
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 2160, SB 12, HB 2764, SB 175, HB 2317, HB 2531, HB 2744, HB 253,
AKA: Kate’s Law
People: Mark Parkinson, Tim Owens, Mike Wasmer, Sam 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 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)
Related
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
Kansas | The Latest …
The Autism Community Is Not The Autistic Community
