Thoughts From Under the Dome

Ken Collins

Kansas State Representative-Second District

 

I have been waiting to write an update until I had some progress to report on Benny’s Bill (HB 2412) which as many of you know is legislation that I am sponsoring to strengthen penalties for child endangerment to a child under the age of six years old. The bill passed final action in the house with a vote of 124-0 which was unanimous of all representatives present. The bill now goes to the Senate where it has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee to repeat the same process that it did in the House of Representatives then hopefully to Governor Kelly.

 

Another bill that I feel is of interest is HB 2736 which deals with hospitals who offer financial assistance programs to patients in need. The bill calls for unnecessary reporting of a patient’s financial situation even if that patient isn’t interested in receiving assistance. I voted against the bill because of that and other reasons. Apparently many of my colleagues agreed with me because it was voted down 102-20.

 

HB 2368 which provided for the licensure of anesthesiologist assistants is another bill that was voted down. Kansas currently does not have people of that occupation working in the state but we currently have CRNAs (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists) who operate with more autonomy than their AA counterparts and are a better fit for the more rural areas. I have received much feedback from both sides of that debate but most of what I have heard from our district has been in opposition to HB 2368.

 

I keep hearing from constituents about property tax relief and there are a number of proposals out there to address that topic. When any of them come to the House floor in the form of a bill I will take them into consideration and decide on their merits.

 

That’s it for now but as I always say, feel free to reach out with concerns and if you are ever in Topeka during the session I would love to have you drop by the Capitol. Ad Astra Per Aspera.