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House moves bill to establish south-central state psychiatric hospital in Wichita
Summary
Lawmakers reported a bill creating the South Central Regional Mental Health Hospital (HB 2365) for Wichita and updated catchment areas for other state hospitals. The measure includes administration and fund-creation language; several members supported the project, others urged better local outreach to neighborhoods near the site.
The Kansas House reported House Bill 23 65 favorably on Feb. 19, a bill that creates statutory authority for a south‑central regional mental health hospital to serve committed psychiatric patients and to set up the administrative and fund structures for the new facility.
Representative Gardner, the bill’s sponsor, described the measure as primarily administrative — creating the South Central Regional Mental Health Hospital fee fund, vesting implementation authority with the Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), and designating catchment counties for the new facility.
The bill renames Parsons State Hospital and Training Center in statute to Parsons State Hospital, authorizes the Larned State Hospital superintendent to oversee the extension hospital operations, and clarifies admission transfers between state psychiatric hospitals when capacity is limited.
Supporters said the region needs additional inpatient capacity and that the statutory changes will streamline operations and funding for the new Wichita facility. Representative Ruiz and others expressed support, and Representative Turk and Representative Sutton remarked on site-selection and process concerns; some members from the Wichita area said they wanted more community outreach during the siting process.
The House adopted the Committee of the Whole report and moved HB 2365 forward.
Why it matters: The bill adds state statutory authority to operate and fund a new psychiatric hospital serving south-central Kansas — a multi-year capital and operating commitment that addresses capacity for criminal-justice-related commitments and civil psychiatric care.
Where it stands: Committee-reported and placed on the calendar for further consideration; implementing rules, fund management and appropriation requests will follow if the bill becomes law.
Ending: Passage would enable KDADS to continue establishing the new hospital in Wichita and to finalize operations and catchment assignments for other state hospitals.
