Topeka — Heather Braum, health policy adviser, Laura Kelly on bills that would weaken the influence of public health officials during outbreaks and weaken public support for routine immunization programs that benefit children in schools and childcare facilities. He welcomed the governor’s veto.
Braum, who works for the nonprofit Kansas Action for Children, said House Bill 2285 narrowly passed both houses. With Congress officially adjourned until January 2024, it’s unlikely that the bill rejected by Democratic governors will be vetoed and given new life. Lawmakers may call a special session.
The public health bill has brought strength to the Capitol from fears within the anti-vaccine movement over state and county government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. These included closing some businesses and telling some people to stay home as much as possible. Possible.
“ thing teeth these are infectious disease or will do Become affected To Several of was suggested law that is harm again flat Fatal To young childsaid Braum on the Kansas Reflector podcast. “I obtain Emotional when I Story almost that because this is no easy To sit here and To tell, ‘Dresection make To of L.parliament intention kill child. ‘ ‘
The Republican-led Congress voted to restrict state and county officials to issuing recommendations, not orders, regarding restrictions on mass gatherings and personal isolation. If Kelly’s veto is valid, Congress could reconsider the issue next year.
House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Republican from Wichita who backed the bill, said its purpose was to limit the influence of unelected government officials in advisory roles in public health emergencies. He said personal liberty issues raised during the crisis should be left to those directly elected by Kansas voters, such as representatives and senators.
Kansas Action for Children has tracked or testified on numerous bills in the state legislature, with particular focus on reforms related to childcare regulations, food insecurity, and vaccination policies.
childcare standards
Kansas Action for Children’s education policy adviser Daniel Klassen said the legislature responded to the lack of quality childcare by passing legislation to lower the education standards for staff licenses and raise the childcare-to-child ratio. said.
He said Congress’ vote on lowering safety standards in House Bill 2344, which Kelly vetoed, will help attract more workers to the jobsite by raising pay while prioritizing child safety. said to be ignoring.
“We know that we need to re-regulate the industry, not de-regulate it, because the main purpose of regulation is to keep children safe,” said Klaasen. “It really makes me wonder if they’re messing with regulations to get more labor to boost the economy, as we’ve heard a few times.”
The Kansas House of Representatives tried to override the governor’s veto in the final week of the session, but feels it will not reach the necessary two-thirds majority.
Under the bill, the training required for nursery teachers will be reduced from 16 hours to 12 hours. That would have changed the infant-to-nurse ratio to 4-to-1 instead of her 3-to-1. At the same time, the definition of an infant will be amended from 18 months and under to 12 months and under.
Klaasen said Congress is not considering subsidies for employee salaries and benefits that have a real impact on the willingness of people to work in the field. The median wage for childcare workers in Kansas is $10.90 an hour, lower than fast food restaurant wages.
He said other states and local governments are working with companies to provide subsidies. Care It’s an option”provider can TRUE make be meaningful life Are doing this Deadly work for our state. “
food politics
The House and Senate have received enough votes to overrule Kelly’s veto on a bill that would create barriers for low-income people aged 50 to 59 seeking to qualify for federal food aid. Last year, Congress imposed similar employment and training restrictions on Kansan residents aged 18 to 49 who applied for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Kansas Action for Children food policy adviser Erin Melton said passage of House Bill 2094 could make it more difficult for Kansas’ 7,000 seniors to get food assistance. .
Melton said the law eliminated benefits of about $2 per meal for adults without dependents. The bill was not flexible enough to take into account people who hold more than one job but consistently fail to meet the 30-hour workweek minimum, she said.
“If They are no work and Even if only slightly 30 time be week, they offal To Become Assigned To of eemployment and tit’s raining program, flat If they please do not need That’s it,” Melton said. “childe eemployment and tit’s raining program was already Available To these are people voluntarily. So, of people WHO need help, you know, write in be resume again find be work again acquisition Several training To obtain taller than pay work, they already can do Or “
“this Specification teeth no help people seek work,” she said. “circlehat this is Are doing teeth kick people off WHO should do it not yet Become subject. “
Melton said Kansas is one of the toughest states in the nation when it comes to SNAP eligibility. In 2019, when the latest statistics are available, the U.S. Department of Agriculture ranked Kansas 48th in terms of access to food aid.
Unused SNAP funds allocated to Kansas are either diverted to other state initiatives or left unused.
“It’s no like we that is ‘savings of money’ when people it’s not reception Snap,” she said. “and we know or of eemployment and tit’s raining program in particular teeth TRUE expensive To embed. T.hose administrative cost we Split and of federal government government 50-50. W.e that is Expanding of of the state Spending upon this program that’s all To help few people. “