FROM THE GALLERY
State Legislation
S 469:
CWA of Kansas testified in favor of Section 3 of this bill that requires sheriffs to notify schools and day-care centers of sexual predators that live within 1000 feet of those facilities (approximately 0.1 mile or 1.5 blocks) this section was amended onto this bill in the Senate. The bill was heard in the Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee, chaired by Rep. Ward Loyd.
Some objections were expressed to the bill that had to do with liability for the schools and the fact that schools and parents must be constantly checking the sexual predator registry themselves. This is not an easy task, especially since most predators move around a lot and schools and day-care facilities are not shown on maps. The sexual predator registry is available online on the Kansas Bureau of Investigation Web site. Pictures of the predators, their address and their crimes are listed.
Action:
The committee needs to hear from you if you feel this bill is a good idea. Committee members: Loyd, Carter, Goering, Gordon, Horst, Huntington, Kassebaum, O�Malley, Swenson, Yoder, Carlin, Crow, Dillmore, Faust-Goudeau, Pauls
Capitol Switchboard 785-296-0111
Bio-Tech Bill (HB 2647):
A bill to give financial incentives to make Kansas a more viable play in the bio-technology sector has passed the Kansas House. The bill now goes to the Senate. Contained in the bill is language concerning unborn children, cloning, and stem cell research. This language needs to stay. In the nation and in some states, the issue is being clouded by the use of the term �therapeutic� cloning, which is really a euphemism for cloning human beings, destroying them while embryos and using the stem cells for research. Embryonic stem cells have not produced one cure or therapy; however, adult stem cells (those derived from the patients or other donors) and cord stem cells have produced promising results without killing a human being.
Your message to senators should be: Leave the language as it is . . . no amendments or additions or changes that would jeopardize life or allow the creation of life to satisfy the insatiable appetite of scientists. The bio-tech industry is lobbying hard for unrestricted use of any scientific research, even that which takes human life.
Action:
Call your senators and tell them to keep the pro-life language in the bill. Tell them that adult stem cells and cord blood research should be promoted. Capitol Switchboard: 785-296-0111.
HB 2751 (Abortion Clinic Licensing Bill):
Presently, abortion clinics in Kansas are treated as doctor�s offices and not as surgical care centers. They are under the supervision of the Kansas Board of Healing Arts, who never inspects them and rarely act against violations even when they are made aware of them. According to a recent alert by Kansans for Life, they serve at the discretion of the governor who vetoed this bill last year and has sworn to veto it again. The present bill would require regular inspections by the Department of Health. I was present when my nail technician was visited by an inspector from the state recently, and it was very thorough and exceedingly restrictive as to what she had to do in her shop to guarantee my safety. Recently a former employee of an abortion clinic testified to this abortion clinic having aborted baby parts stored in the refrigerator right next to food, using the dishwasher to sterilize instruments, and other unsanitary practices that would not be tolerated in my salon.
Action:
Call your representative. This bill will come up for a vote on Monday or Tuesday in the House and, if passed will then go to the Senate. Capitol Switchboard: 785-296-0111
Unborn Victims of Violence Act (HB 2552):
The Unborn Victims of Violence Act passed out of committee this week on a 13-6 vote. This bill would provide that an unborn child is considered a "person" under Kansas law when a woman who is pregnant is injured or killed in a violent crime. The bill would not apply to abortion. Some opponents to the bill see it as "too broadly scoped;" that it could lead to prosecution for a miscarriage after an accident. Proponents of the bill said that the bill is strictly about protecting unborn children from crime. The bill will now pass to the full House for consideration.
Action:
Contact your representative and ask him/her to support this legislation.
The Children�s Internet Protection Act:
This bill was debated in the House this week for over an hour and was passed by the House on Thursday. An amendment was offered that prohibits libraries from lending R-or-better rated movies to children under 18. The amendment passed 96-24. The bill requires libraries to filter pornography and adult material on computers used by children. This would apply to libraries that use state funds for the filters. A national bill to apply to libraries using federal funds went into effect after the Supreme Court ruled it constitutional.
Action:
Call your senators and urge them to support this bill to protect the children.