Topeka – The final report of Governor Laura Kelly’s Racial Equity Task Force calls for the repeal of state laws that disproportionately deny families of color eligibility for full amounts of food stamps and temporary cash assistance under federally funded programs.
Task force members also recommended that the state expand Medicaid participation, expand the availability of telehealth services, and enhance training for law enforcement officers to intervene in mental and behavioral crises. The task force urged state lawmakers to scrap the state’s 6.5% sales tax on food, while some contraceptives remained available and affordable.
In the field of education, the group proposed providing incentives for school teachers and staff to become fluent in second languages. The report said that programs should be developed to encourage the employment of teachers who live and work in the neighborhoods in which they work.
The task force concluded that it would be best to eliminate zero-tolerance policies in the country’s juvenile justice system. The report said the goal should be to build on alternatives to school suspensions for disciplinary offenses, by switching to alternative schools, behavioral interventions, family case managers, and restorative justice programs.
With regard to housing, the task force suggested exploring options to help homeowners pay utility and property taxes. Additionally, the group suggested that state law should be expanded to include protections from income discrimination. Another idea was to improve access to legal counsel among people involved in eviction cases.
The task force asked lawmakers to consider restrictions on Kansas’ payday lending practices and increase the state’s minimum wage.
Kelly said the report provided a path to improving racial equality in terms of health care, education and the economic structure of Kansas. A copy of the commission’s final report can be found here.
“I would like to thank the committee for developing another round of well-thought-out pragmatic recommendations for its improvement ethnic “Fairness and justice in our country,” she said. “My administration remains committed to working together to address inequalities and improve the health and well-being of every community in Kansas.”
The Governor’s Commission on Equity and Racial Justice was established by executive order in June 2020. The team was led by Tiffany Anderson, Superintendent of Topeka Public Schools, and Shannon Portillo, associate dean for academic affairs at the University of Kansas. Others on the task force represented the fields of public health, government, education, law enforcement, academia, and the courts.
“By speaking with local, state, and national experts, the commission was able to develop a vision and a path forward for improving statewide equity efforts,” Anderson said. “We are all excited to see how the various entities in the state will implement these ideas to improve Kansas communities for all residents.”
In December 2020, the task force released an initial outline of more than 60 recommendations for government officials to consider. An interim analysis of justice and equity challenges was released in July. The final report contained 124 recommendations, including some layers in the interim document.