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Minutes for SB376 - Committee on Assessment and Taxation
Short Title
Increasing the rates of taxation of cigarettes and tobacco products; establishing the cigarette and tobacco product cessation fund.
Minutes Content for Thu, Mar 22, 2018
Chairperson Tyson opened a hearing on SB376.
Adam Siebers presented to the Committee an explanation of SB376. He stood for questions.
Senator Taylor presented testimony to the Committee in support of SB376, detailing four points: health benefits of tobacco prevention and cessation; good policy for the budget; tax needs to be fair; and good plan for Kansas. (Attachment 1) She stood for questions.
Dr. Jensen presented testimony to the Committee in support of SB376 by describing ways to improve the health of Kansans and providing 'Kansas tobacco facts', 'why tobacco use does matter to KU Cancer Center', 'why a tobacco tax makes financial sense'; and 'cross-border sales'. (Attachment 2) He stood for questions.
Hailey Kisner presented testimony to the Committee in support of SB376 by detailing her personal story. (Attachment 3) She stood for and answered numerous questions.
Written only testimony presented to the Committee in support of SB376 was provided by: Dr. Dennis Cooley, American Academy of Pediatrics KS (Attachment 4); Sheldon Weisgrau, Alliance for Healthy Kansas (Attachment 5); Hilary Gee, American Cancer Society KS (Attachment 6); Tracy Russell, American Heart Assn. (Attachment 7); Leah Martin, American Lung Assn. (Attachment 8); Ruth Gathungurl, Boys & Girls Club, Lawrence (Attachment 9); Jodi Radke, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (Attachment 10); Dr. Edward Ellerbeck, KU Cancer Center (Attachment 11); Rebecca Garza, American Cancer Society volunteer (Attachment 12); Bridget McCandless, Health Care Foundation KC (Attachment 13); Irene Caudillo, Healthy Communities Wyandotte (Attachment 14); Carolyn Gaughan, KS Academy of Family Physicians (Attachment 15); Amanda Gress, Kansas Action for Children (Attachment 16); Heidi Holliday, KS Center for Economic Growth (Attachment 17); Cathy Bennett, KC Chamber (Attachment 18); Denise Cyzman, KS Assn. for Medically Underserved (Attachment 19); Rob Gilligan, KS Assn. School Boards (Attachment 20); Gary Doolittle, Kansas Cancer Partnership (Attachment 21); Mark Desetti, KS National Education Assn. (Attachment 22); Elizabeth Keever, Live Well, Lawrence (Attachment 23); Shannon Lucas, March of Dimes (Attachment 24); Mariana Ramirez, Public Health Professional, Shawnee (Attachment 25); Susan McLoughlin, Mother & Child Health Coalition, KCMO (Attachment 26); Mary Reed Spencer, National Multiple Sclerosis Society (Attachment 27); Rick Cagan, National Alliance on Mental Illness (Attachment 28); Christi Nance, Oral Health KS (Attachment 29); Dr. James Gardner, Tobacco Free KS Coalition (Attachment 30); Linda Warner, KC Community College (Attachment 31); Shannon Williams, Overland Park resident (Attachment 32); Mary Beth Gentry, Young Women on the Move (Attachment 33); Dalrona Harrison, American Heart Assn. volunteer (Attachment 34); Stephanie Seger, Children's Mercy (Attachment 35); and Steve Coen, Kansas Health Fndn. (Attachment 36).
No testimony neutral to SB376 was presented to the Committee.
Bill Murphy presented testimony in opposition to SB376 by giving a personal account of how a tax increase on cigarettes will greatly affect his business. (Attachment 37) He stood for questions.
Tom Palace presented testimony in opposition to SB376 by providing numerous details and statistics of recent tax increases (Attachment 38). He stood for questions.
Tom Jacob presented testimony in opposition to SB376 by detailing recent and proposed increased taxes on 'other tobacco products'. (Attachment 39) He stood for questions.
Curt Diebel presented testimony in opposition to SB376 by summarizing: "Cross order competition is real. Internet sales are real. Bootlegging is real. Putting small businesses out of business is real". (Attachment 40) He stood for questions.
Doug Mays presented testimony in opposition to SB376 suggesting "the passage of this plan and the resulting higher taxes on cigars and OTP will not significantly increase tax revenues in Kansas". (Attachment 41) He stood for questions.
At 10:28am Chairperson Tyson indicated today's meeting and hearing on SB376 would continue at noon in room 548-S.
