Minutes for SB63 - Committee on Public Health and Welfare

Short Title

Enacting the help not harm act, restricting use of state funds to promote gender transitioning, prohibiting healthcare providers from providing gender transition care to children whose gender identity is inconsistent with the child's sex, authorizing a civil cause of action against healthcare providers for providing such treatments, requiring professional discipline against a healthcare provider who performs such treatment, prohibiting professional liability insurance from covering damages for healthcare providers that provide gender transition treatment to children and adding violation of the act to the definition of unprofessional conduct for physicians.

Minutes Content for Tue, Jan 28, 2025

The Chair opened the hearing on SB63.

Jenna Moyer, Office of Revisor of Statutes, gave a briefing of the bill. (Attachment 1)

PROPONENTS

Chloe Cole, from California, discussed her experiences as a transitional and then de-transitional individual. (Attachment 2)

Jaimie Reed, from Missouri, shared her experience as a case manager working at a center focused on transgender care. She did not agree with practices regarding care. She submitted an affidavit, signed February 7, 2023, detailing her concerns. (Attachment 3)

Aaron LacKamp, a physician practicing in Kansas, discussed working with two patients who attempted suicide after sex reassignment surgeries. He urged the necessity of adequate access to services for marginalized members of society. (Attachment 4)

Jay Richards, Ph.D., Heritage Foundation, discussed problems of gender ideology. (Attachment 5)

Lucrecia Nold, Kansas Catholic Conference, stated the need to support persons experiencing gender confusion. (Attachment 6)

Brittany Jones, Kansas Family Voice, stated the innocence and bodies of children should be protected. (Attachment 7)

Conferees responded to questions.

OPPONENTS

Anthony Alverez stated he is a university student and a transgender man, who began socially transitioning at 15 years old. He stated receiving the gender affirming care and with support from both parents and school was lifesaving interventions and has allowed him to begin his adult life. (Attachment 8)

Andrew Cox referred to several national association's and academy's resolutions, positions, research and support for gender affirming care and transition treatments. (Attachment 9)

Johnny Dunlap stated, as an educator, coach, and sponsor of a Gay-Straight Alliance club in his school, he is concerned the legislation will harm the trust he is able to currently build with marginalized students, particularly those who face mistreatment and bullying from other students. (Attachment 10)

Elise Flatland and parent of four children. Two of her children are transgender and receiving gender affirming care. She stated the bill takes away parental rights to make medical decisions for their children. (Attachment 11)

D.C. Hiegert, American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, stated the legislation likely violates rights of children, parents, doctors, teachers and others by banning certain healthcare and threatening certain providers who are licensed by the state. He added he is a transgender individual who benefitted from gender affirming care.(Attachment 12)

Isaac Johnson, LMSW, expressed concerns that the vague language in the legislation would likely impact his ability to fully work with students, as a school social worker, in the school system, including potentially creating conflict with his profession's code of ethics. (Attachment 13)

Kristi Khan's only son, who was transgender, at 18 completed suicide. She stated shortly before his death, he had communicated his worry about bills being passed and he was not strong enough to go on. (Attachment 14)

Ptr. Charles McKinzie, Kansas Interfaith Action, stated as a longtime Kansan and a member of the faith community, they are to love their neighbor, including transitioning youth. He believed the legislation will cause harm instead of help youth. (Attachment 15).

Jaimie McReynolds expressed concerns of the logistics of the legislation, including what is meant by social transition as it pertains to student dress as well as allowing government into the privacy of medical care and bodily autonomy. (Attachment 16)

Gabrial Padilla stated he was a transgender person as well as a teacher working with students of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities. He stated the importance of young people to have the ability to make informed decisions about their own identity and express themselves fully. (Attachment 17)

Stephanie Johannes stated she was a public high school teacher and has taught many transgender and non-conforming students over nine years of teaching. She stated the legislation takes away students' and parents' ability to make choices for themselves. (Attachment 18)

WRITTEN ONLY TESTIMONY

Emerson Hoffzales (Attachment 19)

Fred Bellemere (Attachment 20)

Quintin L. Van Meter (Attachment 21)

Connie Brown (Attachment 22)

Susan Giles (Attachment 23)

Joseph Kohm, III (Colorado) (Attachment 24)

Debbie Detmer (Attachment 25)

Proponents, A-Z (Attachment 26)

Opponents, A-L (Attachment 27)

Opponents, M-S (Attachment 28)

Opponents, T-W (Attachment 29)