SESSION OF 2023
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON SENATE BILL NO. 5
As Recommended by Senate Committee on
Public Health and Welfare

Brief*
SB 5 would amend the Kansas Telemedicine Act (Act) to
prevent the prescribing of drugs intended to induce an
abortion via telemedicine. The bill would define “abortion
procedure” as the prescribing of drugs intended to induce an
abortion. The bill also would restrict the governor’s power
during a state of emergency to alter or suspend the
provisions of the Act related to the delivery of any abortion
procedures via telemedicine.

Background
The bill was introduced by Senator Steffen.

Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare
In the Senate Committee hearing on February 15, 2023,
proponent testimony was provided by Senator Steffen, a
precinct committeewoman, and a representative from the
Insight Women’s Center who stated the objective of the bill is
to clarify terminology in the Kansas Telemedicine Act to
prohibit the use of telemedicine to prescribe drugs intended to
cause an abortion.
Written-only proponent testimony was received from five
private citizens and four precinct committee persons.

____________________
*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
http://www.kslegislature.org
 Written-only opponent testimony was received from a
representative of the League of Women Voters of Kansas and
two private citizens.

Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note on the bill prepared by the
Division of the Budget, the Kansas Department of Health and
Environment and the Office of the Governor state enactment
of the bill would not have a fiscal effect on agency operations.
The Kansas State Board of Healing Arts indicates any
increase in workload could be managed within existing
resources.
Any fiscal effect associated with the bill is not reflected
in The FY 2024 Governor’s Budget Report.
Telemedicine; Kansas Telemedicine Act; abortion; chemical abortion; state of
emergency


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Statutes affected:
As introduced: 40-2, 48-924, 48-925