Kansas SB 164: Concerning an employer's maximum liability for permanent total disability compensation and requiring an employer to pay such disabled employee during the continuance of such disability from the date of maximum medical improvement for the lifetime of the employee at the weekly rate of the compensation in effect on the date of injury for which compensation is being made.

Bill Text

Session of 2025
SENATE BILL No. 164
By Committee on Education
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AN ACT concerning discrimination; relating to the attorney general;
prohibiting discriminatory practices at public educational institutions;
authorizing the attorney general to investigate and assess penalties;
authorizing the human rights commission to refer complaints to the
attorney general for investigation and initiation of legal proceedings;
amending K.S.A. 44-1001, 44-1004, 44-1005 and 44-1009 and
repealing the existing sections.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
New Section 1. (a) (1) It is declared to be the policy of the state that
public educational institutions that receive and expend tax dollars are
prohibited from engaging in practices or implementing policies that:
(A) Discriminate or cause prejudice on the basis of religion; or
(B) promote or tolerate antisemitism or antisemitic acts.
(2) This section shall not be construed to prohibit any coursework
that is dedicated to the education and study of world religions or cultures
in public educational institutions.
(b) (1) A person aggrieved by a violation of subsection (a) may file a
complaint with the attorney general. If the person aggrieved is under the
age of 18, a parent or guardian may file a complaint on behalf of the
person.
(2) The attorney general may investigate any complaint received
under paragraph (1). During the course of such investigation, the attorney
general may:
(A) Subpoena witnesses, evidence, records, documents or other
material related to the complaint;
(B) take testimony under oath;
(C) examine or cause to be examined any records or other material
that is relevant to the complaint;
(D) require a person to attend any proceeding and provide testimony
under oath regarding any material that is relevant to the complaint;
(E) serve interrogatories; and
(F) administer oaths and affirmations.
(3) (A) If the attorney general issues a subpoena or interrogatory
under this section, service shall be made:
(i) By certified mail, return receipt requested, to the last known place
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SB 164 2
of business or residence; or
(ii) in the manner provided in article 3 of chapter 60 of the Kansas
Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto.
(B) If a person intentionally refuses to respond to a subpoena,
interrogatory or any other request made by the attorney general that is
authorized by this section, the attorney general may, after notice, file a
petition with the appropriate district court for a hearing. If the court finds
that the person is required to respond to the subpoena, interrogatory or
request, the court may:
(i) Issue an order requiring such person to respond to the subpoena,
interrogatory or request; or
(ii) hold such person in contempt until such person responds to the
subpoena, interrogatory or request.
(4) (A) After investigating a complaint, if the attorney general finds
by a preponderance of the evidence that a public educational institution
violated the provisions of subsection (a), the attorney general shall assess a
civil penalty against the public educational institution in an amount not to
exceed $10,000 for each violation. Any civil penalty recovered under this
paragraph shall be deposited into the state general fund.
(B) A public educational institution may appeal a penalty assessed
under subparagraph (A) in accordance with the Kansas judicial review act.
(c) As used in this section:
(1) "Antisemitism" or "antisemitic" means the same as defined by the
international Holocaust rememberance alliance's working definition of
antisemitism, including the contemporary examples, as in effect on May
26, 2016. "Antisemitism" or "antisemitic" includes:
(A) Encouraging, supporting, praising, participating in or threatening
violence or vandalism against Jewish people or property;
(B) wearing masks to conceal a person's identity with the intent to
harass or discriminate against Jewish students, faculty or employees on
school property; and
(C) incorporating or allowing funding of antisemitic curriculum or
activities in any domestic or study abroad programs or classes.
(2) "Public educational institutions" means any elementary or
secondary school operated by a unified public school district under the
laws of this state, a community college established in accordance with
chapter 71 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto,
Washburn university, Washburn institute of technology, a technical college
established under the laws of this state or a state educational institution as
defined in K.S.A. 76-711, and amendments thereto.
Sec. 2. K.S.A. 44-1001 is hereby amended to read as follows: 44-
1001. This act shall be known as the Kansas act against discrimination. It
shall be deemed an exercise of the police power of the state for the
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