EDITOR’S NOTE: This letter was sent to and provided by Rep. Eber Phelps, D-Hays, 111th Dist.

As you know, the Governor vetoed HB2313. This bill is the lottery vending machine bill. While our associations are not going to take a stand on the pros and cons of the machines, we want to be sure you are aware the bill included provisions to utilize the funds from these machines for two mental health programs in Kansas. These are the Community Crisis Stabilization Centers Fund and Clubhouse Model Program Fund of the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services

The Community Crisis Stabilization Centers are community based treatment of involuntary patients for up to 72 hours under the program you approved in HB2053. The people in the eastern half of Kansas who are in a mental health crisis cannot get immediate treatment because of an admission moratorium which has now been in place for 733 days today. That moratorium has resulted in a waiting list to obtain emergency mental health treatment for the entire moratorium period. But this program would do far more than remove some of the load from the state hospitals, particularly Osawatomie State Hospital. This program was meant to not only find a place where they can get immediate mental health care, but also would establish their continuing mental health treatment in the community.

The Senate added funding ($2.8M per year) to their FY18 and FY19 budgets for these centers. In conference committee, the Senate acquiesced to the House position to not include the funding. The remarks at the time indicated this was found to be acceptable because the programs were funded in HB2313. Now with HB2313 vetoed there is no funding for the program. It is understandable the House had not put the money in their budget bill because they had passed HB2313 which included the funding. It is also important to note the vetoed bill, HB2313, with this funding passed the House 98-19 and the Senate 34-4.

We are writing to ask you to give strong consideration to overriding this veto so we can fund these programs. Both programs, Community Crisis Stabilization Centers and the Clubhouse Model Program are important programs in attempting to address the dire conditions of those in mental health crisis in Kansas.

Ed Klumpp
Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police, Legislative Committee Chair
Kansas Sheriffs Association. Legislative Liaison
Kansas Peace Officers Association, Legislative Liaison
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (785) 235-5619
Cell: (785) 640-1102