SESSION OF 2023
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON SENATE BILL NO. 308
As Recommended by Senate Committee on
Ways and Means

Brief*
SB 308 would enact provisions to be cited as “Kathy’s
Bill” and would require the State to give preference to
individuals with disabilities in hiring and promotion. The bill
would not apply to agencies under the Legislative and
Judicial Branches of government.
The bill would also amend the definition of “veteran” in
law governing veterans’ preference to include:
● The spouse of a veteran who has a service
connected disability of 30.0 percent or greater
(current law requires the disability be 100.0 percent
service connected);
● The surviving spouse, whether remarried or not
remarried (current law does not include remarried
spouses); and
● The spouse or surviving spouse of a prisoner of
war (current law does not include surviving
spouses of prisoners of war).
Background
The bill was introduced in the Senate Committee on
Ways and Means at the request of Senator Billinger.

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*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
Senate Committee on Ways and Means
In the Senate Committee hearing on March 21, 2023,
proponent testimony was provided by representatives from
the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing,
Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns, and the Kansas
Developmental Disabilities Council and two private citizens.
The proponents generally expressed support for the bill,
indicating people with disabilities can succeed in the
workforce with the appropriate accommodations. Proponents
also noted the difficulties of living with a disability but without
steady income to support expenses such as medical bills and
home cleaners for persons with a physical disability.
Written-only proponent testimony was provided by
representatives of the Department of Administration, Disability
Rights Center of Kansas, KanCare Advocates Network, and
Military Officers Association of America.
No other testimony was provided.

Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, enactment of the bill would not have a
fiscal effect.
State employees; disability; veteran


2- 308


Statutes affected:
As introduced: 73-201