Kansas | Autism Politics, News & History


Kansas | Autism Politics, Divergent News & History

Kansas became the 18th state to enact autism insurance reform on April 20, 2010; the law was amended April 16, 2014.

The reform forced insurance providers to cover Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA). ABA is known as Autistic Conversion Therapy in the Autistic Community. 

The Autism Votes initiative was powered by Autism Speaks and other non-Autistic parent-founded autism organizations.

The ’autism community’ referenced in articles here is a different community than the Autistic community. The ’autism community’ prevented Autistics from participating in legislation, Autistic healthcare initiatives and more in a meaningful manner. Instead, Autistics are used as a prop or token in these initiatives. 

Autism Insurance Reform that included ABA was being protested by Autistics as it was being hailed by non-Autistics in the ’autism community.’ These non-Autistic parent-founded organizations and people didn’t listen to Autistics then, and they aren’t listening now.  

When this legislation was implemented, Autistics were silenced in the national conversation, and our civil, human and disabled rights circumvented or denied. 

Today, in every state, Autistics and our real allies are working hard to introduce legislation to get ABA banned.

We will be heard. 


Autism Politics

Autism Insurance Reform was enacted April 19, 2010.

Legislation: HB 2160SB 12HB 2764, SB 175, HB 2317, HB 2531, HB 2744, HB 253,

AKA: Kate’s Law

People: Mark Parkinson, Tim Owens, Mike WasmerSam Brownback,

Also: Legislative Educational Planning Committee (LEPC),Kansas Coalition for Autism Legislation (KCAL)


Kansas Legislation History

Kansas Becomes the 18th State to Enact Autism Insurance Reform (April 20, 2010)

Autism Speaks Applauds the Kansas State Legislature for Passage Of Autism Insurance Coverage For State Employee Health Plan But Pledges To Keep Working To Expand Coverage (March 31, 2010) 

Autism Speaks Joins Kansas Parents and Autism Advocates In Denouncing Insurance Industry Claims (April 20, 2009) 

Autism Speaks Joins Kansas Families to Answer Legislator Questions Raised About Kate’s Law (February 20, 2009)

Kansas LEPC Recommends Passage of Kate’s Law (November 21, 2008)


Informational Presentation on Kansas Autism Law (2014)



Kansas Bill History

2014

April 30: Gov. Sam Brownback signs HB.2744 into law

April 2: HB.2744 approved 38-2 by the Senate; sent to Governor Brownback

March 24: HB.2744 reported out of Senate Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee

March 21: House votes 114-3 for HB.2744; bill moves to Senate; referred to Senate Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee

March 20: House approves floor amendments strengthening HB.2744

March 18: HB.2744 reported out of House Insurance Committee with amendments

March 10/12: House Insurance Committee hears HB.2744

March 5: HB.2744 introduced; referred to House Insurance Committee

Feb. 20: HB.2531 re-referred back to House Insurance Committee 

Feb 19: HB.2531 transferred to House Taxation Committee

Jan. 29: HB.2531 introduced in House; referred to House Insurance Committee 

2013

Feb. 13: HB.2317 introduced in House, referred to House Insurance Committee

Feb. 12: SB.175 introduced in Senate; referred to Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee

2012

May 17: Parliamentary procedure to force HB.2764 out of the Senate  Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee and on to the Senate floor falls short by two votes

March 21: HB.2764 approved 92-30 by House; moves to Senate

March 14: HB.2764 voted out of House Insurance Committee

February 21: House Bill 2764, which would expand Kate’s Law to include fully funded health plans, introduced in House; referred to House Insurance Committee

2010

April 19: Governor Parkinson signs HB.2160; Autism Speaks pledges to  keep working to expand coverage

March 30: HB.2160 as amended by Senate passes House; sent to Governor

March 18: HB.2160 passed by full Senate

March 16: Kate’s Law passed by Senate Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee; amended to Senate Substitute for HB.2160 

January 27: Autism Speaks joins KCAL for a “Capitol Push Day for Kate’s Law!”

January 11: Kate’s Law (SB 12/HB 2367) reintroduced

2009

May 6: 2009 legislative session ends without passage of Kate’s Law  

April 3: Motion submitted in House Insurance Committee to move Kate’s Law out of Committee and to the House floor

March 19: House Insurance Committee holds hearing on Kate’s Law; no vote is held

March 5: Autism insurance reform bill, HB.2367 (Kate’s Law), introduced in House; referred to the House Insurance Committee

January 29: Senate Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee holds hearing on Kate’s Law; no vote is held 

January 12: Autism insurance reform bill, SB.12 (Kate’s Law), introduced in Senate; referred to the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee 


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The Autism Community Is Not The Autistic Community

* The “autism community” is not the Autistic Community. The autism community was created by non-Autistic led organizations and includes mostly parents, professionals and their friends. Most of what the world knows about autism is sourced from the non-Autistic “autism community.”

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