MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR

House Bill No. 2217

An Act concerning the attorney general; relating to the office of the inspector general and the powers, duties and responsibilities thereof; expanding the power of the inspector general to investigate and audit all state cash, food and health assistance programs; amending K.S.A. 75-7427 and repealing the existing section.

Message to the Legislature of the State of Kansas:

It is very unclear what problem, if any, this bill is attempting to solve. Expanding the inspector general’s authority to audit and investigate all state cash, food, and health assistance programs is completely redundant, inefficient, and a waste of taxpayer dollars.

Within the Kansas Department for Children and Families, there already exists a Fraud Investigations Unit that conducts this work with experts who have specific knowledge of how these programs work and what federal and state laws require. This bill also removes statutory protections for participants’ data and health privacy.

It makes no sense from a legal, policy, or fiscal standpoint to make this change.

Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto House Bill 2217.

Laura Kelly, Governor

Dated April 3, 2025.