Tobacco

Tobacco is a leading cause of chronic illness and death in Kansas. Legal efforts to curb or mitigate its use through statewide restrictions have been a source of heated debate. State lawmakers after multiple attempts have passed a statewide smoking ban and are expected to consider increasing the tobacco tax. At least 35 Kansas cities and three counties enacted local restrictions before state lawmakers agreed to a statewide ban. KHI research and news reports focus on the policies dealing with tobacco control and their consequences.

House approves smoking ban

Bill now goes to governor for signature

0 | Legislature, Tobacco

A bill banning public smoking statewide is headed to the governor’s desk for signature into a law that would become effective July 1.

Policy and Research

Memo to House Health and Human Services Committee on secondhand smoke impacts

0 | Feb. 15, 2010 | Tobacco

The House Health and Human Services Committee requested additional information from the Kansas Health Institute on the impacts of secondhand smoke on three areas.

Testimony - Statewide Smoking Bans: A Research Perspective (2010 HB 2642)

0 | Feb. 11, 2010 | KHI Legislative Testimony, Tobacco

In testimony to the House Health and Human Services Committee, KHI summarizes the research about the impact of smoke-free policies.

Economic Impact of Lawrence Smoke-Free Ordinance

0 | Jan. 01, 2009 | Community Health, Tobacco

There has been much debate about the impact of Lawrence's comprehensive smoke-free ordinance on the restaurant and bar industry. This KHI study indicates that the ordinance did not negatively affect the industry as a whole.

Testimony to 2009 Legislature on state-wide smoke-free legislation

0 | Mar. 10, 2009 | KHI Legislative Testimony

The Kansas Health Institute provided information to the Kansas Legislature and stakeholders regarding various bills that would have created a state-wide smoke-free law in 2009.

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Opponents say tobacco tax increase would wreck businesses

0 | Mar. 10, 2010 | Legislature, Tobacco

Opponents weigh in on tobacco tax proposal: Mom-and-pop cigar shops will be forced from business and shoppers will head to Missouri for smokes, booze, gasoline and other goods.

Governor schedules three signing ceremonies for smoking ban bill

0 | Mar. 10, 2010 | Legislature, Tobacco

Gov. Mark Parkinson has scheduled three signing ceremonies for a bill that will ban smoking in most public places statewide.

Senate panel urged to endorse tobacco tax increase

0 | Mar. 09, 2010 | Legislature, Tobacco

Supporters of a measure that would increase the cigarette tax by 55 cents a pack turned out in force. Hearings on a general sales tax increase expected to begin Thursday.

Hearings scheduled on tobacco and sales tax increases

0 | Mar. 04, 2010 | Legislature, Tobacco

The Senate Tax Committee will hold three days of hearings on Gov. Mark Parkinson’s tax proposals, including one to increase the levy on tobacco sales. Parkinson in January proposed raising tobacco taxes along with a three-year, 1-cent general sales tax increase. The new taxes would help resolve a budget deficit that continues to grow.

House approves smoking ban

0 | Feb. 25, 2010 | Legislature, Tobacco

A bill banning public smoking statewide is headed to the governor’s desk for signature into a law that would become effective July 1.

Memo chills support for HCBS provider tax

0 | Mar. 08, 2010 | Legislature, Medicaid-CHIP

Bills designed to increase federal support for home and community based services were dealt a major setback Monday when legislators learned federal officials were unlikely to go along with the plan.

Law enforcement officials urged to train for dealing with the mentally ill

0 | Feb. 01, 2010 | SRS, Mental Health

With police often called upon to deal with the mentally ill, special training is called for to help defuse tense situations before they become violent.

Teens describe the foster care experience

0 | Mar. 09, 2010 | Children, SRS, Legislature

“My mother had a habit of leaving me – when I was 10 years old -- with my four brothers and sisters while my dad was in rehab for a week or two at a time,” Rachel Perkins, 19, said Monday during testimony before the House Federal and State Affairs Committee.

Ways and Means subcommittee finishes KHPA and SRS budgets

0 | Mar. 11, 2010 | KHPA, SRS, Legislature

Some of the Legislature's strongest supporters of early childhood development programs signed off on sharp cuts in children's programs, re-emphasizing the signal from Senate GOP leaders that tax increases will be necessary.

Resolution intended to preserve cap on damages

0 | Mar. 08, 2010 | Legislature, Health Care Delivery

The House Judiciary Committee introduced a resolution to amend the state constitution to give the Legislature authority to limit non-economic damages in personal injury cases.

Soda pop tax up Wednesday in Senate panel

0 | Mar. 10, 2010 | Legislature, Nutrition

A bill that would tax makers or first vendors of soda pop and other sugary drinks at 1 cent per teaspoon of sugar is scheduled to be heard Wednesday by the Senate Assessment & Taxation Committee

Seniors' mental health needs often unmet

1 | Feb. 16, 2010 | Community Health, Legislature, Workforce

“We’re not reaching the people we need to be reaching with our existing programs,” said Steve Denny, who runs an outreach program for seniors at the Independence-based Four County Mental Health Center.

State mental hospitals packed

1 | Feb. 04, 2010 | Legislature, Hospitals, Mental Health

Jails getting the overflow.

Push for tighter day care licensing questioned

1 | Feb. 02, 2010 | Child Health, Legislature

Legislators this week are holdings hearings on a proposal that would mean stricter standards for some home day care centers.

Mental health system close to collapse, center directors say

1 | Jan. 25, 2010 | SRS, Legislature, Mental Health

Last year, nine of the state’s 27 community mental health centers spent more money than they took in.

Governor calls for sales and tobacco tax increases

1 | Jan. 11, 2010 | Legislature

Gov. Mark Parkinson, a Democrat, unveiled key details of a budget plan that calls for raising the state sales tax one cent and boosting tobacco taxes to forestall deeper cuts to schools and to roll back cuts in Medicaid provider rates. But Republican leaders said it would be a bad idea to raise taxes during a recession.

No CHIP bonus for Kansas

1 | Dec. 21, 2009 | Medicaid-CHIP

Nine states have been awarded almost $73 million in federal bonus payments for enrolling more children in their state-run health insurance programs. But Kansas wasn't among them despite expectations by some.

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