Division of the Budget
Landon State Office Building Phone: (785) 296-2436
900 SW Jackson Street, Room 504 adam.c.proffitt@ks.gov
Topeka, KS 66612 http://budget.kansas.gov
Adam Proffitt, Director Laura Kelly, Governor
Division of the Budget
January 25, 2023
The Honorable Beverly Gossage, Chairperson
Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare
300 SW 10th Avenue, Room 142-S
Topeka, Kansas 66612
Dear Senator Gossage:
SUBJECT: Fiscal Note for SB 6 by Senator Steffen
In accordance with KSA 75-3715a, the following fiscal note concerning SB 6 is
respectfully submitted to your committee.
SB 6 would remove the authority of the Secretary of Health and Environment to designate
infectious or contagious diseases by rules and regulations. The Secretary would be required to
submit a report to the Legislature on such diseases and would be authorized to recommend to the
public and educate them in ways to prevent the spread and dissemination of diseases injurious to
the public health. In addition, SB 6 would state that the Secretary could not carry out provisions
of KSA 65-101 in a manner that conflicts with any other statute or otherwise expands the authority
of the Secretary.
The bill would amend various KSA sections pertaining to the issuance of orders by the
Secretary, county or joint boards of health, and local health officers related to infectious and
contagious diseases and removing authority to issue certain orders to allow only recommendations.
SB 6 would remove current requirements for teachers and school administrators to report
knowledge or information related to individuals suffering from or a death from a reportable
infectious or contagious disease. In addition, the bill would also remove the authority of a county
or joint board of health or local health officer from prohibiting public gatherings when necessary
for the control of any and all infectious or contagious disease.
According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment enactment of SB 6 could
increase costs related to public health investigations and response due to a potential increase in
cases and contacts of infectious diseases. The agency is unable to estimate a fiscal effect but stated
this could include increased costs for local governments and insurance companies, including the
state Medicaid program. The Honorable Beverly Gossage, Chairperson
Page 2—SB 6
The Kansas State Department of Education reported that enactment of SB 6 would not
result in a fiscal effect for school districts or the agency. Any fiscal effect associated with SB 6 is
not reflected in The FY 2024 Governor’s Budget Report.
The Kansas Association of Counties stated the bill could affect counties and local health
departments, but a fiscal effect could not be estimated.
Sincerely,
Adam Proffitt
Director of the Budget
cc: Amy Penrod, Department of Health & Environment
Jay Hall, Kansas Association of Counties
Craig Neuenswander, Department of Education