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Minutes for SB541 - Committee on Judiciary

Short Title

Requiring compensation for the use, restriction on use, damage, loss or destruction of property as a result of certain governmental actions; providing that orders and similar actions by public officials relating to face mask mandates, gathering limitations, business restrictions and religious gathering limitations shall not exceed 30 days in duration at a time before being renewed or allowed to expire; prohibiting school officials from issuing or requiring use of a COVID-19 vaccination passport or discriminating against a student based upon COVID-19 vaccination status; requiring schools to recognize exemptions from vaccination requirements and face mask mandates; prescribing powers, duties and functions of the board of education of each school district, the governing body of each community college and the governing body of each technical college related to contagious or infectious disease and modifying judicial review provisions related thereto; removing the sunset provision in the COVID-19 contact tracing privacy act; and authorizing reimbursement of property taxes levied upon businesses shut down or restricted as a result of certain governmental actions related to contagious or infectious disease.

Minutes Content for Mon, Mar 7, 2022

Chairperson Warren opened the hearing on SB541.

Jason Thompson, Senior Assistant Revisor, provided an overview of the bill and responded to questions from Committee members. (Attachment 1)

Eric Stafford testified in support of SB541. (Attachment 2)

Carrie Barth testified in support of SB541. (Attachment 3)

Ryan Kriegshauser testified in support of SB541. (Attachment 4)

Gavin Wedel testified in support of SB541. (Attachment 5)

Written only testimony in support of SB541 was submitted by:

Conferees responded to questions from Committee members and discussion ensued.

Representative Trevor Jacobs provided neutral testimony on SB541 and responded to questions from Committee members. (Attachment 9)

John Goodyear testified opposing SB541. (Attachment 10)

Jay Hall testified testified opposing SB541. (Attachment 11)

Nick Reinecker testified opposing SB541. (Attachment 12)

Sarah Irsik-Good testified opposing SB541. (Attachment 13)

Written only testimony opposed to SB541 was submitted by:

  • Dennis Kriesel, Executive Director, Kansas Association of Local Health Departments (Attachment 14)
  • Karla Nichols, Director of Public Health, Reno County Health Department (Attachment 15)
  • Lynnette Redington, Director, Harvey County Health Department (Attachment 16)
  • Stuart J. Little, Ph.D., Little Government Relations, On behalf of the Cities of Prairie Village, Mission, Meriam, and Westwood Hills (Attachment 17)
  • Jennifer B. McKenney, MD, FAAFP, Kansas Academy of Family Physicians (Attachment 18)
  • Ali Hilton, Director, Nurture KC (Attachment 19)
  • Mark Tallman, Associate Executive Director, Kansas Association of School Boards (Attachment 20)
  • Deena Horst and Ben Jones, Legislative Liaisons, On behalf of the Kansas State Board of Education (Attachment 21)
  • Timothy R. Graham, Director of Government Relations & Coalitions, Kansas National Education Association (Attachment 22)
  • Michael R. Miller, MD (Attachment 23)
  • Chris Roesel, MPH, MS (Attachment 24)
  • Susan Wood, Private Citizen (Attachment 25)

Questions from Committee members were addressed.

Chairperson Warren closed the hearing on SB541.

The meeting adjourned at 12:11p.m.