As part of our 2018 Legislative Platform, The Northeast Johnson County Chamber of Commerce (NEJC Chamber) adopted the following guiding principle:
The Chamber supports positive employment nondiscrimination reform by encouraging the amendment of the Kansas Act Against Discrimination to include protections for sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.
In light of this guiding principle, the
NEJC Chamber
strongly opposes HB 2481, a bill that would legalize discrimination in Provision of Child Welfare services. Initially, HB 2481 was passed by the House to address needed reform in Kansas adoption law. However, it was subsequently amended in the Senate to include discriminatory language. HB 2481, as amended, would specifically allow taxpayer-funded organizations to refuse child placement with certain qualified, willing prospective parents using religious grounds to discriminate on sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status and differing faiths. Any discrimination on the taxpayers’ dime is unacceptable.
HB 2481 is also detrimental to businesses, large and small, by negatively impacting their ability to attract and retain top talent. And it will diminish Northeast Johnson County's draw as a destination for economic activity, tourism, and new business development. HB2481 is bad for children, families, employees, and business in Northeast Johnson County and throughout Kansas.
We encourage our members to locate your state legislators at
www.kslegislature.org
and urge them to
Vote No on HB 2481
.
Deb Settle, President/CEO
dsettle@nejcchamber.com, 913-262-2141
