Rep. Jan Pauls
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A House bill under discussion would deny resettlement of refugees in Kansas communities that lack a sufficient amount of services or local law enforcement.
Under the measure, the governor and local governments would determine whether a community has the resources to accommodate the arrival of refugees. A community also could request a moratorium on resettlement if it is unable to provide services to the incoming population.
Christopher Holton, a lobbyist from Outreach Center for Security Policy, was one of two people who spoke in favor of the bill Wednesday before the House Federal and State Affairs Committee.
Kansas is one of 17 states that announced they would not be accepting Syrian refugees after attacks in Paris last November.
Committee Chairman Jan Paul says the hearing will continue on Thursday.