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Minutes for HB2653 - Committee on Federal and State Affairs
Short Title
Providing for child support orders for unborn children from the date of conception.
Minutes Content for Thu, Feb 15, 2024
Chairperson Carpenter opened the hearing on HB2653. The Revisor provided an overview of the bill (Attachment 1).
Chairperson Carpenter recognized Jeanne Gawdun, Kansans for Life, as a proponent on HB2653 (Attachment 2). She stated that this bill addresses some of the financial concerns that pregnant women face by instructing the court to consider direct pregnancy-related medical and other expenses for the mother of the unborn child when establishing the guidelines for child support payments. HB2653 may help alleviate some of the financial stress that a pregnant woman faces at a critical time for her and her child. Questions were asked by several committee members.
The Chair recognized Brittany Jones, Kansas Family Voice, who testified in support of HB2653 (Attachment 3). She stated that this bill ensures that the court can consider pregnancy-related expenses throughout the pregnancy to ensure that the mother has the financial support she needs to carry that child. The supreme court already has guidelines surrounding child support and in determining paternity. All this bill does is ensure that the father shares in the expenses. A number of questions were asked by the Committee.
Adam Schwend, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, testified in support of HB2653 (Attachment 4). He stated that this bill ensures that both parents are providing material support for their children. Maternity care can be extremely expensive, particularly in cases when women have limited to no health insurance. This bill makes a clear point that unborn children deserve the same treatment as their born brothers and sisters and recognizes the biological reality that every child has a mother and father, regardless of parental involvement in their life.
Chairperson Carpenter directed the Committee's attention to the written proponent testimony of Lucrecia Nold, Kansas Catholic Conference (Attachment 5).
Taylor Morton, Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes, testified in opposition to HB2653 (Attachment 6). She stated that this bill is nothing more than an attempt to further an anti-abortion agenda. It is insincere and does nothing to address the issues facing pregnant women in Kansas. She stated that this bill purports to address the financial burdens of pregnancy and parenthood, but all it accomplishes is codifying fetal personhood language into Kansas law. A number of questions were asked by the Committee members. Representative Buehler requested that she give the Committee information on the priority of the policy solutions in her written testimony and how much each of them would cost.
Representative Eplee requested Legislative Research provide information on what other states are doing and what services they provide.
Chairperson Carpenter stated that there is written opposition testimony from Laurel Burchfield (Attachment 7); Rev. Dr. Isabel Call (Attachment 8); Colleen Cunningham (Attachment 9); Rashane Hamby, ACLU (Attachment 10); Kate Healy (Attachment 11); Delaney Cay Jones (Attachment 12); Alina Matejkowski (Attachment 13); Pastor Charles L. McKinzie II, Grace United Methodist Church, Winfield, Kansas (Attachment 14); Amber Sellers, Trust Women (Attachment 15); ShaMecha King Sims (Attachment 16); Jonathan Smith (Attachment 17); Melissa Stiehler, Loud Light Civic Action (Attachment 18); Tom Vogue (Attachment 19); and Dr. Elizabeth Wickstrom (Attachment 20).
Chairperson Carpenter closed the hearing on HB2653.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:50 a.m.
