The Kansas Legislature is heading back to Topeka, a bit sooner than normal.
The Legislature will convene for a special session on Monday, Nov. 22 after lawmakers signed a two-thirds petition calling for the session earlier this week. This follows a vote by the Kansas Special Joint Committee on Government Overreach in order to consider a pair of measures proposed by Senate President Ty Masterson in response to the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
The first measure seeks to provide unemployment insurance for any Kansan fired for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine. The second will seek to “further strengthen” exemptions for medical and religious purposes to ensure exemptions sought by employees are granted.
After the possibility of a special session was announced Tuesday, Republican 17th District Senator Jeff Longbine of Emporia stated he had several concerns which have not been abated. In addition to his concerns regarding whether or not the state has the ability to override an executive order from the White House, Longbine adds that he believes the legislation could lead to long-term financial and legal ramifications for employers.
Longbine says the state’s unemployment insurance funds are not in great shape as it is and he feels increasing the number of residents receiving benefits could further deplete the fund’s reserves.
Longbine was one of the lawmakers who affixed his signature to the petition calling for the special session. However; he says he did not do so in a showing of support of the bills but rather out of a desire to gain additional insight.
Republican 60th District Representative Mark Schreiber of Emporia also signed the petition calling for the special session. Schreiber says he feels the debate is needed, however, he believes both proposed bills are still “works in progress.”
This is an unprecedented occurrence for the Legislature as it is the first time it has ever called itself back into session according to a joint statement from House Speaker Ron Ryckman, House Speaker Pro Tem Blaine Finch and House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins.
