MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR

Senate Substitute for House Bill No. 2344

An Act concerning the department of health and environment; relating to licensure of child care facilities; day care homes and child care centers; establishing license capacity and staff-to-child ratios; lowering license fees and training requirements; creating a process for day care facility licensees to apply for a temporary waiver of certain statutory requirements; authorizing the secretary to develop and operate pilot programs to increase child care facility availability and capacity; amending K.S.A. 65-503, 65-505 and 65-508 and K.S.A. 2022 Supp. 48-3406 and repealing the existing sections.

Message to the Legislature of the State of Kansas

As I said in my State of the State address, my North Star as Governor is to make Kansas the best place to raise a family. Key to that is ensuring parents have access to safe, affordable, quality childcare.

This bill would reverse the progress we’ve made toward that goal, loosening safety requirements for childcare centers, and preventing the state from being responsive to individual communities’ needs.

While I agree it’s time to review our childcare policies, we must do it together – and in a way that improves, not harms, our state’s ability to help families and keep kids safe.

Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto House Bill 2344.

Laura Kelly, Governor

Dated April 19, 2023.