Kansas 2023-2024 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2007

Introduced
1/9/23  
Refer
1/9/23  

Caption

Prohibiting the secretary of health and environment from requiring a COVID-19 vaccination for care at a child care facility or attendance at a school.

Impact

The bill modifies existing state laws related to immunization requirements for children. It amends K.S.A. 65-508 and 72-6262, confirming that children may still enroll in schools and child care facilities even if they have not received the COVID-19 vaccine. Furthermore, it allows exemptions based on medical needs or religious beliefs. This change could have considerable implications for public health, educational institutions, and child care sectors in Kansas, potentially affecting herd immunity and illness prevention strategies.

Summary

House Bill 2007 introduces significant changes to the requirements for childhood immunizations mandated by the Secretary of Health and Environment in Kansas. This bill specifically prohibits the requirement of a COVID-19 vaccination for children attending school or participating in child care facilities. The proposed legislation aims to address concerns from parents and guardians about vaccination mandates, particularly in light of the ongoing debates surrounding COVID-19 vaccination policies. Supporters of the bill argue that it protects individual rights and freedoms regarding health decisions for children.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB 2007 is divided among lawmakers and community members. Proponents view the bill favorably, seeing it as a means to safeguard parental rights and reduce government overreach concerning mandated vaccinations. Conversely, opponents express concern about the potential risks to public health, emphasizing that such a measure could lead to lower vaccination rates and an increase in vaccine-preventable diseases among children.

Contention

Notable points of contention include the balance between personal freedom and public health responsibilities. Critics argue that by allowing states to forego COVID-19 vaccines, the bill could undermine efforts to ensure maximum immunity in schools and child care environments, potentially leading to outbreaks of the virus among unvaccinated populations. The bill raises fundamental questions about the role of government in individual health decisions, reflecting a larger national debate on vaccine mandates.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS SB132

Establishing certain license fees and training requirements, creating a process for day care facility licensees to apply for temporary waiver of certain statutory requirements and authorizing the secretary to develop and operate pilot programs to increase child care facility availability or capacity, transferring certain child care programs to the Kansas office of early childhood and separating licensing duties between the secretary for health and environment and the executive director of early childhood.

KS HB2383

Requiring the Kansas children's cabinet and the department of health and environment to implement a pilot program to offer health services, telehealth consultations and medication reimbursements to child care providers, while prohibiting stricter local regulations, allowing local registration of providers, increasing state funding for the child and adult care food program and providing free training and education materials to providers.

KS SB207

Requiring the Kansas children's cabinet and the department of health and environment to implement a pilot program to offer health services, telehealth consultations and medication reimbursements to child care providers, while prohibiting stricter local regulations, allowing local registration of providers, increasing state funding for the child and adult care food program and providing free training and education materials to providers.

KS HB2045

Reducing certain license fees and training requirements for child care staff, creating a process for day care facility licensees to apply for temporary waiver of certain statutory requirements, authorizing the secretary of health and environment to develop and operate pilot programs to increase child care availability or capacity, transferring certain child care programs to the Kansas office of early childhood and creating day care licensing duties of the director of early childhood.

KS S2543

Protects children from certain mandatory vaccinations as a condition of school attendance.

KS HB2294

Substitute for HB 2294 by Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development - Reducing certain license fees and training requirements for child care staff, creating a process for day care facility licensees to apply for temporary waiver of certain statutory requirements, authorizing the secretary of health and environment to develop and operate pilot programs to increase child care availability or capacity, transferring certain child care programs to the Kansas office of early childhood and creating day care licensing duties of the director of early childhood.

KS SB1977

Public health; prohibiting certain entities from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations; prohibiting discrimination due to vaccination status. Emergency

KS SB149

Requiring that a haircare plan is part of the case plan for a child in custody of the secretary for children and family services and requiring the secretary to offer training on culturally competent haircare to caregivers.

KS HB2339

Enhancing adult care home services by providing for adult care home workforce development through scholarships for part-time nursing students and setting minimum education levels for instructors at nursing schools, establishing an intergenerational child care program to enhance the adult care home environment by supporting adult care homes offering child care services through the awarding of grants by the secretary of health and environment and creating the intergenerational child care fund and authorizing the secretary to administer the fund.

KS HB2249

Requiring the secretary for aging and disability services to grant physical environment waivers for certain rural emergency hospitals to provide skilled nursing facility care and establishing the south central regional mental health hospital.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.