Kansas Hispanic and Latino American Affairs Commission
2023 Policy Agenda
This policy statement presents general state legislative goals and objectives formally adopted by KHLAAC. This statement will be provided to Kansas legislators for its consideration at the 2023 legislative session. The focus of this policy statement is on general policies and principles; however, some positions on specific legislative proposals are included under appropriate general policy statements. Future revisions to this statement will include additional positions of the Commission on specific proposals and bills introduced during the 2023 session.
Law Enforcement Officers: KHLAAC believes that persons with lawful employment status should be allowed to serve as law enforcement officers in Kansas. The Commission strongly encourages the state legislature to amend statute (KSA 74-5605 (b) (1) that requires citizenship for law enforcement officers. The Commission asks to consider aligning with U.S. Military requirements in the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI) program. We believe that this amendment will expand the pool of law enforcement candidates and increase diversity across Police Departments in Kansas communities who are struggling with recruitment.
Kansas Driver’s Licenses for All: Immigrant labor is vital to the Kansas’ economy and continued growth and development. In correlation to this issue and due to the increased number of safety and transportation risks with uninsured drivers, KHLAAC strongly supports driver’s license for undocumented immigrants in Kansas. All age-eligible immigrants regardless of immigration status who can pass state driving tests should be able to obtain a driver’s license endorsement. This will result in law enforcement efficiencies, lower vehicle insurance rates, and increases in state revenues.
Victims of Violent Crimes: KHLAAC believes that healthy communities are communities in which the residents feel protected by law enforcement, and in which residents report crimes to law enforcement and cooperate with law enforcement in the resolution of crimes. KHLAAC believes that legislation in which law enforcement agencies timely complete requests for verification of victim helpfulness are necessary to build trust between communities and law enforcement.
Require a Statewide Training Standard for Interpreters in Healthcare Facilities and Courts: KHLAAC strongly supports creating a training standard for interpreters in Kansas.
In-State Tuition for Undocumented Students: KHLAAC strongly supports In-State post-secondary tuition for Kansas undocumented students at Kansas colleges and universities. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and undocumented students know the United States as their home and are educated in our public schools. This statue continues to promote higher education among our youth resulting in higher wages and a strong state economy.
Redistricting: Maps need to reflect the demographic composition and the changes that are happening. Communities need to be able to define their communities of interest.
Medicaid Expansion: KHLAAC Supports the expansion of Medicaid. Kansas medical providers are challenged in meeting their communities’ needs. The KHLAAC Commission supports the expansion of Medicaid/KanCare through receipt of the state budget neutral money therefore allowing such entities the ability to support critical services for their citizens. We believe that the Medicaid expansion will result in increased health coverage, better access to healthcare, and improved health outcomes for Kansans.
Voter Access: KHLAAC supports expanding voter access to the polls, expanding early voting, and online voter registration.
Eliminate Food Tax: KHLAAC supports the elimination of the state food sales tax applies to food you buy at your local grocery store, at the farmer’s market and anywhere grocery food items are sold.
Access to Maternal and Women’s Health: KHLAAC believes greater access to women’s maternal, and women’s care yields better outcomes for women and babies.
Public School Funding: KHLAAC supports equal access to education for all children through public schools.
KHLAAC advocates to introduce and expand language access across all state and local public services. KHLAAC believes that language access is part of a more equitable and inclusive environment where all Kansans have equitable access to services, information, civic processes, and guidelines by using interpretation and translation services. This will allow our immigrant and refugee residents to fully participate in, and be integrated into, the social, civic, and economic fabric across Kansas cities.
Welcoming and Inclusive Communities: KHLAAC supports creating welcoming communities by supporting local jurisdictions to improve cultural sensitivity and language accessibility. The Hispanic and Latino community is diverse with each possessing a unique identity and we create more prosperous communities through inclusivity.
Refugee Resettlement: The immigrant and refugee labor are critical to the Kansas economy particularly in the Southwest Kansas area. Refugees continue to be a vital part of our communities’ fabric, food production field and elsewhere on the frontlines. KHLAAC the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, a bipartisan program that has offered safety and homes to refugees from all over the world since 1980. We encourage the State of Kansas to continue to settle and welcome refugees in our communities. Refugees have invigorated our economies, brought innovation to our towns, and strengthened our communities through their contributions to our public life and cultural institutions.