TOPEKA — Health policy adviser Heather Braum welcomed Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of legislation undercutting influence of public health officials during disease outbreaks and weakening public support for routine vaccination programs beneficial to children in school and child care facilities.
Braum, who works for the nonprofit Kansas Action for Children, said House Bill 2285 passed by slim margins in the House and Senate. It’s unlikely the bill rejected by the Democratic governor could be given new life with a veto override because the Legislature officially adjourned until January 2024. Lawmakers could convene for a special session.
The public health bill drew strength at the Capitol from angst within the anti-vaccination movement about the response of state and county government to the COVID-19 pandemic, which included directives for some businesses to close and for some people to stay home as much as possible.
“The thing is these infectious diseases that would be impacted by some of the proposed legislation are harmful or even deadly to young children,” Braum told the Kansas Reflector podcast. “I get emotional when I talk about it because it’s not easy to sit here and say, ‘Decisions made by the Legislature will kill children.’ ”
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