Tag: COVID-19

Legislative update from Rep. Pam Curtis

Rep. Pam Curtis

Opinion column

by Rep. Pam Curtis, D-32nd Dist.

I have provided an update from the Legislature last week.

With Kansas and the world facing a health emergency due to the pandemic COVID-19, we all must be prepared to take every measure possible to keep ourselves, our families and our neighbors safe.

Please follow the recommendations of the state and local health officials and the CDC.

Practice social distancing.
Keep informed.
Wash your hand frequently.
Stay home if you are sick.

Things are changing rapidly. I have provided some links in this week’s Legislative Update to help everyone stay informed, and I will post new information on social media as it becomes available.

We are all in this together and everyone must take personal responsibility to combat this deadly virus.

On Friday the Kansas House of Representatives voted unanimously to extend the governor’s March 12, 2020, state of disaster emergency declaration for the state to help address the COVID-19 pandemic crisis facing Kansas and our nation. This provides for the declaration to remain in effect through Jan. 25, 2021.

Also, on Friday, the House Judiciary Committee, of which I am a member, passed a bill that will allow the chief justice of the Kansas Supreme Court to extend or suspend deadlines to secure the health and safety of court users, staff and judicial officers. The Honorable Marla Luckert, chief justice of the Kansas Supreme Court, testified on this measure to allow flexibility for our courts to function as we prepare and respond to COVID-19. The bill advances to the House of Representative for consideration when we reconvene on Monday.

For the most part events and visitors to the Capitol continued as normal last week. By Friday everything had changed. There are many cancellations, visitors to the Capitol are being restricted and people are being asked to practice social distancing. This is having a real impact on literally every aspect of life. Please do all you can to stay safe during this health emergency.

Happenings at Capitol
 A Medicaid Expansion Rally-Protest was held in the Capitol Rotunda on Tuesday. The chants in support of expansion reverberated throughout the building sending a message that people are tired of the gridlock on this issue and want action!

UG Transit participated in Transit Day at the Capitol last week. It was great to see them there helping inform everyone about the importance of public transit to our communities.

Appreciated the information about the services Midland Care is providing in our community at the Wyandotte County-Leavenworth County Delegation Tuesday Luncheon. Midland Care offers an integrated community care delivery system addressing social, physical and spiritual needs, improving quality of life for our aging population to keep seniors at home and independent longer, as a vital part of our community. Here is a link to learn more about this alternative to help those wanting to age in place: www.midlandcareconnection.org

Hispanic Day at the Capitol 2020 was held on Wednesday. It was a pleasure to join staff and friends from El Centro and Schlagle High School students for lunch before the group headed back to Kansas City.

Kansas House Democrats’ Thursday Summit speaker was Kyle Kessler, Association of Community Health Centers of Kansas. He spoke with members about mental health issues including funding and policies before the Kansas Legislature.

Committee Work
 Work in committees continued last week. However, by Friday the environment definitely changed to focus on legislation that we must pass to give the Executive Branch, the Judicial Branch and the State Board of Education the resources and flexibility to function in what is becoming a new reality in daily life with the coronavirus.

On Friday, House Appropriations kicked out a base budget to work on the floor — pushing more controversial issues within the budget to omnibus, so that we can quickly pass the initial budget in light of the COVID–19 spread.

The House was ready to work through the weekend to address these issues, but the Senate went home. Hopefully when the Senate returns on Monday, they will join us in the commitment to provide the resources needed to address the health emergency facing Kansas and our nation.

Bills on the floor
 HB 2571 – “Club and drinking establishment liquor license eligibility; spouse is a law enforcement officer in another county.” — Passed 108-12
HB 2490 – “Kansas corporation NOL carryforward extension.” — Passed 118-2
HB 2596 – “Allowing an alcoholic liquor manufacturer to obtain a drinking establishment license under certain conditions.” — Passed 113-7
HB 2548 – “Claims against the state submitted by the Joint Committee on Special Claims Against the State.” — Passed 115-1
HB 2689 – “Amending the angel investor tax credit with respect to the definition of qualified securities, tax credit limitations and amounts, investor requirements and extending the date that credits may be allowed.” — Passed 103-12

It is a special honor to serve as your state representative. I value and appreciate your input on issues facing state government. Please feel free to contact me with your comments and questions. My office address is Room 452-S, 300 SW 10th, Topeka, Kansas 66612. You can reach me at 785-296-7430 or call the legislative hotline at 1-800-432-3924 to leave a message for me. You can also email me at [email protected].

Governor asks all schools to close this week to face COVID-19 challenge

Gov. Laura Kelly today asked all K-12 schools to close for one week, starting Monday, to face the COVID-19 risk.

The closures will give the public schools time to plan, she said.

Gov. Kelly said this closure was “strongly recommended” in consultation with the State Board of Education and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Some school districts, such as the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools, already were scheduled for spring break this week.

Other districts, such as the Piper Public Schools, announced a closure last Friday for this week. Piper had been scheduled to go on spring break the following week.

The Turner Public Schools went on spring break on Friday, and students are out of school until March 24.

The Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Public Schools will be on spring break March 16 through March 23.

Gov. Kelly also said the state must continue to support child care efforts to remain open.

“This was not an easy decision,” Gov. Kelly said. There are challenges including maintaining meals for children in need, addressing child care and other challenges from students not being in school, she said.

The State Board of Education has formed a team of experts, she said, to build a comprehensive plan to address the challenges the schools are facing with COVID-19.

Those challenges include how students can continue their studies online if necessary; how schools can assist students who do not have access to online tools to finish the semester, especially those who will graduate in May; how schools can provide for students who have individual education plans; how schools can continue school-based mental health services; how schools can continue providing meals for students who need them; what role can schools play in assisting in child care; how schools can assist in efforts to keep children from congregating in community spaces and keep them quarantined in their own houses; and how to educate parents on ways to continue the students’ educations.

“We need an approach that achieves educational goals while also providing a safe environment for our students, and acting in the best interests of public health,” Gov. Kelly said.

“Kansas will continue taking proactive steps to ensure that we’re doing our utmost in COVID-19 prevention and response,” she said.

To see the governor’s news conference, visit https://www.facebook.com/GovLauraKelly/

Concern expressed about firefighters dealing with COVID-19

Concern was expressed recently about the safety of firefighters in dealing with COVID-19.

At a March 12 Unified Government Commission, Commissioner Mike Kane asked about the subject of firefighter safety.

He asked if the UG could check into the procedures that Kansas City, Missouri, has approved, and to see if there is something that the UG could learn from.

Commissioner Kane said recently that his questions were not directly about the five firefighters reportedly under self-quarantine or about any specific incident, but his concerns were about safety procedures in general. Each fire department seems to have different procedures, he said, and there is a need for have a professional look at it to say what needs to be done. He added he thought the mayor and governor did the right thing to declare an emergency, to protect the people who live here.

“They are doing things different,” UG Administrator Doug Bach said at the meeting about the Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas, procedures. “We did some analysis of the things they are doing.”

The UG was looking at best practices and will move forward with what is the most appropriate for the UG, he said at the meeting.

Bach, at the meeting, said he was looking at all operational practices, and added that about 90 percent of the UG employees need to keep working.

“We are taking steps to provide additional disinfectant, advise and provide information to employees about what they should be doing to take precautions,” he said.

“We’re advising people if you’re feeling ill, don’t come to work, but otherwise, this is a time when we have to step up,” he said at the meeting. “This is when our employees work hard and take care of the community.

“I know we’ll be here to serve,” he said, “and we’ll continue to do what we can to provide additional resources that they need.”

The International Association of Firefighters recommended personal protection equipment including certain types of masks, disposable gowns, gloves, eye protection, and placing a surgical mask on patients. The IAFF has developed recommended protocols for firefighters in dealing with COVID-19, including information about the personal protection equipment that is needed, at https://www.iaff.org/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2H9dj37GEUxbxWC4MhItdumnIBX8e1ffF57B2JyaNQz26iqHMirVqhpMQ.