Tobacco

Tobacco is a leading cause of chronic illness and death in Kansas. Legal efforts to curb or mitigate its use through statewide restrictions have been a source of heated debate. State lawmakers after multiple attempts have passed a statewide smoking ban and are considering increasing the tobacco tax. At least 35 Kansas cities and three counties enacted local restrictions before state lawmakers agreed to a statewide ban. KHI research and news reports focus on the policies dealing with tobacco control and their consequences.

Photo by Phil Cauthon

Lawmakers question adequacy of penalties for selling tobacco to children

0 | Legislature, Tobacco

After being briefed on Kansas' tobacco taxes and sales compliance, legislators asked a state enforcement official whether Kansas was doing enough to discourage smoking, particularly among children.

Policy and Research

Memo to House Health and Human Services Committee on secondhand smoke impacts

0 | Feb. 15, 2010 | Tobacco

The House Health and Human Services Committee requested additional information from the Kansas Health Institute on the impacts of secondhand smoke on three areas.

Testimony - Statewide Smoking Bans: A Research Perspective (2010 HB 2642)

0 | Feb. 11, 2010 | KHI Legislative Testimony, Tobacco

In testimony to the House Health and Human Services Committee, KHI summarizes the research about the impact of smoke-free policies.

Economic Impact of Lawrence Smoke-Free Ordinance

0 | Jan. 01, 2009 | Community Health, Tobacco

There has been much debate about the impact of Lawrence's comprehensive smoke-free ordinance on the restaurant and bar industry. This KHI study indicates that the ordinance did not negatively affect the industry as a whole.

Testimony to 2009 Legislature on state-wide smoke-free legislation

0 | Mar. 10, 2009 | KHI Legislative Testimony

The Kansas Health Institute provided information to the Kansas Legislature and stakeholders regarding various bills that would have created a state-wide smoke-free law in 2009.

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AG responds to KAC on tobacco settlement information request

0 | May. 22, 2013 | Budget, Children, Tobacco

Officials at Kansas Action for Children say Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt responded to their request for documents regarding the state's tobacco settlement payments but that the papers raise more questions than they answered and the response came too late to perhaps matter to legislative budget deliberations. They have filed a follow-up request seeking more answers.

KAC goes to court seeking release of tobacco settlement terms from AG's Office

0 | May. 10, 2013 | Children, Tobacco

A child advocacy group has filed a petition in Shawnee County District Court, asking the judge to order Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt to release an independent auditor’s report on how much money the nation’s tobacco companies are likely to pay the state over the next five years.

Advocacy group's Open Records request generates no new information

0 | May. 07, 2013 | Children, Legislature, Tobacco

The head of of a Topeka-based child advocacy group said today that she was disappointed she couldn't get more information sooner from the Attorney General's Office about details of the state's recent arbitration agreement with the nation's tobacco companies. Legislators return to the Statehouse on Wednesday to begin wrapping up the budget and that information could be useful for deciding how to fund children's programs, she and others said.

Tobacco settlement payment tops projection

0 | Apr. 25, 2013 | Children, Legislature, Tobacco

Lawmakers had expected the state to receive $55.8 million this fiscal year in tobacco settlement payments. Instead, payments from the tobacco companies topped $60.2 million.

House bill would exempt businesses from smoking ban

1 | Feb. 05, 2013 | Legislature, Tobacco

House Bill 2219, introduced by 11 House Republicans, would significantly expand exemptions to Kansas' statewide smoking ban.

Personal Care Attendants: KanCare's unheralded workers

1 | May. 20, 2013 | KanCare, Medicaid-CHIP

Every day a small army of Kansans — officials estimate there are about 16,000 of them — are at work helping some of the state’s neediest cope with the demands of daily life so that they can remain in their own homes rather than nursing homes or state institutions.

A New Confederacy

2 | May. 18, 2013 | Commentary

Over the five decades leading to a new millennium, state government in Kansas had assumed a rhythm of reform and advancement. Today it thrums with the drone of demolition.

When Government Worked for Kansas

0 | May. 16, 2013 | Commentary

For many generations, Kansans were governed by experienced, educated and thoughtful people who realized the great difference that government had made in their lives. The people elected to office had known lives before a time of new and noble purpose. They had come through a civil war, a panic, a great depression and two world wars. They saw the need for a government. It could not go away.

Navigator grants announced for helping consumers find health insurance via exchanges

0 | Apr. 09, 2013 | Health Reform, Insurance

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services today announced its intent to award up to $54 million in grants to organizations interested in helping consumers navigate state health insurance exchanges.

The ’80s, Carlin’s Legacy and Beyond

0 | May. 17, 2013 | Commentary

The 1980s and 1990s were the last decades of significant and compelling reform in Kansas. The legislative agenda seemed dominated by Democrat Gov. John Carlin but he could not have seen through reforms without help from Republicans and their leaders.

Conference committee reaches tentative accord on budget

0 | May. 21, 2013 | Budget, Legislature, KanCare

After weeks of impasse, a House-Senate bargaining team today reached apparent accord on a budget plan. The House could take up the measure for a vote by Wednesday afternoon, but House leaders said that won't happen unless a tax deal also is struck. The tax conference committee is scheduled to meet again at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

E-cigarettes unregulated until legal status determined

5 | Nov. 01, 2010 | Agencies, Tobacco

Proponents say e-cigarettes deliver only nicotine with none of the hazardous chemicals of traditional cigarettes. The smoke-like vapor emitted is virtually odorless and harmless, they say. But opponents say little is known of e-cigarettes' health effects and until they've been rigorously studied, they should be banned - at least from public spaces.

A New Confederacy

2 | May. 18, 2013 | Commentary

Over the five decades leading to a new millennium, state government in Kansas had assumed a rhythm of reform and advancement. Today it thrums with the drone of demolition.

Personal Care Attendants: KanCare's unheralded workers

1 | May. 20, 2013 | KanCare, Medicaid-CHIP

Every day a small army of Kansans — officials estimate there are about 16,000 of them — are at work helping some of the state’s neediest cope with the demands of daily life so that they can remain in their own homes rather than nursing homes or state institutions.

Kansas HIA Report: Potential Health Effects of Casino Development in Southeast Kansas

5 | Oct. 23, 2012 | Community Health, Public Health Systems and Services

The Kansas Health Institute recently completed its first health impact assessment, which examined the potential health effects associated with casino development in Southeast Kansas. This new report features findings of the health impact assessment and outlines recommendations to maximize the positive health benefits of a proposed casino and mitigate its potential negative effects on health.

Governor signs into law stem cell center bill

2 | Apr. 22, 2013 | KU Medical Center

Gov. Sam Brownback signed into law a bill requiring the University of Kansas Medical Center to create a center for conducting non-embryonic stem cell research.

Larned State Hospital nursing director fired

1 | May. 01, 2013 | Workforce, Hospitals, Mental Health

Larned State Hospital has fired its nursing director, but state officials would not comment on why, according to a report published by the Garden City Telegram. The hospital — one of two state-run inpatient facilities for mentally ill adults — has struggled with staffing issues in recent years.

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