Chairwoman Warren opened the hearing on SB478
Natalie Scott, Revisor's Office, provided an overview of the bill and stood for questions. (Attachment 14)
Regan McCloud, Director of Government Relations, Kansas Electric Cooperatives, provided testimony in support of the bill. He stated the changes this bill makes are modest and measured. They do not crreate new categories of crime, nor do they impose mandatory minimums. It shows that Kansas takes seriously the safety of the workers who keep essential services running. (Attachment 15)
John Garretson, Assistant Business Manager, IBEW Local Union 304, provided testimony in support of the bill. He respectfully asks that you pass this bill to give the Utility Workers more protection in the field by escalating he penalty for assaulting the workers who are working to keep the electric grid functioning and gas system operating safe and efficiently. (Attachment16)
Written only proponent testimony was submitted by the following.
- Senator Ethan Corson, State Senate 7th District (Attachment 17)
- Jake Lowen, Kansas AFL-CIO (Attachment 18)
- Laura Lutz, Government Affairs/Kansas, Evergy (Attachment 19)
- Patrick Vogelsberg, Manager of Government Affairs, Kansas Gas Service (Attachment 20)
- Darin Miller, President, AT&T (Attachment 21)
- J. R. Behan, ITC Great Plains (Attachment 22)
- Bart Armstrong, President, CO-KS Division Atmos Energy (Attachment 23)
- Steven Cowen, Black Hills Energy (Attachment 24)
No further conferees
Chairwoman Warren closed the hearing on SB478
Meeting adjourned 11:49 a.m.