The Republican leading the Kansas Senate health committee is urging fellow lawmakers to condemn Governor Laura Kelly’s decision to make state prison inmates eligible for COVID-19 vaccines now ahead of other people.

Sen. Richard Hilderbrand of Galena unveiled a resolution Tuesday that calls on Kelly to reverse her policy on inoculating inmates. Kelly disclosed plans in December to have prison inmates inoculated during the second phase of the vaccine distribution, along with people 65 and older, workers critical to the economy, and people in group living situations. The state launched that second phase of vaccine distribution last month, covering up to 1 million of the state's 2.9 million residents.

Kelly says the policy protects prison workers and others.