UPDATED
SESSION OF 2021
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON SENATE BILL NO. 295
As Recommended by Senate Committee on
Public Health and Welfare

Brief*
SB 295 would allow a board of county commissioners
acting as a county board of health to adopt a resolution
prescribing the county’s plan for distribution or administration
of COVID-19 vaccines. Such resolution would describe the
county’s prioritized vaccination plan and provide definitions of
identified population segments that incorporate the following
guiding principles:
● Providing widespread access to COVID-19
vaccines;
● Maximizing vaccine acceptance and public health
protection; and
● Minimizing waste and inefficiency.
The bill would allow a county’s prioritized vaccination
plan to differ from a vaccination plan or recommendation from
the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE).
The bill would require a county’s prioritized vaccination plan
for distribution or administration to comply with federal law
and recommendations.
The bill would allow KDHE to retain the authority to allot
vaccinations to counties on a schedule as determined by
KDHE. The bill would prohibit KDHE from reducing or
delaying vaccination allotments or taking any action that has
____________________
*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
the effect of reducing or delaying vaccination allotments
based upon a county’s decision related to vaccine distribution
or administration.
The bill would be in effect upon publication in the
Kansas Register.

Background
The bill was introduced by the Senate Committee on
Federal and State Affairs at the request of Senator
Hilderbrand.

Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare
In the Senate Committee hearing on March 15, 2021, a
representative of the Board of Sedgwick County
Commissioners provided proponent testimony. The
representative stated the Board of Sedgwick County
Commissioners voted on March 3, 2021, to send a letter to
KDHE asking for permission to shift certain vulnerable
citizens in Sedgwick County from Phase III to Phase II of the
State’s vaccination plan. The representative stated KDHE did
not respond to the request but that the Sedgwick County
Health Department reported KHDE would reduce the county’s
vaccine allotment if the County administered vaccinations to
non-Phase II populations. The representative stated the bill
would allow counties to make their own choices regarding
vaccination prioritization and administer doses to individuals
with significant underlying conditions.
Written-only proponent testimony was provided by a
former Johnson County Commissioner, representatives of the
Ness County Health Department, the Norton County Health
Department, and the Wamego City Hospital.
Written-only opponent testimony was provided by the
Secretary of Health and Environment (Secretary). The

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Secretary stated KDHE developed the vaccination allotment
plan to prioritize Kansas’ population based on public health
risk and criticality to state infrastructure. The Secretary stated
the bill would not allow the State to coordinate an effective
vaccination campaign.
No neutral testimony was provided.

Fiscal Information
At the time of the Senate Committee hearing, no fiscal
note was available. A subsequent fiscal note was issued.
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of the
Budget, KDHE indicates enactment of the bill would have no
fiscal effect on its operations. The Kansas Association of
Counties indicates enactment of the bill would give discretion
to counties in how to distribute and administer vaccines, but
the Association is unable to estimate the fiscal effect.
Vaccine distribution; COVID-19; vaccines; local government; county resolution;
Kansas Department of Health and Environment


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