Approved: March 20 2006
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Jim Morrison at 1:30 P.M. on March 15, 2006, in Room 526-S of the Capitol.
All members were present except Representatives Kelley, Watkins, Phelps, Bethell, and Landwehr, all of whom were excused.
Committee staff present:
Melissa Calderwood, Kansas
Legislative Research Department
Mary Galligan, Kansas Legislative Research Department
Renae Jefferies, Revisor of Statutes=
Office
Gary Deeter, Committee Secretary
Conferees appearing before the committee:
Phyllis Gilmore, Executive
Director, Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board
Sky Westerlund, Executive Director, Kansas Chapter, National Association of
Social Workers
Others attending:
See attached list (not available on electronic copy).
The minutes for March 14, 2006, were approved.
The Chair opened the hearing on
SB 470.
Phyllis Gilmore, Executive Director, Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory
Board, spoke as a proponent.
(Attachment 1) She said the Board would continue to issue temporary
licenses, but the length of the temporary license would be shortened and would
not be renewed at that level of licensure; however, a person could continue to
sit for the examination multiple times. She said the purpose of the bill was to
eliminate some individuals from continuing to practice on a temporary license.
Sky Westerlund, Executive Director, Kansas Chapter, National Association of
Social Workers, testified in support of the bill. (Attachment
2) She observed that the person who applies for a temporary license has
already met all qualifications for licensure except taking the national exam.
She said because the examinations are offered at various times across the state,
it would be a rare instance where a temporary license would need to be renewed,
noting that the public is best served by fully licensed professionals.
Answering a question, Ms. Gilmore said that, when a license becomes inactive,
there is a reinstatement process which requires continuing education units
within the previous 24 months.
A fiscal note was included for members. (Attachment
3)
The hearing was closed.
A motion was made and seconded to pass SB 470 favorably and to place
the bill on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed.
The Committee discussed
HB 2977, which had a
hearing on 3-13. Some members noted that the Department on Aging
accomplished what the bill proposes without any legislation and wondered why
other entities could not do the same. A member observed that those doing field
inspections sometimes are inconsistent in interpreting the rules and
regulations, commenting that the proposed statute would allow various groups to
receive the same training, encouraging more consistency in inspections.
A motion was made and seconded to pass HB 2977 favorably. The motion
was amended to place it on the Consent Calendar. A member objected to
passing the bill, causing the motion to be withdrawn. The Chair
commented that even if the bill fails to make it through the entire legislative
process, it might encourage more cooperation among groups affected by the 2000
Life Safety Code. A further motion was made and seconded to recommend the
bill favorable for passage. The motion passed.
Representative Hill, as Chair of the sub-committee on HB 2820,
announced there would be a hearing on the bill in Room 241-N at 2:15 p.m.
following adjournment of the committee.
Melissa Calderwood provided a briefing on
SB 528. She said the bill is identical to HB 2876 and
HB 2877, creating additional statistical reporting requirements for
clinics that lawfully terminate pregnancies. The bill would require added
reporting, giving detailed reasons for terminating a pregnancy past 22 weeks of
gestation, the disability status of the pregnant female, and details regarding
fetal anomalies. She noted that the Senate amended SB 529 and
HB 2877 into the bill to add reporting on the referring physician and
reporting when an attempted abortion results in a live birth. She noted that
the fiscal note would add an estimated $30,000 to the Kansas Department of
Health and Environment’s budget. (Attachment
4)
The meeting was adjourned at 2:04 p.m. The next committee meeting is scheduled
for Thursday, March 16, 2006.