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Minutes for SB212 - Committee on Public Health and Welfare
Short Title
Prohibiting the secretary of health and environment from permanently requiring additional immunizations to attend a child care facility or school.
Minutes Content for Mon, Mar 22, 2021
Chairperson Hilderbrand opened the hearing on SB212.
Jenna Moyer, Staff Revisor gave an overview of the bill.
Senator Mark Steffen gave proponent testimony stating that he stands in strong support of SB212 and that the bill accomplishes several simple goals:
- returns the responsibility to assess the need for new vaccinations to the legislature
- empower children and parents with their God given and Constitution secured inalienable rights
- appropriately positions the Secretary of Health and Environment to educating and recommending for new vaccinations and
- addresses children in day care facilities and schools (Attachment 1)
William Mize said in his proponent testimony that SB212 has one simple purpose - to prevent the KDHE from unilaterally mandating additional vaccines for Kansas children. He urged the committee to adopt SB212 so that the decision to add a Covid-19 mandate for children will not be left solely in the hands of the KDHE. (Attachment 2)
Connie Newcome spoke in support of SB212. She stated that the decisions regarding health care belong to parents who are given the God ordained responsibility to care for their children. Parents actually know their children, the KDHE does not, nor do the legislators. But the legislators are elected to represent the parents. (Attachment 3)
Rachel Price stated in her proponent testimony that the decision to add vaccines to the Kansas schedule should not be taken lightly. Vaccines can and do cause injury and death, which is why the US Congress deemed them "unavoidably unsafe." Putting this power in the hands of one who is beholden to the Governor and vulnerable to the multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical industry by the sheer nature of the job, is putting the power in the wrong place. (Attachment 4)
Sheri Graham gave proponent testimony. She spoke connections between KDHE and Immunize Kansas Coalition, as well as the influence that pharmaceutical companies hand on not only those two organizations but also Kansas legislators. (Attachment 5)
Due to time constraints, Representative John Epee gave opponent testimony at this time. He said there is not need for SB212 despite the testimony just offered. He spoke of the many diseases no longer seen or dealt with because of vaccinations. (Attachment 6)
He took questions from committee members.
Committee members then posed questions to the proponents.
Written only, proponent testimony was submitted by:
Cherilyn Dahlsten, Private Citizen (Attachment 7)
Dr. Karladine Graves (Attachment 8)
Kathy McAnany, Private Citizen (Attachment 9)
Abby Swygard, Private Citizen (Attachment 10)
Amanda Perron, RN, Private Citizen (Attachment 11)
Brooke Hamilton, Private Citizen (Attachment 12)
Carmen Valverde, Independent Doula, Childbirth Educator & Interpreter (Attachment 13)
Amanda Unlmansiek, Private Citizen (Attachment 14)
Germaine Buck, Private Citizen (Attachment 15)
Anna M., Private Citizen (Attachment 16)
Becky Palmer, Private Citizen (Attachment 17)
Andrea Mukhija, Director of Operations & Development, Kansans for Health Freedom (Attachment18)
Becca Sowers, Private Citizen (Attachment 19)
Deborah D. Czapanskiy, Private Citizen (Attachment 20)
Dee Steinbach, Private Citizen (Attachment 21)
Deborah Latendresse, Private Citizen (Attachment 22)
Debbie Mize, VP/Lobbyist, Kansans for Health Freedom (Attachment 23)
Dawn Moore, Private Citizen (Attachment 24)
Chelle Knapp, Private Citizen (Attachment 25)
Christina Guebara, Private Citizen (Attachment 26)
Connor McDonald, Private Citizen (Attachment 27)
Courtney Lee, Medical Lab Scientist (Attachment 28)
Cindy Bauer, Private Citizen (Attachment 29)
Heidi Arns, Private Citizen (Attachment 30)
James Weimar, Private Citizen (Attachment 31)
Jacia Phillips, Private Citizen (Attachment 32)
Heidi Romenius, Private Citizen (Attachment 33)
Elizabeth Schmeidler, Private Citizen (Attachment 34)
Grant Campbell, Private Citizen (Attachment 35)
Erin S, Occupational Therapist (Attachment 36)
Erik Leon, Private Citizen (Attachment 37)
Erin Rankin, RN, BSN (Attachment 38)
Emily Grace, Private Citizen (Attachment 39)
Jerri Beesley, Private Citizen (Attachment 40)
Jerlynn Johnston, Private Citizen (Attachment 41)
Jesseca Naputi, Private Citizen (Attachment 42)
Ssgt Joseph Hamilton, 190th Refueling Wing, ANG (Attachment 43)
Jan Ackerman, Private Citizen (Attachment 44)
Janine Heincker, Midwife (Attachment 45)
Jennifer L. Goates, MS LPC (Attachment 46)
Janet M., Private Citizen (Attachment 47)
Jennifer Voegeli, Private Citizen (Attachment 48)
JoAnn Farb, Private Citizen (Attachment 49)
Kathleen DuPree, Private Citizen (Attachment 50)
L Dremann, Private Citizen (Attachment 51)
Julie Clair, Private Citizen (Attachment 52)
Kendra R. Euliss, Private Citizen (Attachment 53)
Laura Klingensmith, Private Citizen (Attachment 54)
Kari Fisher. Private Citizen (Attachment 55)
Karen Green, Private Citizen (Attachment 56)
Karma Kitto, Private Citizen (Attachment 57)
Karen Hershey, Private Citizen (Attachment 58)
Katherine Tierce, RN (Attachment 59)
Mark Gallegos, Private Citizen (Attachment 60)
Melinda Alleyne, Independed Targeted Case Manager (Attachment 61)
LeAnna Soehner, Private Citizen (Attachment 62)
Linda L. Johnston, RN, BSN (Attachment 63)
Melissa C., Private Citizen (Attachment 64)
Liz Harrison, Private Citizen (Attachment 65)
Lindsay Hartman, Private Citizen (Attachment 66)
Mandy N, Private Citizen (Attachment 67)
Lynn Kasten, Private Citizen (Attachment 68)
Marilyn Haag, Private Citizen (Attachment 69)
Mindi L. Getz, Private Citizen (Attachment 70)
Rainey Dugan, Private Citizen (Attachment 71)
Rachel Cooper, Private Citizen (Attachment 72)
Molly Martin, Private Citizen (Attachment 73)
Melissa Stramel, PharmD (Attachment 74)
Robin Jackson, PhD (Attachment 75)
Melissa Neville, Private Citizen (Attachment 76)
Melissa McDonald, Private Citizen (Attachment 77)
Michelle Lazcano, Private Citizen (Attachment 78)
Michael DuPree, Private Citizen (Attachment 79)
Sianna Guertin, Private Citizen (Attachment 80)
Sarah Davis, Private Citizen (Attachment 81)
Sonja Woods, Private Citizen (Attachment 82)
Sharon Hobbs, Private Citizen (Attachment 83)
Sumya Anani, Private Citizen (Attachment 84)
Starla Burnum, Private Citizen (Attachment 85)
Terri Goodman, Private Citizen (Attachment 86)
Tom Romenius, Special Ed Teacher (Attachment 87)
Sara Yardley, Private Citizen (Attachment 88)
Vicky J. Steiner, Private Citizen (Attachment 89)
Tricia Weimar, Private Citizen (Attachment 90)
Wendy Strong, RN, BSN (Attachment 91)
William McDonald, Private Citizen (Attachment 92)
Whitney S., Private Citizen (Attachment 93)
Kevin Ault presented neutral testimony. He took questions from committee members. (Attachment 94)
Dr. Lee Norman gave opponent testimony. He said if vaccines were listed in statutes, the ability to respond to changes in a timely manner would be significantly hindered due to the constraints of the legislative process and timeline. (Attachment 95)
Shelby Ostrom testified as an opponent by encouraging the committee to vote no on SB212 and maintain current law that places vaccine regulation with the purview of KDHE. There is a rigorous process already in place, grounded in science, which best serves Kansans. (Attachment 96)
Sarah Irsik-Good spoke in opposition of SB212 by stating that it is important that changes to the list of mandatory school vaccinations remain in the current regulation process and are not moved to the legislative process. The current regulation process allows a timely response to changes in the Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices' recommendations, both to add and remove vaccines from the requirements list. (Attachment 97)
Sharon Morris gave opponent testimony. She spoke as an experienced school nurse that strongly opposes SB212 and supports the current practice which already provides legislative oversight and exemptions for medical or religious reasons only. (Attachment 98)
Dr. Dena Hubbard said in her opponent testimony that she strongly opposes SB212 which would prohibit the Secretary of Health and Environment from permanently requiring additional immunizations to attend a childcare facility or school. This would be detrimental not only to public health in Kansas, but specifically child health and school safety. (Attachment 99)
They answered questions from committee members.
Written only opponent testimony was submitted by:
Dr. Roy Jensen, Director, University of Kansas Cancer Center (Attachment 100)
Dan Leong, Chair, Immunize Kansas Coalition (Attachment 101)
Kelly Sommers, RN, BSN, Director, KSNA (Attachment 102)
Dr. Chad Johanning, President, FAAFP (Attachment 103)
Dennis Kriesel, KS Assoc. of Local Health Depts. (Attachment 104)
Brandon Skidmore, Kansas Public Health Assoc. (Attachment 105)
Pam Rickard, Administrator, Barber County Health Dept. (Attachment 106)
Tish Coleman, RN Director, Linn County Health Dept. (Attachment 107)
Michelle Spangler, BSN, RN, Kenneth Henderson Middle School, school nurse (Attachment 108)
Michelle Shull, RN, USD 457 Garden City Schools (Attachment 109)
Kendra Walsh, RN, Administrator/Health Officer, Morton County Health Dept. (Attachment 110)
Andy Marso, writer/editor, Overland Park (Attachment 111)
Julie Dodson, RN, Shawnee Mission School District (Attachment 112)
Tammy A. Von Busch, DVM, MPH, Administrator, Geary Co Health Dept. (Attachment 113)
Rebecca Johnson, BSN, RN, Admin/Health Officer, SEK Multi-County Health Dept. (Attachment 114)
Lori Stubbs, Nurse (Attachment 115)
Heather Braum, Health Policy Advisor, Kansas Action for Children (Attachment 116)
Connie Satzler, Individual (Attachment 117)
Heather McPhail, BSN, USD 262, Valley Center Middle School (Attachment 118)
Dana Desjardins, RN, Maize High School (Attachment 119)
Meagan Schaefer, Nurse (Attachment 120)
Patrick J. Plues, VP, BIO Innovation Organization (Attachment 121)
Rachelle Colombo, Executive Director, KMS (Attachment 122)
Chairperson Hilderbrand closed the hearing on SB212 and adjourned the meeting at 9:30 a.m. The next scheduled meeting is March 23, 2021.
