Bylaws: Article VII, Section 3. The Legislative Committee shall each year develop an annual legislative statement detailing the official position of the Association on legislation and legislative matters pertaining to public health programs and problems. This legislative statement shall be approved by the membership at the KALHD annual meeting. Based on this approved legislative statement, the committee shall use this legislative statement for issues between local health departments and related state and federal agencies, bodies, and organizations. The Past President shall serve as the chair of the Legislative Committee, and the KAC Representative will be a permanent member of the committee.

KALHD 2024 Legislative Policy Statement

2024 Testimony

SB 404 (Senate Side): KALHD’s proponent testimony for defining Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) in Kansas and providing an additional tool to clinicians in the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.

HB 2579 (House Side): KALHD’s proponent testimony on providing emergency responders, when authorized by medical provider, or upon order of defined medical professionals, to distribute nonprescription over-the-counter medications.

2023 Testimony

SB 314 (Senate Side): KALHD’s opponent testimony prohibiting the Secretary of KDHE from mandating the COVID-19 vaccine for children in child care or school (to the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee).

SB 315 (Senate Side): KALHD’s opponent testimony expanding vaccine exemptions and repealing the meningitis vaccine requirement in college student housing (to the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee).

SB 234 (Senate Side): KALHD’s opponent testimony on prohibiting governmental entities from sharing or transmitting social care information into a closed loop referral system (to the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee).

SB 282 (Senate Side): KALHD’s neutral testimony on child care licensing requirements (to the Senate Commerce Committee).

HB 2390 (Senate Side): KALHD’s proponent testimony to legalize fentanyl testing strips (to the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee).

HB 2330 (House Side): KALHD’s proponent testimony to change the State Formula distribution listed in K.S.A. 65-242 (to the House Social Services Budget Committee).

HB 2390 (House Side): KALHD’s proponent testimony to legalize fentanyl testing strips (to the House Health and Human Services Committee).

SB 6 (Senate Side): KALHD’s opponent testimony on restricting the authority of the secretary of health and environment and local health officers to prevent the introduction and spread of infectious or contagious diseases; repealing the authority of the secretary to quarantine individuals and impose associated penalties (to the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee).

KDHE Health Budget (House Side): KALHD’s public comments asking for $1.4 million more for State Formula funding (to the House Committee on Social Services Budget).

KDHE Health Budget (Senate Side): KALHD’s public comments asking for $1.4 million more for State Formula funding (to the Senate Human Services Subcommittee, Ways and Means).

Overview of Local Health Departments in Kansas: Not testimony, but an informational presentation KALHD provided (to the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee).