The University of Kansas Health System, state psychiatric hospitals and nursing homes will not be required to uphold the state's concealed carry gun law after a bill was passed June 15 without Republican Gov. Sam Brownback's signature, the Kansas City Business Journal reported.
"It's a great day for us in the health care business," Bob Page, CEO of Kansas City-based KU Health System, said in a video statement, according to the report. "It allows us to continue doing what we've been doing, which is to keep weapons out of our organizations, and it will allow us to have the same playing field as all of the community hospitals that are not public facilities."
The new law exempts the health system and other public entities from a 2013 law that would permit lawful gun owners to bring firearms into public buildings, including university campuses and public hospitals.
Entities that wanted to keep guns out of their premises would have had to introduce heightened security measures, such as armed security guards and metal detectors. Consulting firm Work Dynamics estimated the costs of beefing up security would have totaled $32 million for KU Health System.
The bill went to Gov. Brownback's desk June 1 after it passed the Senate in a 24-16 vote and the House in a 91-33 vote. Although he expressed disappointment regarding healthcare representatives' rejection of a proposal he called a "reasonable compromise," he agreed to let the bill become law without his signature.
"Nevertheless, this bill does appropriately address safety concerns at state mental health hospitals," Mr. Brownback said in his statement, according to The Kansas City Star. "As a result, I will permit House Bill 2278 to become law without my signature."