On Thursday, February 14, 2019, Bob White, Dean Windsor, Susan Matherly, Alice Tucker & Michael Berg met with Commissioner Shannon Gadd and other staff from the Department for Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) concerning Senate Bill 128, sponsored by Senator Danny Carroll.
We pointed out to Commissioner Gadd that Senator Carroll was only interested in having injunctive relief for the Department in his bill, and that he was not necessarily in favor of changing definitions for certain terminology or other changes that DAIL made in the Bill.
We pointed out the items that we were not comfortable with (i.e. definitions of "minimal assistance", "imminent harm" and "transferring"). Commissioner Gadd informed us that DAIL has decided to remove all definitions from the statute and go back to the language that was in the original statute prior to the changes in SB 128. The only exception is in the definition of "danger". DAIL wanted to include anything existing in the physical plant that could cause danger to a resident or others. We agreed to that change.
We expect to get a copy of the amended Senate Bill 128 today or Monday. When that is available, we will send our members a complete copy of SB 128 with the changes noted above.
This swift and favorable outcome would not have been possible if we had not been at the "KSLA Day in Frankfort" last Thursday, February 7. Senate Bill 128 was dropped on Tuesday, February 5th, and we were able to speak with Senator Carroll about our concerns, in person, on February 7. We encourage all of our members to attend the "KSLA Day in Frankfort" in 2020. There is strength in numbers, and your Senators and Representatives need to know that you are concerned about legislation like SB 128.
If you have questions, do not hesitate to call the KSLA office.
