Governor Kelly applauds federal coronavirus relief, conveys need for flexibility

 

Governor Laura Kelly sent a letter to members of Kansas’ federal delegation to commend them for supporting the latest coronavirus emergency relief package, which provides economic support for small businesses, hospitals and COVID-19 testing capacity. The letter also conveys the urgent need for additional federal support in the form of direct, flexible state aid.

 

“Although federal aid made available up to this point will enhance Kansas’ immediate coronavirus response efforts, it lacks the flexibility necessary to adequately meet the needs of Kansas communities for the duration of this pandemic,” Kelly said in the letter. “COVID-19 will continue to impose unprecedented economic and public health challenges for at least another 12 to 18 months, and I write to urge your support for additional relief in the form of direct state aid.”

 

Kelly said it is critical to understand that the $1 billion budget shortfall Kansas faces today as a result of the coronavirus is far different than what happened as a result of the Great Recession, which resulted in $1 billion worth of cuts.

 

“Although those cuts were brutal, they occurred gradually. This gave communities time to adapt and prioritize, so they could limit the damage to Kansas families as much as possible,” she said in the letter. “That is not the situation Kansas faces today. Never before has the state confronted such a rapid, steep fiscal drop due to unforeseen and uncontrollable circumstances.”

 

Kelly thanked the federal delegation for its work on behalf of the people of Kansas, but expressed that she is gravely concerned that states are prohibited from using COVID-19 relief funds, such as those included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to supplant lost general fund revenue.

 

“As we continue to navigate these uncharted waters, my administration will remain in close communication with you and your respective staffs,” the Governor said in the letter. “Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require additional information as you negotiate the next round of emergency relief.”

CARES Act – Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) now live

 

TOPEKA – Kansas Secretary of Labor Delía García today joined Governor Laura Kelly in announcing that Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), which provides an additional $600 weekly payment for unemployment insurance claimants, went live starting today. FPUC is part of the federal CARES Act, which is focused on expanding unemployment benefits in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

 

FPUC is a $600 payment made each week that is in addition to other unemployment benefits an eligible claimant may receive. FPUC is a limited time program. Individuals are eligible for the $600 payments from March 29, until July 25, 2020, if they are receiving Regular Benefits (State Unemployment), Shared Work, Trade Readjustment Assistance, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation.

 

“If you are eligible, you will automatically receive the FPUC payment,” García said. “You do not need an additional application. We will also be paying the additional $600 to individuals who were eligible and filed their weekly claims. The retroactive payments for prior weeks after the law went into effect on March 29, 2020, will be following soon.”

 

“This is welcome news for unemployed Kansans who need assistance immediately,” Kelly said. “We also recently shared details on our push for regulation and possible legislation to ensure our emergency responders and healthcare workers have access to workers compensation coverage, and we also announced implementation of the Legislature’s expansion of benefits to up to 26 weeks. With the $600 additional payments from FPUC now live, we have made progress in a variety of ways needed to help many Kansans.”

 

For more information, or to apply for unemployment benefits, go to www.GetKansasBenefits.gov.

DCF Partners with Local Agencies to Distribute Food to Local Communities

National emergency triggers disaster household distribution program

Editors note: see the fortscott.biz story on this subject and where the local distribution sites are by clicking below:

https://fortscott.biz/news/federal-emergency-food-assistance-coming-for-those-affected-by-covid-19

 

The Department for Children and Families along with its community partners is distributing food to Kansans as part of the disaster household distribution program. The program is triggered when a national emergency is declared.

 

The program provides a variety of canned meats, vegetables, fruits, rice, dried beans, peanut butter and in some cases frozen meats and fresh milk. The food is being distributed to impacted households through DCF’s existing network of Emergency Food Assistance Program or TEFAP agencies.

 

There are no income restrictions for the disaster household program. Anyone in need due to the COVID-19 pandemic may receive a food package. The program is first come, first served. Quantities are limited.

Distributions are expected to last through May 6.

 

To find a distribution site nearest to your community see the list of sites at: http://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Documents/Food_Distribution_Programs/TEFAP%20Distribution%20Sites%20by%2 0County.pdf

 

Governor signs two Executive Orders as part of her administration’s ongoing COVID-19 response

 

Governor Laura Kelly today signed two new Executive Orders to help the state’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Executive Order #20-26 temporarily waives physician supervision or collaboration requirements for certain medical licensees, including advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants and licensed practical nurses.

 

“These are qualified health care professionals who provide safe, high-quality, routine care to Kansans on a daily basis,” Kelly said. “They diagnose illnesses, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications and work in numerous medical settings and fields. Temporarily easing some regulatory measures will help give doctors more capacity to focus on COVID-19 patients.”

 

The order permits registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, who hold a license that is exempt, inactive or has lapsed within the past five years to provide medical services appropriate to their qualifications.

 

The order also allows out-of-state health care providers to practice in Kansas, if necessary, without a Kansas license, but only if they are in good standing in their home state.

 

Through the order, health care providers assisting the state in its response as coordinated by the Kansas Division of Emergency Management will be covered by the liability protections of the Kansas Emergency Management Act.

 

“Addressing those broader challenges is not something I can, or should, do on my own through executive action,” Kelly said. “I encourage the Kansas Legislature to explore how we can adjust current statutes to better enable our doctors and nurses to adequately protect both their patients and protect themselves from liability as we adjust to a ‘new normal’ in the coronavirus era.”

 

Executive Order #20-27 allows the sale of alcoholic beverages for carryout consumption and permits the sale of liquor in a container that is not the original container for any establishment holding a class A club license, class B club license or drinking establishment license.

 

“I understand how many Kansas restaurants rely on the sale of alcoholic beverages,” Kelly said. “My administration is doing all it can to ease the burden on Kansas employees and their families who have lost income due to this crisis.”

 

The sale of alcoholic beverages for carryout consumption is subject to the following requirements:

 

• It must be legal for the establishment (the licensee) to sell alcoholic liquor;
• Each container of alcoholic liquor must have been purchased on the licensed premises;
• The licensee or the licensee’s employee must provide the patron with a dated receipt for the unfinished container or containers of alcoholic liquor; and
• Before the container of alcoholic liquor is removed from the licensed premises, the licensee or the licensee’s employee must place the container in a transparent bag sealed in a manner that makes it visibly apparent if the bag is subsequently tampered with or opened.

 

To view E.O. #20-26, click here.

To view E.O. #20-27, click here.

State Treasurer Jake LaTurner to Give Away $50,000 in Scholarships to 50 Nurses in the State of Kansas

Topeka— In honor of National Nurse’s Week and in recognition of all those in Kansas who continue to serve the people of our state by working in the field of nursing, Kansas State Treasurer Jake LaTurner with the support of the Kansas State Board of Nursing will be giving away fifty, $1000 scholarships to Kansas residents with a current nursing license as defined by the Kansas Nurse Practice Act (https://ksbn.kansas.gov/npa/).

“You certainly don’t have to look very far to find someone you know that is serving in the nursing field in Kansas. These are hard-working individuals who spend many hours on their feet caring for people in some of their most trying times, physically and mentally. If you know someone you’d like to thank for the work that they do, now is your opportunity to nominate them for one of these scholarships,” said Treasurer LaTurner.

“Nurses time after time have proven how dedicated and passionate they are about helping others.  They have been heroes on the frontline in providing care during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an excellent way to show them how appreciated they are.  Please nominate a nurse for one of these scholarships, in honor of National Nurse’s Week, as a way to say, “Thank You” for your dedication to the nursing profession!” said Executive Administrator for the Kansas State Board of Nursing Carol Moreland, MSN, RN.

The full contest rules can be found at https://kansasstatetreasurer.com/nan.html. The scholarship money will be placed into a Kansas LearningQuest 529 account, which can be used to pay off student loans, pay for continuing education at a qualified higher education institution, or may be saved for the future educational costs of a loved one. Nominations will be accepted through midnight May 12, 2020. All completed entries will be considered and winners will be notified by May 19, 2020.

No taxpayer funds are being used to fund these scholarships.

   

 

TOPEKA – In an effort to help Kansans who put their health and lives on the line during the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Laura Kelly is directing the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) to evaluate all of its processes and procedures for handling workers compensation claims filed by law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical service providers and health care workers that are reasonably related to the pandemic.

 

KDOL will draft and submit a temporary regulation and develop or prepare potential legislation designed to create workers compensation coverage for our first responders and healthcare workers who contract COVID-19 while assisting in the State’s response to the pandemic. The regulation and proposed legislation will create a presumption that first responders and healthcare workers who contract COVID-19 contracted the disease arising out of, and in the course of their employment. The legislation will be reviewed or developed in time for consideration by the Kansas Legislature at the next possible opportunity, special or regular session, whichever occurs first.

 

Should any law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical service providers or health care workers who contract COVID-19 while assisting in the State’s response to the pandemic be found not covered by workers compensation, the Governor’s office will request that the Legislature establish a special fund to satisfy claims incurred during the emergency.

 

“It is imperative that we stand behind emergency responders, healthcare workers and the many other steadfast Kansans who serve the public each and every day, at risk to their own personal health and safety,” the Governor said.

 

“KDOL stands ready to assist in this expansion of workers compensation coverage for our healthcare workers and emergency responders,” Secretary Delía García said. “We are working on the regulation and reviewing Kansas’ current work comp statutes now.”

 

 

TOPEKA, Kan. – Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) Secretary Jeff Zmuda announced today that one staff member at Topeka Correctional Facility (TCF) tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, April 20. This is the third KDOC facility with a confirmed case, with the first cases reported at the Lansing Correction Facility and Wichita Work Release Facility.

 

The staff member at TCF is a male over the age of 20. In order to protect the identity of the person, no other information will be released.

 

The KDOC has been in consultation with officials from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) on next steps to address these circumstances. As a result of that consultation with KDHE, the following steps were implemented:

 

• KDHE conducted contact tracing to determine who among our staff and residents have been in close contact with this individual
• The Shawnee County Health Department conducted contact tracing to identify anyone outside of TCF who may have been in close contact with this individual and will notify those persons
• KDOC will remain diligent in monitoring other staff and residents for symptoms

 

“Our corrections staff are committed to their work of preparing our residents for a successful return to their communities,” Zmuda said. “Our staff take that responsibility very seriously and we will continue to work with KDHE to ensure that we are conducting ourselves in a way that ensures the health and safety of everyone.”

 

The Topeka Correctional Facility is Kansas’ only all-female prison with a capacity of 948. The facility houses minimum, medium, special management and maximum custody residents.

 

For current information on COVID-19 in Kansas, and to sign up for updates, go to the KDHE COVID-19 Resource Center at kdhe.ks.gov/coronavirus.
 

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