House Status:
Senate Status:
Senate Status:
Minutes for SB343 - Committee on Public Health and Welfare
Short Title
Updating the term "hearing impaired" to "hard of hearing" in statutes related to persons with hearing loss.
Minutes Content for Thu, Jan 27, 2022
Chairperson Hilderbrand opened the hearing on SB343.
Jenna Moyer, Staff Revisor, gave an overview of the bill.
Senator Kristen O'Shea gave her proponent testimony stating that SB343 updates the term "hearing impaired" to "hard of hearing" in statutes related to persons with hearing loss. She said changing the language is one part of the challenge and that educating the public is also needed. Included with her testimony is educational graphics that will aid in educating the public to use the new terms. (Attachment 1)
Sara Hale testified in support of SB343. She represents the We the Deaf People (WTDP) organization. She has been deaf since birth and raised by parents who are deaf themselves. Her husband is also deaf and they have four kids; two who are hearing and two who are deaf. Sharing deaf culture with her deaf sons is important to her and hopes they never experience the negative label of the term "hearing impaired". SB343 will update all statutes from Deaf and "Hearing Impaired" to Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The phrase "Hearing Impaired" is viewed as a negative term to most Deaf and Hard of Hearing people. Changing the phrase from "Hearing Impaired" to Deaf and Hard of Hearing brings a more positive view and incorporates deaf people's values, cultures, and social relationships. (Attachment 2)
Robert Cooper spoke in support of SB343. He stated that the KCDHH Commission has given its full support of the effort to finish the necessary changes to existing statutes by removing any improper references. Following a meeting on January 14, 2022, KCDHH has since recognized an opportunity for an additional amendment as proposed by the Kansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association in regard to speech and language disorders that also exist among current statutes with terminologies SB343 aims to change. He said KCDHH is in full concurrence with the new additions. (Attachment 3)
They took questions from committee members.
Written only, proponent testimony was submitted by:
Martha Gabehart, Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns (Attachment 4)
Kim Anderson, Kansas Association of the Deaf, Inc. (Attachment 5)
Susie Ternes, Executive Director, Kansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (Attachment 6)
Chairperson Hilderbrand closed the hearing on SB343.
Chairperson Hilderbrand adjourned the meeting at 8:45 a.m. The next scheduled meeting is February 1, 2022.
