Kansas Senate on Technology
Political Deep Dive
Most people are more aware of who is in Washington D.C. controlling the federal government; however, those at the state level are lesser known, and yet they have more control over the lives of Kansans. Through our Political Deep Dives (PDD), you can see how YOUR representatives have voted on key issues that affect your day-to-day life. In this PDD, we will be focusing on Kansas Senate on Technology.
This information is available thanks to justfacts.votesmart.org and ballotpedia.org
(Political Party, District number, Voted Yes/No/Did not vote)—Names that are crossed out are representatives that voted on these issues but, for one reason or another, are no longer in the Kansas Senate.
**If you are unsure what district you are in, you can click here to find out.
SB 313 - Authorizes Use of Driverless Vehicles - Kansas Key Vote (May 13, 2022)
Dennis D. Pyle (R,1,N), Marci A. Francisco (D,2,N), Tom Holland (D,3,N), David Haley (D,4,N), Jeff Pittman (D,5,N), Pat Huggins Pettey (D,6,N), Ethan Corson (D,7,N), Cindy Holscher (D,8,N), Beverly Gossage (R,9,Y), Mike Thompson (R,10,Y), Kellie Warren (R,11,Y), Caryn Tyson (R,12,N), Richard Hilderbrand (R,13,Y), Michael A. Fagg (R,14,Y), Virgil Peck Jr. (R,15,N), Ty Masterson (R,16,Y), Jeff Longbine (R,17,Y), Kristen O’Shea (R,18,Y), Rick Kloos (R,19,Y), Brenda S. Dietrich (R,20,Y), Dinah H. Sykes (D,21,N), Tom Hawk (D,22,N), Robert S. Olson (R,23,N), Jeremy Ryan Claeys (R,24,Y), Mary Ware (D,25,N), Dan Kerschen (R,26,Y), Gene Suellentrop (R,27,Y), Mike Petersen (R,28,Y), Oletha Faust-Goudeau (D,29,N), Renee Erickson (R,30,Y), Carolyn McGinn (R,31,Y), Larry W. Alley (R,32,Y), Alicia Straub (R,33,N), Mark B. Steffen (R,34,N), Richard Wilborn (R,35,Y), Elain S. Bowers (R,36,Y), Molly Baumgardner (R,37,Y), Ronald Ryckman Sr. (R,38,Y), John Doll (R,39,Y), Rick Billinger (R,40,Y)
SB 313 passed the Kansas Senate with a 23 yes to 17 no vote. All 11 Democrats unanimously voted against the bill along with 6 Republicans. All politicians that voted on this bill are currently in office at the time of this publication. This bill authorizes driverless-capable vehicle on public highways if vehicle meets the following conditions (Sec. 2): The vehicle is capable of achieving minimal risk condition if a malfunction of the automated driving system occurs; While in driverless operation, the vehicle is capable of operating in compliance with the applicable traffic and motor vehicle safety laws; When required by federal law, the vehicle bears the required manufacturer's certification label indicating that at the time of the manufacture the vehicle has been certified to be in compliance with all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards; and The driverless capable vehicle cannot exceed 34,000 pounds on tandem axles.
SB 161 - Authorizes Robotic Personal Delivery Devices - Voting Record (March 23, 2022)
Dennis D. Pyle (R,1,N), Marci A. Francisco (D,2,N), Tom Holland (D,3,N), David Haley (D,4,N), Jeff Pittman (D,5,N), Pat Huggins Pettey (D,6,N), Ethan Corson (D,7,N), Cindy Holscher (D,8,N), Beverly Gossage (R,9,Y), Mike Thompson (R,10,Y), Kellie Warren (R,11,Y), Caryn Tyson (R,12,N), Richard Hilderbrand (R,13,Y), Michael A. Fagg (R,14,Y), Virgil Peck Jr. (R,15,N), Ty Masterson (R,16,Y), Jeff Longbine (R,17,Y), Kristen O’Shea (R,18,Y), Rick Kloos (R,19,Y), Brenda S. Dietrich (R,20,Y), Dinah H. Sykes (D,21,N), Tom Hawk (D,22,N), Robert S. Olson (R,23,N), Jeremy Ryan Claeys (R,24,Y), Mary Ware (D,25,N), Dan Kerschen (R,26,Y), Gene Suellentrop (R,27,Y), Mike Petersen (R,28,Y), Oletha Faust-Goudeau (D,29,DNV), Renee Erickson (R,30,Y), Carolyn McGinn (R,31,Y), Larry W. Alley (R,32,Y), Alicia Straub (R,33,Y), Mark B. Steffen (R,34,N), Richard Wilborn (R,35,Y), Elain S. Bowers (R,36,Y), Molly Baumgardner (R,37,Y), Ronald Ryckman Sr. (R,38,Y), John Doll (R,39,Y), Rick Billinger (R,40,Y)
SB 161 passed the Kansas Senate with a 24 yes to 15 no vote. All 24 yes votes came from Republicans. 10 Democrats and 5 Republicans voted against the bill and one Democrat, Oletha Faust-Goudeau from District 29 did not vote. All politicians that voted on this bill are currently in office at the time of this publication. Highlights of this bill include: Defines “personal delivery device” or “device” as a powered device operated primarily on sidewalks and crosswalks an intended primarily for the transport of property on public rights-of-way that does not exceed 150 lbs, excluding cargo, and is capable of navigating with or without the active control or monitoring of the individual (Sec. 1). Defines “personal delivery device operator” as an employee or agent of an entity that exercises control or monitoring over the navigation system and operation of a personal delivery device and has the capacity of active control (Sec. 1). Specifies that a personal delivery device shall have the right-of-way on sidewalks or crosswalks the same as any pedestrian, and be exempt from motor vehicle registration requirements (Sec. 2). Specifies that a personal delivery device shall (Sec. 2): Not block public rights-of-way and obey all traffic and pedestrian control signals and devices; Operate at a speed that does not exceed 6 mph; Prominently display unique identifying personal delivery device numbers and identification, including a phone number; and be equipped with a system, including hardware and software, that enables the personal delivery device. It also requires that an entity maintain an insurance policy that includes a general liability coverage of at least $1 million for damages arising from operation of the personal delivery device by the entity and any agent of the entity (Sec. 2).
HB 2028 - Establishes the Kansas Telemedicine Act - Voting Record (April 7, 2018)
Dennis D. Pyle (R,1,N), Marci A. Francisco (D,2,Y), Tom Holland (D,3,Y), David Haley (D,4,Y), Steve Fitzgerald (R,5,N), Pat Huggins Pettey (D,6,Y), Barbara Goolbee Bollier (D,7,Y), Jim Denning (R,8,Y), Julia Lynn (R,9,N), Mary Pilcher-Cook (R,10,N), John Skubal (R,11,Y), Caryn Tyson (R,12,N), Richard Hilderbrand (R,13,N), Bruce Givens (R,14,Y), Dan Goddard (R,15,Y), Ty Masterson (R,16,N), Jeff Longbine (R,17,Y), Laura Kelly (D,18,Y), Anthony Hensley (D,19,Y), Vicki Schmidt (R,20,Y), Dinah H. Sykes (D,21,Y), Tom Hawk (D,22,Y), Robert S. Olson (R,23,N), Randall R. Hardy (R,24,Y), Lynn W. Rogers (D,25,Y), Dan Kerschen (R,26,N), Gene Suellentrop (R,27,N), Mike Petersen (R,28,N), Oletha Faust-Goudeau (D,29,Y), Susan Wagle (R,30,N), Carolyn McGinn (R,31,Y), Larry W. Alley (R,32,N), Mary Jo Taylor (R,33,Y), Edward E. Berger (R,34,N), Richard Wilborn (R,35,Y), Elain S. Bowers (R,36,Y), Molly Baumgardner (R,37,N), Bud Estes (R,38,DNV), John Doll (R,39,Y), Rick Billinger (R,40,DNV)
HB 2028 passed the Kansas Senate with a 24 yes to 14 no vote. This bipartisan bill was supported by 11 Democrats and 13 Republicans. Of the Democrats that voted in favor of the bill, four are no longer in the Kansas Senate. Of the Republicans that voted in favor of the bill, seven are no longer in the Kansas Senate. 14 Republicans and no Democrats voted against the bill, five of those Republicans are no longer serving in the Kansas Senate. Republican Bud Estes from District 38 did not vote and is no longer a Kansas Senator. Republican Rick Billinger of District 40 also did not vote but is still a Kansas Senator as of this publication. This bill requires, on or after January 1, 2019, all insurance companies within the state of Kansas to provide coverage for certain medical services that are delivered via telemedicine (Sec. 1). Defines telemedicine as the delivery of healthcare services using 2-way audio or visual communications, live video conferencing, or store-and-forward technology (Sec. 2). Specifies that this bill does not mandate coverage for a telemedicine service if such service would not be covered if it were delivered in-person (Sec. 4). Authorizes the use of telemedicine to establish a valid provider-patient relationship (Sec. 3). Prohibits requiring documentation other than a patient’s medical record for reimbursement of a telemedicine service (Sec. 4). Requires managed care organizations that provide services covered by the state’s Medicaid program to also provide coverage for speech-language pathology and audiology services via telemedicine (Sec. 7). Requires rules and regulations to be in place by December 31, 2018 relating to the prescribing of drugs, including controlled substances, via telemedicine (Sec. 5). Specifies that the standards of practice and conduct and patient privacy laws that apply to in-person doctor visits also apply to services that are delivered via telemedicine (Sec. 3).