Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council underway to review Gov. Kelly's order limiting religious gatherings to 10 or fewer people. #ksleg
Earlier today, the Attorney General said the order is likely unconstitutional and advised law enforcement not to enforce it #ksleg
kansas.com/news/coronavir…
kansas.com/news/coronavir…
Ryckman, Wagle and Sawyer are here in person. Everyone else calling in. #ksleg
Right now, legislative leaders are receiving an overview of the order and the Attorney General's memo from staff. #ksleg
Wagle calls order "out of line and extreme" and blatant violation of fundamental right. She's now questioning Clay Britton, Kelly's chief counsel. #ksleg
Britton: "There is a compelling need to act" and the compelling need is to prevent further spread of the virus. #ksleg
Britton says there's a compelling need to act and that the order is narrowly tailored #ksleg
Britton argues the government has a rational basis to impose the restriction and that the order can meet the higher strict scrutiny standard. #ksleg
"This just puts churches on the same footing" as secular groups that want to meet, Britton says #ksleg
Britton says order actually gives churches more freedom that secular groups because priests/choir/etc are exempt from 10-person limit #ksleg
Ryckman says other things such as bars/restaurants/libraries appear to have more freedom #ksleg
Britton says those things are exempt to a degree because they relate to essential function #ksleg
How it looks in the room. Britton on left, Ryckman center, Wagle right #ksleg 
Britton: This is very different than going into a restaurant to pick up dinner and then going home. #ksleg
Ryckman's line of questioning trying to get at why if people performing the service are exempt from 10-person limit, then why parishioners can't be exempt too
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Britton confirms violation is class A misdemeanor, but says law enforcement has discretion. #ksleg
Sawyer now asking about effects if order is repealed. Britton says there would be confusion, suggests if order is revoked there will be no mass gathering ban in Kansas. But Ryckman says Kelly could re-issue order. #ksleg
Wagle: "we all swore an oath" to state constitution, then reads from constitution. Says she's received outpouring of concern from people of faith. #ksleg
Wagle: "I think this is a tremendous violation of our oath" #ksleg
Denning asking about the 11 clusters -- where the church outbreaks are and if the others are centered in any other industry #ksleg
KDHE Secretary Lee Norman says there are 12 clusters, 3 from churches. #ksleg
Hensley says two of his constituents have died from the virus. He says both had attended a church gathering in Wyandotte County. #ksleg
Norman says there are now over 1,000 cases and 38 deaths. He says there are many cases that have gone undiagnosed. #ksleg
Norman: It was my recommendation there is no gathering protected from infectivity #ksleg
Wagle asks why abortion clinics aren't closed. Norman says he doesn't know, but says they aren't gathering in numbers that would violate the rule. Wagle disputes that. #ksleg
Norman says one of the church-related clusters is in Sedgwick County. #ksleg
Norman says Kansas's model predicts peak hospital use on April 19, with 466 beds used for virus patients. #ksleg
Will Lawrence, Kelly's chief of staff, now speaking. Speaking about abortion, he says Kelly has waived some telemedicine restrictions, but was careful not to violate law regarding telemedicine abortion. #ksleg
Wagle says that while Kelly has exempted abortion services, elective procedures across the state have been cancelled. #ksleg
Moving into discussion phase. Hawkins says constitution still exists during emergencies, says religious services being singled out. #ksleg
Hawkins says he won't support order. Motions to revoke order. #ksleg
Wagle seconds. Requires 5 votes to pass. Debatable. #ksleg
Finch urging social distancing, but says they need to uphold constitution. #ksleg
Finch encouraging Kelly to withdraw the order. #ksleg
Sawyer: this allows religious freedom, doesn't close churches. Notes most states have restrictions at the same level or more restrictive measures. #ksleg
Sawyer says Kansas closed churches during 1918 flu #ksleg
Hensley concurs with Sawyer. Says AG Schmidt's memo doesn't have effect of law, but Kelly's order does. #ksleg
Hensley: "it's a real shame we have reached this point" #ksleg
Ryckman says one of the concerning thing for him is state isn't treating secular establishments the same. #ksleg
BREAKING: Kansas Republican leaders revoke Gov. Laura Kelly's executive order limiting church gatherings to 10 people. #ksleg
STORY... more to come #ksleg kansas.com/news/politics-…
