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Minutes for HB2468 - Committee on Appropriations
Short Title
Concerning state of disaster emergencies, appointing the incident commander by the adjutant general for weather-related disasters, establishing coordinating duties of the division of emergency management and establishing the disaster contingency fund for use by the state finance council to match federal grants and funds to respond to such weather-related disaster.
Minutes Content for Wed, Jan 24, 2024
Chairperson Waymaster opened the hearing on HB2468.
Jill Wolters, First Assistant Revisor, Office of Revisor of Statutes, provided information about HB2468. This bill requires the adjutant general to appoint an incident commander if the Governor has issued a state of disaster related to the threat of an imminent weather-related disaster(s). (Attachment 1)
Revisor Wolters stood for questions from the committee on the following items:
- Potential impact of Governor's declaration and length of validity
- Use of the disaster contingency fund
- Incident commanders
Proponent testimony in person:
- Representative Waymaster, House of Representatives District 109 (Attachment 2) Representative Waymaster answered questions from the committee members on the topics of the fiscal note associated with the bill; clarification on the intent of the State-structured response for weather-related incidents impacting multiple counties, its scope and scalability; definition of weather-related events; wildfire task force recommendations; potential bill amendments addressing any opposition; and intent of funding.
- Senator Elaine Bowers, Senator District 36 (Attachment 3)
- Angee Morgan, Deputy Director for Emergency Management, Kansas National Guard (Attachment 4) Ms. Morgan answered questions from committee members on the topic of incident command and what the bill addresses or fixes that does not currently exist.
Proponent testimony written only: Claudia Hissong, State Affairs Manager, Kansas Farm Bureau (Attachment 5)
Opponent testimony in person: Matt May, Government Affairs and Legislative Liaison for Kansas Emergency Managers Association. (Attachment 6) Jillian Rodrigue, Deputy Director, Douglas County Emergency Management, provided additional information.
No neutral testimony was presented.
Chairperson Waymaster closed the public hearing on HB2468.
