(Feb. 14, 2024) -Today, the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, chaired by Senator Renee Erickson (R-Wichita) held a hearing on Senate Bill 390. The legislation enacts the conscientious right to refuse act to prohibit discrimination against individuals to refuse medical care and creating a civil cause of action based on such discrimination; repealing the authority of the secretary of health and environment to quarantine individuals and impose associated penalties.  

The committee heard from proponents: Senator Mark Steffan (R-Hutchinson), William Mize of Kansans for Health Freedom, Michelle Eagleman, Kathy Brown, Jeri Enegren, Debbie Mize, and Connie Newcome.

And opponents including: Heather Braum of Kansas Action for Children, Rand Bowman of Local Health Departments, Timothy Graham with Kansas National Education Association, Geovannie Gone with Immunize Kansas, William Wilk with Kansas Chamber of Commerce, Rev. Dr. Annie Ricker of Kansas Interfaith Action, and Kimberly Martin, Kansas State Nurses Organization. KHA also submitted testimony on the bill.

The committee will meet again tomorrow to hold hearing on Senate Bill 391, enacting the constitutional right to health freedom act to regulate the activities of the secretary of health and environment related to public health functions; repealing statutes relating to the secretary’s authority to quarantine individuals and impose association penalties.