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Committee advances three additional bills on providers, foster placements and maternity homes
Summary
The Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare passed three bills out of committee with minimal debate: HB 2039 (provider definitions), HB 2311 (placement and religious-belief protections for foster/adoptive parents), and HB 2335 (maternity homes and health-care stabilization fund eligibility).
The Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare took final action on three bills after brief staff summaries and limited floor discussion.
House Bill 2039: Staff told the committee HB 2039 would amend provider definitions in Chapter 39, Article 20 so that entities that provide only physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech-language pathology would not be classified as home health agencies. The committee adopted a conceptual amendment to add the bill to the register and later passed HB 2039 as amended. Senator Clifford moved the motion to pass the bill as amended; Senator Rose seconded and the chair announced the bill passed out of committee.
House Bill 2311: Committee staff said HB 2311 would prohibit the secretary of the Department for Children and Families from requiring potential foster or adoptive placements to sign or adhere to agency policies that conflict with sincerely held religious beliefs, and it would create a civil cause of action against the department for alleged violations of that restriction. After a conceptual amendment and debate, Senator Thomas moved to pass the bill favorably; the motion carried on a voice vote.
House Bill 2335: Staff summarized HB 2335 as an amendment to K.S.A. 43-401 to change the definition of health-care provider under the health-care provider insurance availability act so that certain maternity homes not owned by physicians or health-care providers would be included. The committee added the item to the register by amendment and then passed the bill; Senator Petty moved to pass HB 2335 as amended and Senator Hoelscher seconded.
None of the three bills’ committee transcripts recorded roll-call vote tallies; the chair announced each bill had passed out of committee after motions and seconds. Committee members asked a handful of procedural or policy questions but did not receive extended testimony on these items during this session.
