• Are more likely to have parents who read to them daily resulting in higher reading scores at Kindergarten, 3rd and 4th grade.
• Score higher in symbolic development, math concepts, written language and oral communication.
• Are more likely to be identified at an earlier age if there are health or developmental concerns resulting in referral to school and community services for early prevention.
• Have a lower Body Mass Index (BMI) at Kindergarten entry and are more likely to be fully immunized at age 2.  

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Are you familiar with the See to Learn Program?  This program is sponsored by the Eye Care Council and our state's optometric association in cooperation with local schools, child care providers and public health agencies.  This is a preventative health program designed to ensure that children entering school can see to learn and to educate parents and teachers about the warning signs of vision problems in all children. Through this program participating optometrists offer free vision assessments to three-year-olds in their community.  These assessments are open to any three-year-old, regardless of income or insurance coverage, and they are offered throughout the year.  To date, optometrists have provided more than 50,000 free vision assessments, and have found vision problems in nearly 13% of the children assessed.  With more than 80% of learning a result of visual processing, See to Learn can help make sure vision problems do not hinder a child's ability to learn.  If you need a referral for either a vision assessment for your three-year-old or an examination for your kindergarten student, call the Eye Care Council at 1-800-960-EYES or visit the Council's website at See To Learn.  The Eye Care Council is a preventative health care organization which provides innovative education about vision care.  The Council is comprised of optometrists who are dedicated to improving and preserving vision through public education. 

• Gregory Graves
• Sharon Lindenbaum
• Alex Ammar

I VOTED YES on all three.  

SB 353 changes the powers and duties of the Board of Barbering.  It passed 35-5.  I VOTED YES.

SB 413 creates the Professional Employer Organization Registration Act.  It passed 38-2.  I VOTED YES.  

SB 250 would require municipalities that pay premiums for health benefit plans for firefighters to continue to pay for these premiums for the surviving spouse and dependent children of a firefighter who dies in the line of duty, with certain exceptions.  It passed 40-0.  I VOTED YES.

SUBSTITUTE FOR SB 71 would change the Insurance Code by amending definitions and continuing education requirements for certain lines of insurance and establish fingerprinting and national criminal history record check requirements on applicants for resident insurance agent licenses and resident public adjuster licenses.  It passed 40-0.  I VOTED YES.  

• Kansas Neurological Institute
• Larned State Hospital
• Osawatomie State Hospital
• Parsons State Hospital and Training Center
• Rainbow Mental Health Facility 
• Kansas Public Employees Retirement System
• Legislature
• Legislative Coordinating Council
• Legislative Research Department
• Office of the Revisor of Statutes
• Legislative Division of Post Audit
• Office of the Governor
• Office of the Lieutenant Governor
• Attorney General
• Secretary of State
• Kansas Insurance Department 
• Office of the State Treasurer
• Health Care Stabilization Fund Board of Governors
• Kansas Commission on Peace Officers' Standards and Training  
• Capital Improvements
• Department of Administration
• Kansas Department of Commerce
• Kansas Insurance Department
• Kansas Department on Aging
• Kansas Department of Labor
• Kansas Commission on Veterans' Affairs
• Kansas State School for the Blind
• Kansas State School for the Deaf
• State Historical Society
• Board of Regents
• Department of Corrections
• Juvenile Justice Authority
• Kansas Bureau of Investigation
• Kansas Highway Patrol
• Adjutant General's Department
• Kansas State Fair
• Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism
• Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services
• Kansas Department of Transportation   
• Higher Education  

Public Health and Welfare:

HB 2660  This bill would add the definition of "day care facility" and "maternity center" to the list of definitions in statute regarding child care facilities that are administered through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. It would also limit the licenses that would need to have a sticker identifying the expiration date of the license to day care facilities, remove the requirement that anyone maintaining a child care facility be a high school graduate or the equivalent, and allow the KDHE the flexibility to utilize limits and modification on licenses to bring providers into compliance with regulations.  The bill remains in committee.

HB 2471 This bill would establish requirements for the appointment of the three state-licensed administrator members of the Board of Adult Care Home Administrators.  The bill remains in committee.

HB 2631 This bill would make several changes and additions to the Dental Practice Act for the purpose of expanding dental service in the state. It would provide for an additional level of service by dental hygienists via creation of a new permit level; encourage additional capacity for Kansas residents in dental schools; and establish a volunteer license for retired dentists who choose to donate their services in certain settings.  This bill remains in committee.  

HB 2416 This bill would update statutes to correct references after Executive Reorganization Order 38 made the Kansas Health Policy Authority (KHPA) into the Division of Health Care Finance within the Department of Health and Environment. The bill would also repeal the statutes that created KHPA.  This bill remains in committee.