Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB276

Introduced
2/18/25  

Caption

Removing the state fire marshal from the adult care home licensure act and the providers of disability services act and requiring the state fire marshal to complete training in person-centered care and responding to individuals with Alzheimer's disease and intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Impact

One significant aspect of SB276 is the transfer of the administration of the adult care home licensure act from the secretary of health and environment to the secretary for aging and disability services. This shift is intended to provide specialized oversight and enhance the focus on aging and disability services. The legislation outlines that the state fire marshal will no longer have independent enforcement authority in licensing and regulatory matters, thus centralizing these responsibilities under the secretary for aging and disability services. This change aims to streamline the licensing process and improve coordination among state agencies.

Summary

SB276 is a legislative measure aimed at amending several state statutes related to healthcare and the regulation of adult care homes in Kansas. The bill mandates that the state fire marshal undergo annual training in areas of person-centered care, particularly focusing on the needs of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and intellectual and developmental disabilities. This measure seeks to enhance the responsiveness of first responders and health care providers to these vulnerable populations, thereby improving the quality of care provided in adult care homes.

Contention

Throughout discussions, notable points of contention emerged regarding the potential implications of this bill. Critics have raised concerns that removing the state fire marshal's role from direct enforcement in adult care home regulations could lead to gaps in safety oversight, particularly in enforcing life safety code compliance. Proponents argue that the new training requirements for the state fire marshal will ultimately lead to better-informed inspections and a stronger commitment to person-centered care. As such, the debate reflects broader tensions surrounding the balance between regulatory authority and the specialized needs of individuals with disabilities.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS HB2362

Removing state fire marshal approval as a requirement for licensure or renewal of licensure for disability service providers and facilities.

KS HB2784

Prohibiting the state fire marshal from wearing or operating a body camera during an on-site inspection at a licensed facility, transferring authority for certification of continuing care retirement communities to the Kansas department for aging and disability services, authorizing the secretary of aging and disability services to grant certain regulation waivers to providers of disability services, adding a definition of day service provider and providing for expanded certification of certified community behavioral health clinics after February 1, 2027.

KS HB2140

Increasing the age range of able-bodied adults without dependents required to complete an employment and training program to receive food assistance.

KS HB2094

Requiring work registrants ages 50-59 to complete an employment and training program to receive food assistance, establishing periods of ineligibility for child care subsidy based on cooperation with child support services and requiring the secretary to conduct reviews of cooperation with child support.

KS HB2253

Establishing a state employment preference for persons with disabilities and expanding the state employment preference for veterans.

KS HB2751

Authorizing the Kansas department for aging and disability services to condition or restrict a disability service provider license, granting the secretary authority to grant regulation waivers unrelated to health and safety and authorizing correction orders and civil fines to be appealed to the secretary.

KS HB2777

Prohibiting an employee of the office of the state fire marshal from wearing or operating a body camera during an on-site inspection at a licensed care facility.

KS SB96

House Substitute for House Substitute for SB 96 by Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development - Establishing child care licensing requirements relating to license capacity and staff-to-child ratios, eliminating 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 HB2760

Prescribing documentation requirements to determine eligibility for any benefit derived from a service-connected disability, requiring that federal disability determinations for veterans be probative, establishing the Kansas office of veterans services, updating references and corresponding changes relating to the transfer of powers and duties from the Kansas commission on veterans affairs office to the Kansas office of veterans services, updating the veterans claims assistance program to include references to veterans affairs medical centers and cross-accreditation requirements, modifying the definition of veteran and disabled veteran, clarifying disability evaluations for benefits granted to disabled veterans and updating the definition of armed forces to include the space force.

KS HB2408

Exempting certain services provided in an adult care homes from the provisions of the acts regulating cosmetologists and barbers.

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