislature that has a political agenda. (Attachment 250)
Andy Marso, shared his story about contracting bacterial meningitis when he was a senior in hospital. It took years for him to recover his basic skills. His medical bills were approx. $1.5 million, but could have been prevented by a $15 vaccine shot. When he was growing up it was not mandatory, now it is and that is why health professionals need to make these decisions. (Attachment 251)
Dr. Lee Norman, Kansas Secretary of Health, testified as an opponent. In his 50 years as a physician he has been involved in caring for children and families. He trusts the CDC and many other professional advisory organizations to help health professionals make decisions about vaccines because they follow best practices. He believes it is important to keep the vaccine mandates in the hands of the Health Department and not give it to the legislature. He appreciates the input of the families that are present today, and he stated that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) listens to families and their experiences. He urged the Committee to leave things as they are. (Attachment 252) (Attachment 253)
Susan Wood, Immunize Kansas Coalition, feels it is not effective for the legislature to be part of the vaccine process as it removes the regulatory authority of the health professional authorities. She shared her story of growing up in Kansas and she is grateful for the health that vaccines have provided generations. (Attachment 254)
Connie Satzler, Immunize Kansas Coalition, stated that there are no plans for the HPV vaccine to be mandated. She shared the story of her own children getting chicken pox, as she never had her daughter vaccinated. She stated that she is not able to make those decisions on her own. She trusts the health professionals. (Attachment 255)
Katy Carter is a school nurse who feels she has a daily responsibility over communicable disease prevention and surveillance of students. She trusts the health and medical experts that can inform the population about fact based health information. (Attachment 256)
Dr. Gretchen Homan noted that the people present today for the meeting, in the middle of winter with many germs around, are there because of the powerful protection of vaccines. She urged the Committee to trust the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to make vaccine decisions. (Attachment 257)
Sarah Irsik-Good shared her educational background and experience in vaccine medicine. This bill puts Kansas school children at risk by not being able to make timely decisions. She noted there is misinformation and fear about vaccines but that vaccines are effective based on scientific facts. (Attachment 258)
Kimber Kasitz, Kansas School Nurse Organization, stated there are many nurses present today and they all care for and want students to be healthy. The immunization structure is set up in a timely fashion so that parents can have their children ready for school. (Attachment 259)
Representative Eplee shared the history of the bill that began with his bill in 2017. He believes next to clean drinking water, vaccines are the most important scientific breakthrough for our health. Vaccines are safer now than in the past. He has ordered over 40,000 immunization in his career. He has seen patients die of meningitis, and other to be permanently and deeply scarred. He urged the Committee to read his testimony. (Attachment 260)
Sharon Morris, Kansas School Nurses Organization, has been a nurse for 17 years and mother of two fully immunized children. She shared memories of standing in line for the polio vaccine, urged by her mother who had seen many children succumb to the terrible disease of polio. She urged the Committee to keep the decisions for vaccines with the public health experts. (Attachment 261)
Tracy Russell, Nurture KC, stated that moving the vaccine process to the legislative arena takes our health experts out of the equation, replacing them with lay persons to make these life and death decisions. These choices need to be based on scientifically based data. (Attachment 262)
Dr. Chad Johanning, Kansas Academy of Family Physicians, stated in his decades as a doctor he has given many vaccines, believes he saved many lives, and provided health for his patients. He has two fully vaccinated children. His organization opposes this bill and is in favor of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary retaining the flexibility and authority to be responsive to new vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices as part of the routine child and adolescent vaccination schedule. The current process offers the best protection for Kansas children and families. (Attachment 263)
Written Only Opponent Testimony:
Billips, Michelle Graham County Health Department (Attachment 264)
Clark, Kristie MD Kansas Chapter American Academy of Physicians (Attachment 265)
Colombo, Rachel Kansas Medical Society (Attachment 266)
Craig, Daniel Kansas Public Health (Attachment 267)
Chance, Amanda BSN, Wichita Public Schools (Attachment 268)
Cyzman, Denise Community Care Network of Kansas (Attachment 269)
Delfs, Carrie BSN, Immunize Kansas Coalition (Attachment 270)
Dunkel, Audrey Kansas Hospital Association (Attachment 271)
Dunkel, Aaron Kansas Pharmacists Association (Attachment 272)
Garrison, Terrie Wyandotte County Public Health Department (Attachment 273)
Hanke, Ellen MSEd, Olathe Public Schools (Attachment 274)
Hutchinson, Ronda BSN, Kansas School Nurses Organization (Attachment 275)
Jabara, M. (Attachment 276)
Javara, Robert EdS (Attachment 277)
Jones, Jenda LPN, Norton County Health Department (Attachment 278)
Kenworthy, Lisa RN, Pottawatomie County Health Department (Attachment 279)
Kuiper, Malana MD (Attachment 280)
Kyler, Kathryn MD (Attachment 281)
Lancaster, K. (Attachment 282)
Loethen, Joanne MD (Attachment 283)
McGhee, Lori MSEd (Attachment 284)
McNamar, Patricia APRN (Attachment 285)
Payer, Lindsey Coffee County Health Department (Attachment 286)
Rebeck, Shelby MSN, Shawnee Mission School District (Attachment 287)
Schneider, Shelly BSN, Barton County Health Department (Attachment 288)
Shea, Shalei RN, McPherson County Health Department (Attachment 289)
Shull, Michelle BSN, Garden City School District (Attachment 290)
Shull, Michael DO, St. Catherine Hospital, Garden City (Attachment 291)
Tajchman, Michelle MSEd, Olathe Public Schools (Attachment 292)
Wheeler, Joann BSN, Maize School Nurse (Attachment 293)
Wilson, John President, Kansas Action for Children (Attachment 294)
Von Busch, Tammy DVM, Geary County Health Department (Attachment 295)
There was a brief discussion between the Representatives, Proponents and Opponents.
The Chairperson closed the hearing on HB2601 and adjourned the meeting at 3:00 pm.
