Presentation Transcript

1. Legislative Session 2010

   Health and Human Services Committee

2. Who Will I be observing? I am an intern in Topeka at the State Captiol for Lana Gordon. She serves on several committees including Health and Human Services, Chairs Economic Development and Education. Doing study of operations of House Health and Human Services committee comparing HB 2642 and HB 2221. See and hear several perspectives and opinions Legislators, Lobbyists, taxpayers, my own opinion, I will interact with legislators and listen to the opinion they express to each other.
3. What the committee does? Sets policies for health and environment that affect the entire state. Sets policies regarding licensure of doctors, optometrists, audiologists, paramedics\ It sets rules and regulations for many different services relating to the health of Kansas citizens Currently, debating a statewide smoking ban
4. Importance of Committee First step in Bill becoming a law In the committee, the bill is put through hearings, where proponents and opponents of the bill are heard and amendments are possibly made. The committee votes on it and sends it to the House floor where the bill is rejected or voted upon. It then is sent to the Senate where they vote on it.
5. How do people find out about Committee Meetings? Chairwoman Landwehr has ultimate control of what will be heard in the meeting Committee secretary, Debbie Bartuccio submits agenda a week before Published on the Internet and in the House Calendar House calendar is available for viewing on www.kslegislature.org
6. House Calendar http://www.kslegislature.org/agstat/2010/ha0311.pdf
7. Submitting Testimonies Anyone can present a testimony Lobbyist represent interest groups and present testimonies Must submit testimony to committee secretary at least 24 hours in advance of the day they wish to testimony Must provide at least 35 copies of testimonies to committee secretary by 10:30 am of the day of the hearing to be distributed to committee members and audience members
8. Committee Agenda
9. Room Setup Health and Human Services Committee Meets in Docking State Office Building Room 784 Meets Monday through Friday at 1:30 on call of the Chairman Maximum Capacity of Room is 49 Chairman Vice- Chairman Black boxes are committee members Seating Gray Marks are Microphones Podium Where Testimony is heard Audience Seating
10. Disadvantages of Room Setup Microphone for every 3 people Chairwoman maintains control of room Can’t see everyone Noises in the room such as heater make it hard to hear Person speaking at podium as back to audience which makes it harder to heard person speaking Positions member across from each other and members talk to each other
11. Committee Members

12. Distribution across Kansas

    Members are located in central and Eastern side of state
13. Issue surrounding the committee Statewide smoking ban HB 2221 HB 2642 On February 10, 2010 I was able to hear many testimonies from both sides of HB 2642
14. Stakeholders business owners such as bar owners, cigar and tobacco shop owners, and sporting galleries have vested interest in the committee because they do or do not want smoking in their establishment Legislators because they are backing their own opinions and also interests of constituents Lobbyists who represent interest groups Health Care workers, physicians, asthmatics Governor is a huge stakeholder because he can veto the bill that passed to him
15. Governors Budget Report http://budget.ks.gov/publications/FY2011/FY2011_GBR_Volume1--updated_2-10-2010.pdf
16. Governors Budget Report http://budget.ks.gov/publications/FY2011/FY2011_GBR_Volume1--updated_2-10-2010.pdf
17. Kansas Taxes Smoking bans would reduce state and local taxes from Cigarette and Tobacco Sales http://skyways.lib.ks.us/ksleg/KLRD/Publications/TaxFactsSupp_2009.pdf
18. Homerule Authority Some legislators believe smoking ban goes again principle of homerule authority Homerule Authority is the ability of cities and to make their own power Representative Scott Schawab, an Olathe Republican, said in a Topeka Capitol Journal article by David Klepper, “You’re going to be shutting down bars and restrarants that have been in business for decades, (if you implement a statewide smoking ban). At what point has the government gone too far.”
19. HB 2642 Allow business to be exempt if they paid a $1 per square foot to allow smoking at their establishment Would do away with many local stricter bans that are currently in place Would allow smoking in state operated casinos Was tabled and not passed out of committee did not go to fully house committee Popular among lawmakers because its lets businesses keep some of their rights
20. Proponents of HB 2642 Father H. Setter of All Saints Catholic Church in Wichita and Chaplain of International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retails Association believes that: “Because HB 2642 is a compromise plan, it includes an exemption for my cigar diner which is the sole source of monies I give to local charities. Since tobacco products are still legal in country, business owners need to have their rights protected in order to continue offering their customers a venue to smoke if that’s is their decision as a business owner, providing they follow age restrictions regarding tobacco products.”
21. Opponents of HB 2642 Stanley Watt, Chairman of Clean Air Manhattan and former member of Kansas Lung Association “The fairest legislation is one that is equal across the board with no exemptions, giving no advantage or disadvantage to one business over another. The idea of allowing a business to “buy” their way out of this legislation by paying a fee is absurd and unfair to small business. The people of Manhattan, Salina, Emporia, Lawrence, and Overland Park want comprehensive and complete indoor smoking ordinance. Not one like HB 2642, which is so watered down it, is ineffective. Don’t undermine the will of the citizens of Kansas. Follow the lead of the State of Iowa and eliminate HB 2642 and give the State of Kansas a complete and comprehensive ban on indoor smoking.”
22. HB 2221, Kansas Indoor Clean Act Was passed on February 25 with a 68-54 vote in the House and passed last yr. in the Senate Would make smoking illegal in: Public Places, taxicabs, common area in multiple-residential facilities, at least 80% of hotels need to be smoke-free, any place of employment Will be allowed in state owned casinos, gaming floor Portion of adult care home that is fully ventilated Will go into effect July 1st.
23. HB 2221 Passage Process Lawmakers wanted the bill to pass faster than usual and were tried of it being tabled in committee Used a rare procedural move called a motion to concur Senate bill wasn’t subject to normal committee process Chairwoman Landwehr said, “The Senate version was flawed because it prohibited smoking in private businesses while allowing it in state-authorized casinos.”
24. Opponents of HB 2221 Representative Arlen Siegfield, Speaker Pro Tem, said that, “We need to send this bill back and tell the proponents if they are serious, bring the bill back to us without the ridiculous exemptions.” Chairman Brenda Landwehr, believed the exemptions has misled people. “The people from my perspective have been deceived, she said. They have been misled.”
25. Proponents of HB 2221 Rep Jill Quigley, a nurse said that “If you care about improving the health of Kansans, this is the most important vote you can make this year, perhaps in your legislative career.” Representative Charles Roth urged voters to vote yes he said, “You are making a legacy vote today in Kansas to let all Kansans breathe clean air.”
26. Key Points of HB 2221 and HB 2642 Infringe upon business owners rights Pass because Health of KS citizens important Keep statewide ban up to local decision of homerule authority Smoking ban may possibly reduce state tax revenues Exemptions have misled people Rights of citizens at stake You have right not to enter a business
27. Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure Procedure used in committee and House floor Able to submit bill without a seconded motion Manual covers motions, procedures, vote requirements, etc. applicable to legislatures. It includes the rules of order, principles, precedents, and legal basis behind parliamentary law Make it easier for public to understand what is going on
28. Neutrality in Committee hearings Neutrality is sometimes as issue because legislators insert their own opinions and fight for their constituents rights Audience members cannot participate unless directly called upon Committee members ask questions to people presenting testimony once called upon Usually ask open ended questions for clarification of presenters point
29. What I have learned? Learned more about the legislative process How committee function and how a bill is passed Gained research tools necessary to keep up Kansas Politics and learn about important issues that affect me and other KS citizens Everyone should take part in committee process and understand that legislators are trying to do good and not harm like everyone thinks.