Governor expands homeland security commission
Law enforcement, agriculture and animal health leaders among new members

In order to bring more expertise to bear in emergency planning, Governor Kathleen Sebelius today signed a bill expanding the Commission on Emergency Planning and Response to 27 members.

New members include representatives from a variety of fields, including law enforcement, transportation, agriculture, animal health, health care, public health, and local government. 

“We need a broad range of expertise at the table if we’re going to be able to prepare for the different types of emergencies we might face.  By including more experts in the discussions, we’ll be able to better plan our response,” said Sebelius.

The leaders of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Kansas Department of Agriculture, and Kansas Animal Health Department become members of the commission as a result of this bill.

The number of commission members appointed by the Governor is also expanded from seven members to 18 members, bringing the total membership to 27.  The additional appointed members will include one representative from each of the following groups: counties; cities; agriculture; transportation; energy; law enforcement; fire fighters; county emergency managers; emergency medical services; public works; hospitals; public health; tribes of Kansas; individuals with disabilities; and one representative of the seven regional homeland security councils. 

Current law stipulates that three members represent business and industry, and this bill now requires that one of these individuals represent broadcasting.  Finally, counties and cities, which each previously had two representatives on the commission, are now represented by one person each.

The bill, HB 2152, is the eighth bill the Governor has signed during the 2007 session and will take effect after its publication in the statute book.

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