K.S.A. Chapter 65 Public Health
Article 1 - Secretary of Health and Environment, Activities
Select Statutes Related to Isolation or Quarantine
Current Through 2021 Legislature Last Amended 2021
65-101 Health supervision; investigation of causes of disease
65-118. Reporting to local health authority as to infectious or contagious diseases; persons reporting; immunity from liability; confidentiality of information; disclosure.
65-119. Duties and powers of local health officers; contagious diseases; confidentiality of information; disclosure, when.
65-122. Schools and child care facilities; non-admissions and exclusions; readmissions, when.
65-123. Funeral services.
65-126. Quarantine of city, township or county
65-127. Penalty Provisions [For violations of 65-118, 65-119, 65-122, 65-123, or 65-126]
65-129. Penalties for unlawful acts
65-129b. Infections or contagious diseases; authority of local health officer or secretary; evaluation or treatment orders, isolation or quarantine orders; enforcement
65-129c. Same; orders for isolation or quarantine; form and content; notice; hearing in district court; application and effect; procedure; orders for relief; emergency rules of procedure
65-129d. Same; unlawful discharge from employment
65-101 Health supervision; investigation of causes of disease, sickness and death; sanitation inspections; prevention of spread of disease; outreach services; rules and regulations; injunction.
(a) The secretary of health and environment shall exercise generalsupervision of the health of the people of the state and may:
(1) Where authorized by any other statute, require reports fromappropriate persons relating to the health of the people of the state so adetermination of the causes of sickness and death among the people ofthe state may be made through the use of these reports and otherrecords;
(2) investigate the causes of disease, including especially,epidemics and endemics, the causes of mortality and effects of locality,employments, conditions, food, water supply, habits and othercircumstances affecting the health of the people of this state and thecauses of sickness and death;
(3) advise other offices and agencies of government concerninglocation, drainage, water supply, disposal of excreta and heating andventilation of public buildings;
(4) make sanitary inspection and survey of such places andlocalities as the secretary deems advisable;
(5) take action to prevent the introduction of infectious orcontagious disease into this state and to prevent the spread of infectiousor contagious disease within this state;
(6) provide public health outreach services to the people of the state including educational and other activities designed to increase the individual's awareness and appropriate use of public and other preventive health services.
(b) The secretary of health and environment may adopt rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of subsection (a). In addition to other remedies provided by law, the secretary is authorized to apply to the district court, and such court shall have jurisdiction upon a hearing and for cause shown to grant a temporary or permanent injunction to compel compliance with such rules and regulations.
(c) In the event of a state of disaster emergency declared by the governor pursuant to K.S.A. 48-924, and amendments thereto, or a state of local disaster emergency declared pursuant to K.S.A. 48-932,and amendments thereto, the legislature may revoke an order issued by the secretary to take action related to such disaster emergency as provided in this subsection. Such order may be revoked at any time by concurrent resolution of the legislature or, when the legislature is not in session or is adjourned during session for three or more days, such order may be revoked by the legislative coordinating council with the affirmative vote of five members thereof.
History: L. 1885, ch. 129, § 4; L. 1907, ch. 379, § 1; R.S. 1923, 65-101; L. 1974, ch. 352, § 1; L. 1981, ch. 240, § 1; L. 1989, ch. 184, § 1; July 1; L. 2021, ch. 7 § 11; March 25.
65-118. Reporting to local health authority as to infectious or contagious diseases; persons reporting; immunity from liability; confidentiality of information; disclosure.
(a) Whenever any person licensed to practice the healing arts or engaged in a postgraduate training program approved by the state board of healing arts, licensed dentist, licensed professional nurse, licensed practical nurse[,] administrator of a hospital, licensed adult care home-administrator, licensed physician assistant, licensed social worker, teacher or school administrator knows or has information indicating that a person is suffering from or has died from a reportable infectious or contagious disease as defined in rules and regulations, such knowledge or information shall be reported immediately to the county or joint board of health or the local health officer, together with the name and address of the person who has or is suspected of having the infectious or contagious disease, or the name and former address of the deceased individual who had or was suspected of having such a disease. In the case of a licensed hospital or adult care home, the administrator may designate an individual to receive and make such reports. The secretary of health and environment shall, through rules and regulations, make provision for the consolidation of reports required to be made under this section when the person required to make the report is working in a licensed hospital or adult care home. Laboratories certified under the federal clinical laboratories improvement act pursuant to 42 code of federal regulations, 493 shall report the results of microbiologic cultures, examinations, immunologic essays for the presence of antigens and antibodies and any other laboratory tests which are indicative of the presence of a reportable infectious or contagious disease to the department of health and environment. The director of the division of public health may use information from death certificates for disease investigation purposes.
(b) Any person who is an individual member of a class of persons designated under subsection (a) of this section and who reports the information required to be reported under such subsection in good faith and without malice to a county or joint board of health, a local health officer or the department of health and environment shall have immunity from any liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise be incurred or imposed in an action resulting from such report. Any such person shall have the same immunity with respect to participation in any judicial proceeding resulting from such report.
(c) Information required to be reported under subsection (a) of this section shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed or made public, upon subpoena or otherwise, beyond the requirements of subsection (a) of this section or subsection (a) of K.S.A. 65-119, and amendments thereto, except such information may be disclosed:
(1) If no person can be identified in the information to be disclosed and the disclosure is for statistical purposes;
(2) if all persons who are identifiable in the information to be disclosed consent in writing to its disclosure;
(3) if the disclosure is necessary, and only to the extent necessary, to protect the public health;
(4) if a medical emergency exists and the disclosure is to medical personnel qualified to treat infectious or contagious diseases. Any information disclosed pursuant to this paragraph shall be disclosed only to the extent necessary to protect the health or life of a named party; or
(5) if the information to be disclosed is required in a court proceeding involving child abuse and the information is disclosed in camera.
History: L. 1901, ch. 285, § 2; R.S. 1923, 65-118; L. 1953, ch. 283, § 1; L. 1976, ch. 262, § 1; L. 1979, ch. 189, § 1; L. 1998, ch. 35, § 1; L. 2000, ch. 162, § 17; L. 2013, ch. 59, § 2; July 1.
Revisor's Note: Apparently there should be a comma following "licensed practical nurse" and preceding "administration of a hospital" in subsection (a).
65-119. Duties and powers of local health officers; contagious diseases; confidentiality of information; disclosure, when.
(a) Any county or joint board of health or local health officer having knowledge of any infectious or contagious disease, or of a death from such disease, within their jurisdiction, shall immediately exercise and maintain a supervision over such case or cases during their continuance, seeing that all such cases are properly cared for and that the provisions of this act as to isolation, restriction of communication, quarantine and disinfection are duly enforced. The county or joint board of health or local health officer shall communicate without delay all information as to existing conditions to the secretary of health and environment. The local health officer shall confer personally, if practicable, otherwise by letter, with the person in attendance upon the case, as to its future management and control. The county or joint board of health or local health officer is hereby empowered and authorized to prohibit public gatherings when necessary for the control of any and all infectious or contagious disease.
(b) Any disclosure or communication of information relating to infectious or contagious diseases required to be disclosed or communicated under subsection (a) of this section shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed or made public beyond the requirements of subsection (a) of this section or subsection (a) of K.S.A. 65-118, except as otherwise permitted by subsection (c) of K.S.A. 65-118.
History: L. 1901, ch. 285, § 3; R.S. 1923, 65-119; L. 1953, ch. 283, § 2; L. 1974, ch. 352, § 8; L. 1976, ch. 262, § 2; L. 1979, ch. 189, § 2; July 1.
65-122. Schools and child care facilities; non-admissions and exclusions; readmissions, when.
No person afflicted with an infectious or contagious disease dangerous to the public health shall be admitted into any public, parochial or private school or licensed child care facility. It shall be the duty of the parent or guardian, and the principal or other person in charge of any public, parochial, private school or licensed child care facility to exclude therefrom any child or other person affected with a disease suspected of being infectious or contagious until the expiration of the prescribed period of isolation or quarantine for the particular infectious or contagious disease. If the attending person licensed to practice medicine and surgery or local health officer finds upon examination that the person affected with a disease, suspected of being infectious or contagious is not suffering from an infectious or contagious disease, he or she may submit a certificate to this effect to the person in charge of the public, parochial, private school or licensed child care facility and such person shall be readmitted to school or to the child care facility.
History: L. 1901, ch. 285, § 6; R.S. 1923, 65-122; L. 1953, ch. 283, § 3; L. 1976, ch. 262, § 3; July 1.
Funeral services for individuals who have died while suffering from an infectious or contagious disease shall be conducted in accordance with rules and regulations of the secretary of health and environment. In diseases requiring quarantine of contacts, a public funeral service may be permitted only if the casket remains closed and those contacts subject to quarantine who attend the funeral are adequately segregated from the public.
History: L. 1901, ch. 285, § 7; R.S. 1923, 65-123; L. 1953, ch. 283, § 4; L. 1974, ch. 352, § 9; L. 1976, ch. 262, § 4; July 1
65-126. Quarantine of city, township or county.
Whenever the county or joint board of health or the local health officer neglects to properly isolate and quarantine infectious or contagious diseases and persons afflicted with or exposed to such diseases as may be necessary to prevent the spread thereof, the secretary of health and environment may quarantine any area in which any of these diseases may show a tendency to become epidemic.
History: L. 1901, ch. 285, § 10; R.S. 1923, 65-126; L. 1953, ch. 283, § 5; L. 1974, ch. 352, § 10; L. 1976, ch. 262, § 5; July 1.
Any person found guilty of violating any of the provisions of K.S.A. 65-118, 65-119, 65-122, 65-123 and 65-126, and any amendments thereto, or failing to comply with any requirements thereof shall be fined, upon conviction, not less than twenty-five dollars ($25) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100) for each offense.
History: L. 1901, ch. 285, § 11; R.S. 1923, 65-127; L. 1976, ch. 262, § 6; July 1.
65-129. Penalties for unlawful acts.
Any person violating, refusing or neglecting to obey any of the rules and regulations adopted by the secretary of health and environment for the prevention, suppression and control of infectious or contagious diseases, or who leaves any isolation area of a hospital or other quarantined area without the consent of the local health officer having jurisdiction, or who evades or breaks quarantine or knowingly conceals a case of infectious or contagious disease shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor.
History: L. 1917, ch. 205, § 2; R.S. 1923, 65-129; L. 1974, ch. 352, § 12; L. 1976, ch. 262, § 8; July 1.
65-129b. Infections or contagious diseases; authority of local health officer or secretary; evaluation or treatment orders, isolation or quarantine orders; enforcement.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of K.S.A. 65-119, 65-122, 65-123, 65-126 and 65-128, and amendments thereto, and any rules or regulations adopted thereunder, in investigating actual or potential exposures to an infectious or contagious disease that is potentially life-threatening, the local health officer or the secretary:
(1) (A) May issue an order requiring an individual who the local health officer or the secretary has reason to believe has been exposed to an infectious or contagious disease to seek appropriate and necessary evaluation and treatment;
(B) when the local health officer or the secretary determines that it is medically necessary and reasonable to prevent or reduce the spread of the disease or outbreak believed to have been caused by the exposure to an infectious or contagious disease, may order an individual or group of individuals to go to and remain in places of isolation or quarantine until the local health officer or the secretary determines that the individual no longer poses a substantial risk of transmitting the disease or condition to the public;
(C) if a competent individual of 18 years of age or older or an emancipated minor refuses vaccination, medical examination, treatment or testing under this section, may require the individual to go to and remain in a place of isolation or quarantine until the local health officer or the secretary determines that the individual no longer poses a substantial risk of transmitting the disease or condition to the public; and
(D) if, on behalf of a minor child or ward, a parent or guardian refuses vaccination, medical examination, treatment or testing under this section, may require the minor child or ward to go to and remain in a place of isolation or quarantine and must allow the parent or guardian to accompany the minor child or ward until the local health officer or the secretary determines that the minor child or ward no longer poses a substantial risk of transmitting the disease or condition to the public; and
(2) may order any sheriff, deputy sheriff or other law enforcement officer of the state or any subdivision to assist in the execution or enforcement of any order issued under this section.
History: L. 2005, ch. 122, § 2; Apr. 21.
65-129c. Same; orders for isolation or quarantine; form and content; notice; hearing in district court; application and effect; procedure; orders for relief; emergency rules of procedure.
(a) If the local health officer or the secretary requires an individual or a group of individuals to go to and remain in places of isolation or quarantine under K.S.A. 65-129b, and amendments thereto, the local health officer or the secretary shall issue an order to the individual or group of individuals.
(b) The order shall specify:
(1) The identity of the individual or group of individuals subject to isolation or quarantine;
(2) the premises subject to isolation or quarantine;
(3) the date and time at which isolation or quarantine commences;
(4) the suspected infectious or contagious disease causing the outbreak or disease, if known;
(5) the basis upon which isolation or quarantine is justified; and
(6) the availability of a hearing to contest the order.
(c) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of subsection (c), the order shall be in writing and given to the individual or group of individuals prior to the individual or group of individuals being required to go to and remain in places of isolation and quarantine.
(2) (A) If the local health officer or the secretary determines that the notice required under paragraph (1) of subsection (c) is impractical because of the number of individuals or geographical areas affected, the local health officer or the secretary shall ensure that the affected individuals are fully informed of the order using the best possible means available.
(B) If the order applies to a group of individuals and it is impractical to provide written individual copies under paragraph (1) of subsection (c), the written order may be posted in a conspicuous place in the isolation or quarantine premises.
(d) (1) An individual or group of individuals isolated or quarantined under this section may request a hearing in district court contesting the isolation or quarantine, as provided in article 15 of chapter 60 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, but the provisions of this section shall apply to any order issued under K.S.A. 65-129a to 65-129d, inclusive, and amendments thereto, notwithstanding any conflicting provisions contained in that article.
(2) A request for a hearing may not stay or enjoin an isolation or quarantine order.
(3) Upon receipt of a request under this subsection (d), the court shall conduct a hearing within 72 hours after receipt of the request.
(4) (A) In any proceedings brought for relief under this subsection (d), the court may extend the time for a hearing upon a showing by the local health officer or the secretary or other designated official that extraordinary circumstances exist that justify the extension.
(B) In granting or denying an extension, the court shall consider the rights of the affected individual, the protection of the public health, the severity of the health emergency and the availability, if necessary, of witnesses and evidence.
(C) (i) The court shall grant the request for relief unless the court determines that the isolation or quarantine order is necessary and reasonable to prevent or reduce the spread of the disease or outbreak believed to have been caused by the exposure to an infectious or contagious disease.
(ii) If feasible, in making a determination under this paragraph (C), the court may consider the means of transmission, the degree of contagion, and, to the extent possible, the degree of public exposure to the disease.
(5) An order of the court authorizing the isolation or quarantine issued under this section shall:
(A) Identify the isolated or quarantined individual or group of individuals by name or shared characteristics;
(B) specify factual findings warranting isolation or quarantine; and
(C) except as provided in paragraph (2) of subsection (c), be in writing and given to the individual or group of individuals.
(6) If the court determines that the notice required in paragraph (C) of subsection (d)(5) is impractical because of the number of individuals or geographical areas affected, the court shall ensure that the affected individuals are fully informed of the order using the best possible means available.
(7) An order of the court authorizing isolation or quarantine shall be effective for a period not to exceed 30 days. The court shall base its decision on the standards provided under this section.
(8) In the event that an individual cannot personally appear before the court, proceedings may be conducted:
(A) By an individual's authorized representative; and
(B) through any means that allows other individuals to fully participate.
(9) In any proceedings brought under this section, the court may order the consolidation of individual claims into group claims where:
(A) The number of individuals involved or affected is so large as to render individual participation impractical;
(B) there are questions of law or fact common to the individual claims or rights to be determined;
(C) the group claims or rights to be determined are typical of the affected individual's claims or rights; and
(D) the entire group will be adequately represented in the consolidation.
(10) The court shall appoint counsel to represent individuals or a group of individuals who are not otherwise represented by counsel.
(11) The supreme court of Kansas may develop emergency rules of procedure to facilitate the efficient adjudication of any proceedings brought under this section.
History: L. 2005, ch. 122, § 3; Apr. 21.
65-129d. Same; unlawful discharge from employment.
It shall be unlawful for any public or private employer to discharge an employee solely because the employee or an immediate family member of the employee is under an order of isolation or quarantine. The violation of this section is punishable as a violation of K.S.A. 65-129, and amendments thereto.
History: L. 2005, ch. 122, § 4; Apr. 21.