Latest news with #SenateBill76
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kansas Republican's pleas for decorum at anti-trans hearing met with cries of ‘fascist!'
Joanna Herrmann testifies Tuesday before the House Education Committee about her experience raising a trans child, and her opposition to legislation that police the use of pronouns in schools. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature video) TOPEKA — Lawrence resident Joanna Herrmann described for lawmakers how shocked she was when her youngest child began to show signs of being 'very different.' The mother of three, who taught the Bible and considered herself a strong Christian, thought it was a phase. She wasn't supposed to have 'one of those kids,' she said. As parents, she and her ex-husband did everything right. By the time her child was 3 years old, Herrmann said, she had told her child countless times: 'You are a boy. God made you a boy, and God doesn't makes mistakes.' 'Once I finally began to truly listen and see my child for what she was, I realized, if I'm telling my child that God made her and God doesn't make mistakes, and she continues to feel the way that she does, that means I'm telling my child that she is clearly not the creation of God, and therefore she is the mistake,' Herrmann said. 'I'm proud to say today that my daughter is healthy, happy and a vibrant girl who quite literally spreads sunshine everywhere she goes.' Herrmann appeared Tuesday before the House Education Committee to speak against Senate Bill 76, which would forbid school employees from using preferred pronouns without written parental consent, and also empower school employees to misgender children regardless of a parent's or child's preference. Sen. Renee Erickson, R-Wichita, introduced the legislation, which is supported by anti-LGBTQ+ hate groups. The Senate passed the bill 26-14 on Feb. 19. During Tuesday's hearing in the House, the committee chairwoman, Rep. Susan Estes, R-Wichita, repeatedly urged the room filled with Kansans who oppose the bill to behave politely. She interrupted and admonished Rabbi Moti Rieber for saying lawmakers were prejudiced toward transgender children. She had Capitol Police forcibly remove Iridescent Roney, who shouted, with a fist in the air, 'Trans rights are human rights.' 'You are disturbing decorum,' Estes said. 'You are trespassing. I am asking you to leave.' Roney, stumbling with a cane as police shoved her out the door, shouted: 'You're a fascist!' Estes addressed the overflowing crowd in the committee room: 'Everybody else who has done a very, very good job of maintaining the decorum, I am sorry you had to experience that.' The meeting began with Estes asserting that in her committee meetings, people are to 'maintain a good tone,' smile, and 'never make anything personal.' But for Herrmann and more than 100 other opponents who spoke at the hearing or submitted written testimony, the bill is both personal and hurtful. Herrmann wondered: When did the Legislature decided it needed to police people's names? 'This, to me, is sick and disgusting,' Herrmann said. 'There is another name for people who are obsessed with the genitalia of children. They are called pedophiles. And you are more concerned with what is or isn't between a child's legs than protecting them. You are passing these laws based on fear and control. How incredibly weak of you.' The legislation is dubbed the 'Given Name Act.' It would prohibit school employees from addressing a student who is younger than 18 by a pronoun inconsistent with the child's biological sex, or by a name other than the one listed on a birth certificate, without the written permission of the student's parents. Additionally, school employees and other students couldn't be disciplined for refusing to use a student's desired pronoun or name, regardless of parental consent. This provision applies to colleges and universities as well as K-12 schools, public or private. Supporters of the bill include Kansas Family Voice, Alliance Defending Freedom, Heritage Foundation and the Kansas Catholic Conference. They argue that the bill buttresses the First Amendment rights of educators to use language that conforms with their religious beliefs. Melissa Stiehler, of Loud Light Civic Action, told the committee it was 'nonsense' to suggest the bill was about free speech when it actually bans employees from using certain speech. 'The irony here would be pretty funny if it weren't so harmful,' Stiehler said. 'I don't really think that government censorship is much of a laughing matter.' She told the committee the bill wasn't just harmful — it's also poorly written and unenforceable. Schools don't have access to birth certificates, she said. And there could be unintended consequences. If a coach refers to a football player by a nickname, like 'the bulldozer,' the coach could get sued, she said, 'which is just ridiculous.' Rashane Hamby, with the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, also questioned how the school was supposed to verify whether a pronoun was consistent with a birth certificate. The legislation is silent on the matter. 'Is the parent submitting a birth certificate to the school staff, the cafeteria, the janitors? We don't know,' Hamby said. Estes admonished members of the crowd for 'finger-snapping' in support of Hamby's testimony. Before she was thrown out of the room, Roney testified to the 'tense' political moment for the country. Roney said she has been targeted and stalked by hate groups for advocating for trans rights. 'America is turning into a fascist state. And if that doesn't set well with you, if you don't want to be called a Nazi later on your life, then you should vote not like a Nazi,' Roney said. Rieber, the rabbi, talked to lawmakers about the disparity between favorable testimony from out-of-state think tanks and the Kansans who flooded the committee room to oppose the bill. 'These people who come in here and look hopefully at the Legislature and say: 'Look at our lives. Look at our families. Look at the way that we actually live.' And they just ask to be seen, and they ask to be heard.' But, the rabbi continued, lawmakers have already made a decision on the bill 'before the hearing even starts, and that is so awful.' To avoid breaking committee rules on decorum, he told lawmakers he wasn't going to plead with them not to ruin lives or legislative out of self-righteousness. He referenced Senate Bill 63, passed by the Legislature earlier this year with an override of the governor's veto. That bill criminalized gender-affirming care for minors. 'This bill adds insult to the undoubted injury of SB 63. How much more do you want?' Rieber said. 'How much more are you going to do? You've already ruined people's lives.' He called it 'an evil bill' that legislates 'a particular right-wing Christian understanding' of how to deal with LGBTQ+ students. Estes warned the crowd not to applaud the rabbi's comments. Elise Flatland told the committee the legislation would undermine her responsibility as a mother to protect her children. She said many of the people at her son's school don't know, and don't need to know, his sex assigned at birth or private medical history. 'I'm not asking anyone to accept or understand transgender students,' Flatland said. 'I'm asking for all students to be treated with dignity and respect, especially in the spaces where they should feel the safest. This bill creates an environment where transgender children are more vulnerable to harassment and bullying and prevents the school administration from being able to stop it.' 'This is not a political issue,' she added. 'This is a matter of human dignity. This bill represents another attempt to marginalize and disrespect my family and puts the mental health of my children and children like mine at risk.' As Flatland finished her testimony, Estes asked the overflowing crowd to remember not to 'display emotion of any kind.'
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Proposed $500,000 fund would help victims of investment schemes in Nevada
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Victims of investment schemes would be eligible for $25,000 from a fund managed by the Nevada Secretary of State's Office under a proposal presented in Carson City on Thursday. Officials admitted that it's not much for some people who have lost their entire life's savings to people promising high returns on investments. But it's a start, they said. Senate Bill 76 (SB76) would set up a fund for Nevada victims of securities fraud, limited to a maximum of $25,000 and only if the perpetrator of the scheme was ordered to pay restitution. It's common in these cases for all the money to disappear when scammers realize they are going to be prosecuted. Erin Houston, deputy secretary of state for securities, described a typical scenario to lawmakers: A person with a low net worth or a low salary is lured to invest in a local startup company on the promise of high returns. The investment fails and the victim has no recourse. Often, the victim is a senior on a fixed income and they lose all the money they invested. Secretary of State Francisco 'Cisco' Aguilar presented SB76 to the Senate Judiciary Committee, telling senators the fund could be created from money that is being brought in already from enforcement actions. That money currently goes directly to the state's general fund, but Aguilar wants to hold back $500,000 each year to provide just a small amount of relief to victims of these crimes. It's been done in six states already, with such a fund in place in Indiana, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio and Vermont, according to the Secretary of State's Office. Representatives from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) said such scams are a monumental problem, amounting to $36 billion annually in the U.S. AARP said Nevada is No. 3 in the nation for such scams, citing an FTC report that Nevada consumers reported $113.6 million in fraud losses in 2023. AARP and others who testified in favor of SB76 lamented that these fraud cases aren't being treated more seriously. The $500,000 fund would help address the gap between actual restitution made in criminal prosecutions — $205,000 in the most recent fiscal year — and the restitution awarded in those cases — $760,000. Two more bills introduced this week: SEX TRAFFICKING: SB223 would increase penalties in cases involving sex trafficking a child, adding five years to the time an inmate would be eligible for parole. Cases involving victims under 14 years old would be eligible for parole after 20 years (currently 15). When the victim is 14 to 16 years old, parole eligibility would come after 15 years rather than the current 10 years under state law. And when the victim is 16 to 18 years old, parole could come after 10 years (currently five under state law). The bill would also increase the penalties for 'facilitating sex trafficking of a minor. Current sentencing guidelines of three to 10 years would increase to a higher level, eight to 20 years. The bill is sponsored by Republican Sen. Carrie Buck, who represents parts of Henderson and the southeast valley. SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS: SB227 would enact the School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact, allowing psychologists licensed in another state to work in Nevada. It's a strategy similar to agreements allowing nurses to work in multiple states without the need to acquire a license in each state. The strategy overcomes barriers when there is a high need and a relatively low number of people available with the right training. Nevada currently needs school psychologists. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kansas pronoun bill sparks bipartisan concerns of turning ‘classrooms into courtrooms'
Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican, on Jan. 14, 2025, at a committee meeting at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA — The Kansas Senate gave preliminary approval Wednesday to legislation that would ban school district employees from using names or pronouns other than a minor student's corresponding biological sex or birth certificate without parental permission, received preliminary approval Wednesday from the Kansas Senate. Senate Bill 76 is among a slate of anti-trans bills making their way through the Legislature this year. In a 40-minute debate on the Senate floor, Democrats and Republicans questioned the bill's validity. The bill, called the 'Given Name Act,' would create a new civil cause of action and prohibit any district, college or university employees 'from suffering any adverse employment actions for declining to address an individual by a name or pronoun inconsistent with the individual's birth certificate or biological sex,' the bill reads. Kansas schools do not require a student's birth certificate to attend. Freshman Sen. Patrick Schmidt, a Democrat from Topeka, attempted to introduce an amendment to the bill that would change its contents to instead characterize it as the 'right to bully' act. 'This bill legalizes bullying in schools,' he said. 'That is the intent.' Schmidt's amendment failed with all 31 Senate Republicans voting against, three Democrats voting in favor and six Democrats passing on a vote. Before introducing his amendment, Schmidt asked Wichita Republican Sen. Renee Erickson, who introduced the bill, about the intentions behind the bill. 'The truth,' Erickson said. 'And protecting teachers' and employees' First Amendment right not to be compelled to use speech that violates their beliefs.' 'I find that a little curious, perhaps a little disingenuous,' Schmidt said. Erickson said the bill clarifies the confusion school staff experience when confronted with a child who wants to use pronouns or a name other than those that are consistent with the child's biological sex or birth certificate. 'When this occurred in the school that I was principal at, the staff was very confused,' she said. Erickson was formerly a middle school principal in the Wichita public school district. 'I think it's pretty simple. There's biological fact,' Erickson said. 'And when a student wants to contradict that, teachers are conflicted between their belief that this is fact and what their beliefs are and respecting what the student wants to be called.' The act specifies a teacher can call a student by their chosen pronouns with written permission from a student's parent. However, students also cannot be compelled to use speech that violates their personal beliefs, Erickson said. 'If a student chooses to call another student by a different pronoun, they are welcome to, but they are not compelled to,' Erickson said. 'They cannot be forced to against their personal beliefs, but if they choose to, they are more than welcome to.' Schmidt cited during debate the disproportionately high rates at which minors who identify as transgender attempt suicide or experience suicidal ideation. Erickson, after acknowledging that any and every suicide is a tragedy no matter the reason, responded: 'It's not surprising due to their confusion over the most basic biological fact.' A 2024 study also showed a link between anti-trans legislation and increased suicidality among transgender and nonbinary youths. Erickson mentioned on the floor the use of 'threats' from the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas directed toward school districts creating policies related to pronoun use. Micah Kubic, executive director of the ACLU of Kansas, said the organization is engaged in emphasizing students' rights to privacy and protection from harassment under civil rights law and the U.S. Constitution. 'If Sen. Erickson finds guidance about what the Constitution says threatening, perhaps that's an indication that she recognizes that the proposed bill in question has serious problems with its legality,' Kubic said in an emailed statement. Melissa Stiehler, the advocacy director for Kansas-based social justice organization Loud Light, pointed out that the Senate's vote to advance Senate Bill 76 came one day following a successful veto override vote in both chambers enacting gender-affirming care bans for minors. She called Wednesday's bill a continuing 'attack' on transgender children. 'This bill is sloppily written, overly broad, unenforceable and will lead to harassment of both school employees and students,' Stiehler said. She added: 'Rather than coddling the irrational feelings of this overly fragile minority, it may be wise to encourage them to unclutch their pearls and mind their own business.' Stiehler scrutinized in a press release the bill's 'broad litigation clause.' Republican Sen. Kellie Warren, a Leawood Republican, also questioned whether the bill could expose districts and institutions to increased lawsuits. The First Amendment generally protects students' and teachers' right to free speech and some case law strengthens those protections. Schools cannot force students to engage in speech they disagree with. However, the government, including public schools and universities, has broad authority to limit its employees' speech if that speech impacts the workplace. Republican Sen. Joe Claeys, of Maize, said the bill solves one constitutional violation by creating another. 'In my opinion, the Legislature needs to get out of the pronoun business entirely,' Claeys said. He said the bill creates 'a litigation minefield.' It turns 'classrooms into courtrooms' and 'teachers into defendants,' he said. 'I say we let teachers teach,' Claeys said. 'Let the students learn, and keep the courts out of preferred grammatical constructions.'
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Proposed bill could make KS teachers use students birth certificates pronouns
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Kansas lawmakers were presented with a bill requiring school district employees to use the pronouns and names of students as they appear on their birth certificates. The Committee on Education introduced Senate Bill 76 on Monday, Jan. 27. The bill proposes that employees at school districts and postsecondary educational institutions across the state are required to use the names and pronouns that match a student's biological sex and what's listed on their birth certificates. This bill is referencing the Given Name Act. This bill is put together so employees at educational institutions across the Sunflower State 'do not shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at work;' according to the bill. Kansas families can now apply for summer grocery assistance The proposed bill states that no employees, of any status at schools, should address minors or students with a pronoun, title or name that's not consistent with the biological sex or given name listed on the birth certificate unless there is written permission from their parent. Employees at school districts or postsecondary educational institutions will not face termination or demotion for addressing students and minors by the names which appear on their birth certificates. As for students, the bill suggests they should not face disciplinary action for declining to address individuals as anything other than what's listed on their birth certificates. In 2022, a teacher at Fort Riley Middle School was awarded almost $100,000 after winning a lawsuit against the district regarding a pronoun policy. The teacher filed the lawsuit after being reprimanded and suspended for addressing a student by their legal and enrolled name and not a 'preferred name'. For more Capitol Bureau news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
