Veto Session Over…For Now
As of 2:15 am this morning, the “first” veto session has come to a close and the “second” veto session will resume on Monday, May 23. The Omnibus budget bill was passed, along with heavier items like a bill that phases out the state food sales tax, and another that restricts the government’s ability to mandate masks and other infection response efforts. When the Legislature returns on May 23 for a “second” veto session, there is the possibility they could work a medical marijuana bill, but the bulk of their action will be reserved for work on re-drawing the Kansas Congressional maps.
ARPA Funds for Staffing Agency Costs in Omnibus Budget Bill
In the last budget bill this session, know as the Omnibus Bill, the legislature approved $15M from ARPA funds to provide funding to nursing facilities to cover rising costs associated with staffing agencies. This amount is far below our original ask of $78 million, but we are grateful to our Kansas legislators who fought hard to appropriate some amount of money to address out of control staffing agency charges.
Mask Ban Avoided for Government-Owned Nursing Homes
Thank you to everyone who responded to our last minute action alert concerning SB 34. The bill would have prevented government-owned adult care homes from requiring masks for anyone in their building during a disease outbreak. For many obvious reasons, we strongly opposed this portion of the bill. We are happy to report that the conference committee reconvened and added language to SB 34 exempting adult care homes from the mask ban.
Bill Tracker
- CCR for HB 2510 Omnibus budget bill On way to Governor
- Sub for SB 34 Restricts the government’s ability to mandate masks and other infection response efforts. On way to Governor
- H Sub for Sub for SB 286 Extends pandemic flexibilities and liability protection for businesses and health care providers to January 20, 2022 Veto Sustained
- HB 2387 Prohibits any state agency from making changes to the KanCare program until January 1, 2025. Exceptions for changes required by legislature, federal law or CMS. On way to Governor
