On Tuesday this week, Senate Public Health and Welfare took action on HB2777, the body camera bill. The amendment introduced by Senator Pettey inserted language allowing the Fire Marshal’s inspectors to utilize still camera photographs for documenting violations. This amendment was adopted by the committee, however, Senator Thompson’s amendment brought forward by the Fire Marshal’s office to change the makeup of the Kansas Fire Service Training Commission failed. The bill was passed out of committee and will head to the Senate floor to await further action.
The House chamber dedicated nearly three hours to working their mega budget bill, HB2273, on the floor Tuesday. An amendment for the involuntary discharge proviso was introduced on the floor by Representative Landwehr and clarifies KDADS is the sole agency responsible for carrying out the provisions set forth. While numerous other items were hotly debated, aging services funding managed to remain intact including the Medicaid Capacity Payment (add-on) for nursing homes, PACE rebase, hospice 5% haircut elimination, and increase in rate reimbursement for HCBS-FE waiver. The House chamber will take final action on the bill tomorrow where it will go to the Senate chamber where conference committees will be announced shortly thereafter.
Wednesday is all things Medicaid Expansion at the Capitol this week. An informational hearing chaired by Senator McGinn at 10:30 AM followed by a hearing on HB2556 chaired by Representative Landwehr at 1:00 PM are expected to bring lively debates. We’ll keep you posted how those hearings progress.
We’re still anticipating a hearing on contract nurse staffing agencies to take place around the first week of April. If you’re interested in submitting testimony, either written or oral, please email Kylee Childs by end of day Friday this week (March 22).
