On Friday, “Kathy’s Bill” was passed by the Kansas Senate, bringing it one step closer to becoming law pending Gov. Laura Kelly’s signature. This significant milestone marks a culmination of efforts by Kathy Lobb, a self-advocate who played a pivotal role in bringing the bill to fruition.
Kathy’s Bill aims to prioritize individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in hiring, promotion, and retention for state government jobs.
When Lobb went to bed on Friday night, she went to sleep with a smile on her face. Earlier in the evening, she had received a phone call from Mike Burgess, the director of policy and research for the Disability Rights Center of Kansas. Burgess had exciting news for Lobb – her bill had been passed by the Senate with an overwhelming majority of 36-1.
Lobb expressed genuine delight, confessing, “To be honest, I was extremely happy. And I wasn’t the only one – my mother shared in my joy as well.”
Saturday was a day filled with joy for Lobb as she immersed herself in the flood of congratulatory social media posts and messages from her friends and fellow advocates statewide.
Lobb expressed her hope that once Kelly receives the bill, they can arrange a date to meet in person and capture a memorable photograph together.
Once the bill is signed by both chambers, it will proceed to the governor’s desk. Governor Kelly will then have 10 days to take action on the bill. If no action is taken within this timeframe, the bill will automatically become law.
Kathy’s Bill aims to provide preferential treatment to qualified individuals with disabilities in terms of hiring, promotions, and state government layoffs. According to a supplemental note on the bill, hiring authorities for such positions would be required to offer interviews to individuals with disabilities who meet the necessary qualifications. In cases where a disabled veteran, surviving spouse of a deceased disabled veteran, or surviving spouse of a prisoner of war also applies for the same position, preference would be given to the individual with the highest qualifications.
Kathy Lobb, aged 68, has dedicated her life to disability and advocacy causes. In November 2022, her retirement celebration was attended by Representative Barbara Ballard, a Democrat from Lawrence. On this special occasion, Ballard presented a proclamation from Kelly, designating November 18, 2022, as Kathy Lobb Day.
Lobb has been advocating for the bill named after her for over two decades and has testified on it multiple times. She dedicated 21 years of her career to working for the Self-Advocate Coalition of Kansas, retiring in 2022 as its legislative liaison. However, even in retirement, the advocacy and passing of the bill continue to hold a prominent place on Lobb’s to-do list.
In 2023, Lobb, while testifying during a legislative hearing, emphasized that individuals with disabilities should not accept sheltered workshop jobs. The term “sheltered workshop” commonly refers to supervised workplaces that employ individuals with disabilities. These workshops often face criticism due to their exemption from labor standards, including minimum wage requirements.
“I believe that individuals with disabilities should have the opportunity to work at the state level, rather than being limited to workshops. I am confident that we can contribute and excel in any professional setting! People with disabilities and self-advocates are just as capable as anyone else in making a difference in the state capitol and positively impacting the lives of individuals across our entire state.”
On Saturday, Lobb further elaborated on the statement.
“They should be entitled to receive at least minimum wage, rather than just receiving small amounts like 10 cents occasionally,” Lobb asserted. “Because in sheltered workshops, their earnings are often quite limited. I have personal experience working in a sheltered workshop, so I am well aware of this.”
Rep. Dennis “Boog” Highberger, a Democrat from Lawrence, has been a strong advocate for Kathy’s Bill. Over the course of his 10 sessions representing Lawrence in the Kansas Legislature, he has introduced this bill multiple times on behalf of the Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns.
Highberger expressed immense joy and satisfaction, stating, “I am incredibly delighted that, after her tireless dedication, this has finally become a reality.”
Highberger praised Lobb for her persistence in seeing Kathy’s Bill through the Legislature, stating that it served as an example of how sometimes, achieving positive outcomes requires more than just a one-year process.
According to Highberger, there are numerous individuals with disabilities who desire employment but often encounter obstacles. He believes that this initiative will eliminate one of those barriers, benefiting both people with disabilities and the state of Kansas as a whole.
During this legislative session, the push to pass Kathy’s Bill was added to Senate Bill 333, which aims to extend the state use law committee until July 2029. The committee’s primary role is to provide guidance to the Kansas purchasing director on matters related to products and services offered by blind or disabled vendors.
According to Angie Reinking, executive director of Arc of Douglas County, the collaborative efforts of Kathy’s Bill supporters played a crucial role in overcoming obstacles that had previously hindered its passage. Reinking, along with Lobb and other advocates, were present during the unanimous approval of Kathy’s Bill by the House on March 25th.
During the House session, Representative Sean Tarwater, a Republican from Stilwell, expressed his personal connection with Lobb, stating that he considered him a friend.
Tarwater expressed that he and Lobb had been collaborating for a span of eight years. He first got acquainted with Lobb while she was advocating for the disability tax credit. Tarwater praised Lobb for her exceptional leadership skills and her remarkable efforts in ensuring that the voices of individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities are heard during policy discussions. Additionally, Tarwater commended her for consistently delivering excellent results in this regard.
Tarwater revealed that those who have spent time with her often hear her ask, “When will you finally hire someone with a disability?”
Tarwater informed his colleagues that Kathy’s Bill had made it out of committee multiple times, only to be removed from the legislative calendar either at the turnaround deadline or at the end of the session. He then requested the House members to acknowledge Lobb, who was seated in the corner of the House floor.
Tarwater expressed his joy for Kathy as they finally pass her law.
