Kansas 2023-2024 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB314

Introduced
3/15/23  
Refer
3/16/23  
Report Pass
3/23/23  
Engrossed
4/3/23  
Refer
4/3/23  

Caption

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

Impact

If enacted, SB 314 would significantly modify existing state laws regarding vaccination requirements for children. Specifically, the bill will amend K.S.A. 65-508 and K.S.A. 72-6262, which govern immunizations for school enrollment. It stipulates that children enrolled or enrolling in schools, including those at child care facilities, would not be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. This change could encourage increasing numbers of children attending schools and childcare settings without vaccination, adjusting the landscape of public health in Kansas and possibly influencing other states to reconsider similar mandates.

Summary

Senate Bill 314 seeks to prohibit the Secretary of Health and Environment from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for children attending child care facilities or schools. This legislative move responds to ongoing debates regarding vaccine mandates, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill aims to protect parental rights by allowing parents or guardians to determine their children's vaccination status without state requirements that could compel them to vaccinate against their preferences. The legislation reflects a larger national conversation about health freedoms and governmental authority during public health crises.

Contention

The introduction of SB 314 has sparked debate among stakeholders regarding the implications of non-vaccination on public health. Proponents argue that the bill respects individual liberties and parental rights, opposing state overreach in personal health decisions. Conversely, opponents express concerns about potential risks to community health. They fear that reducing vaccination rates could undermine herd immunity, increasing the likelihood of COVID-19 outbreaks in schools and childcare settings. This divide often reflects broader ideological conflicts over public health policy, individual rights, and state responsibilities.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

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 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 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 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 HB2589

Prohibiting the secretary for children and families from accepting anonymous reports of child abuse or neglect, requiring the secretary to inform anonymous reporters of such prohibition and other pertinent information regarding reporting child abuse and neglect and allowing law enforcement agencies to accept anonymous reports of child abuse or neglect.

KS S2543

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

KS HB2004

Requiring the secretary for children and families and the office of inspector general to exchange information and documents related to cash assistance, childcare assistance and food assistance fraud investigations and requiring the secretary for children and families and the secretary of health and environment to execute a memorandum of understanding or other written data-sharing instrument upon written request of the United States department of agriculture or the United States department of health and human services and comply with data requests from such federal agencies.

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.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.