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Minutes for SB120 - Committee on Local Government, Transparency and Ethics
Short Title
Enacting the municipal employee whistleblower act to provide statutory protections for municipal employees who report or disclose unlawful or dangerous conduct.
Minutes Content for Thu, Feb 13, 2025
Chairperson Bowers opened the hearing on SB120. Charles Reimer, staff revisor, presented a briefing on the bill. Mr. Reimer addressed questions from the Committee.
Representative Carrie Barth testified in support of SB120. Representative Barth indicated she worked with the revisor and pulled from federal and state existing statute. She explained she wanted this to apply just to those that are in local governments. Representative Barth indicated this bill is not to protect that person who is trying to get out of something that they've done wrong because they're on the path of being fired. (Attachment 1)
Representative Barth and Mr. Reimer addressed questions from the Committee.
Catherine Ellsworth testified in support of SB120. Ms. Ellsworth highlighted a lawsuit in Jackson County, and explained what is happening in Douglas County. Ms. Ellsworth stated it's really imperative that there be some kind of protections in place for these people that are really protecting Kansans. (Attachment 2)
Written testimony in support of SB120 was submitted by:
- Shane Walker, Chief Operating Officer, Bourbon County (Attachment 3)
- Lora Holdridge, Bourbon County Register of Deeds (Attachment 4)
- Susan Walker, Bourbon County Clerk (Attachment 5)
- John Ims, Private Citizen (Attachment 6)
- Anne Dare, Private Citizen (Attachment 7)
- Debbie Detmer, Private Citizen (Attachment 8)
- Jill O'Connor, Private Citizen (Attachment 9)
- Mary Pemberton, Private Citizen (Attachment 10)
- Brett Anderson, Republican Precinct Committeeman, Sedgwick County (Attachment 11)
- Pete Owenby, Private Citizen (Attachment 12)
- Caedran Sullivan, Private Citizen (Attachment 13)
Written testimony in opposition of SB120 was submitted by:
- Michael Koss, City Attorney, City of Overland Park (Attachment 14)
Jay Hall testified as neutral to SB120. Mr. Hall noted Kansas Association of Counties supports whistleblower protections which is why they are neutral on this bill. Mr. Hall explained they have some questions about how this particular bill is shaped because as the revisor indicated, this bill is similar to the state and federal laws but it is not the same as the state and federal laws. (Attachment 15)
John Goodyear testified as neutral to SB120. Mr. Goodyear noted they aren't opposed to whistleblower protections. Mr. Goodyear indicated they are neutral to call attention to some deviations from the State Act, to question why those are there, and to point out why maybe it should tie closer to the State Act. (Attachment 16)
Mr. Hall and Mr. Goodyear addressed questions from the Committee
Chairperson Bowers closed the hearing on SB120.
