Kansas House Committee Slaps Down Spanking Bill

JACQUELYN LOI
Staff Writer

In 2007, a California bill that once sparked controversy was a proposal to ban spanking as a form of discipline. According to the New York Times, penalties could vary from taking child-rearing classes to serving a year in prison. Today, California law states that spanking is allowed only if it does not physically injure or impose cruel physical punishment on the child.

However, Kansas House Representative Gail Finney proposed House Bill 2699 (HB 2699), which would permit parents, teachers and caretakers to spank a child hard enough to leave redness, marks or bruising, but prohibits hitting a child on the head or body with fists or a belt.

However, the bill drew an overwhelming number of responses, most of which were in its opposition.

“There are many more effective and better different ways to discipline your child […] You can always […] ground them and take away their privileges for certain things, but I don’t believe spanking is that effective,” freshman Vicky Lam said.

Kansas currently allows spanking that does not leave visible marks, but has never defined corporal punishment, which leaves it up to interpretation by the administrative officials in the executive branch, judicial branch and law enforcement. HB 2699 defines corporal punishment as “up to ten forceful applications in succession of a bare, open-hand palm against the clothed buttocks of a child.” HB 2699 also intends to ease some restrictions on spanking, help prevent child abuse by defining corporal punishment and provide guidance to law enforcement.

Even though HB 2699 will not receive a hearing, Finney intends to reintroduce a similar proposal again at the next legislative session.

“This legislation is intended to provide guidance to state officials in the administrative and judicial branches, serve as a guideline to parents and protect Kansas children from abuse, […] not […] to legalize child abuse in Kansas,” Finney said, according to Time magazine.