HB 2358 modifies the Uniform Vital Statistics Act provisions concerning who may certify a cause of death. The law specifies that a cause of death certifier could certify the cause of death of a deceased person. Under the law, “cause of death certifier” would mean:
- A person licensed to practice medicine and surgery by the State Board of Healing Arts
(Board).
- A physician assistant licensed by the Board.
- An advanced practice registered nurse licensed by the State Board of Nursing.
- A district coroner.
- A deputy coroner.
- A special deputy coroner.
The bill was passed by the House and Senate, with both chambers adopting the Conference Committee Report on April 4. Governor Kelly signed the bill into law on April 12.
HB 2446 would have prohibited municipalities from adopting or enforcing an ordinance, resolution or regulation that restricts, taxes, imposes a fee upon, prohibits or regulates the use of auxiliary containers. The bill defined “auxiliary container” as a straw, bag, cup, package, container, bottle, device or other packaging, without limitation. Both Chambers passed HB 2446; however, on April 5, Governor Kelly vetoed the bill. By April 30, there was no motion to reconsider the bill, and the veto was sustained.
SB 142 would have prohibited the use of a mobile telephone while driving by drivers under the age of 18 and for all drivers while driving in construction zones with workers present or in school zones during hours of reduced speed enforcement. The bill passed through both the House and Senate, but on April 30, died in Conference.
HB 2300 would have added duly ordained ministers of religion, as defined in statute, as mandated reporters. A duly ordained minister of religion who suspects physical, mental or emotional abuse, neglect or sexual abuse of a child based on penitential communication would not be required to violate penitential privilege. The bill died on General Orders in the House.
HB 2499 would have prohibited the use of a mobile telephone while driving by drivers under the age of 18 and for all drivers while driving in construction zones with workers present or in school zones during hours of reduced speed enforcement. The bill would have specified holding a mobile telephone when not permitted under the bill would constitute prima facie evidence of a violation. The bill passed in the House on Feb. 15, but later died in the Senate on General Orders.
HB 2547, signed by the Governor on April 19, amends the law regarding the stock maintenance and administration of emergency medication kits in schools, including epinephrine and albuterol. The bill provides a level of immunity from liability for a pharmacist, physical or a mid-level practitioner who distributes or prescribes emergency medications to a school or provides training on the administration of the emergency medicine for school personnel, and for the school personnel who administer the medications under specific circumstances.
HB 2579 would have amended law concerning emergency medical services (EMS) to add to the list of interventions that emergency medical responders (EMRs) may provide. The bill would add the distribution of non-prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, as approved by the EMS medical director. The EMS medical director would not be able to include as approved OTC medications any compound, mixture or preparation that has a detectable quantity of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine and is exempt from being reported to the statewide electronic logging system for the sale of methamphetamine precursors. The bill passed the House 120-0 but died on the Senate calendar on April 30.
HB 2613 would have created a statewide Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) educator in the Office of the Attorney General. The DARE educator would have been charged with providing DARE curriculum instruction, including content on fentanyl and other opioids, to public K-12 schools and would have performed services and provided materials and information necessary to support the DARE program in Kansas. The bill was passed by the House but died in Senate committee.