Legislation: Kansas Bill HB 2601 weakens the ability of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to regulate and promulgate rules as it relates to vaccination requirements/schedules. Instead, this authority would be vested with the state legislature, which meets for four months a year and lacks the background and medical expertise to determine appropriate action. Currently, KDHE has the ability and authority to act quickly based on new information and best practices from the CDC. Removing expertise from this process and placing it in the political arena for consideration is not in the best interests of disease prevention and the well-being of Kansans, young and old, who rely on vaccination information based on science, not politics.
Activity: A legislative hearing on the proposed bill is scheduled for Thursday, February 13 at 1:30 p.m. before the House Education Committee. It meets in room 346-S.
Click “read more” to see how you can submit testimony or contact committee chairs.