Topeka ? Prompted by protests at military funerals by the Rev. Fred Phelps’ anti-gay church, a senator introduced a bill Monday setting specific distances and times where people can demonstrate.

“People have the right to bury their family members in peace,” said Sen. Jean Schodorf. “I find it repugnant that anybody would protest the funeral of a soldier.”

Schodorf, R-Wichita, said Kansas already has a law banning demonstrations at funerals, but the language is so vague that it’s hard to enforce.

“I wanted to make it clear what the law would be,” said Schodorf, whose bill was filed with 31 co-sponsors in a chamber where it takes 21 vote to pass a bill.

Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt said he expects the measure to breeze through the Senate.

“What’s got the people’s attention was picketing at military funerals. It’s just wrong,” said Schmidt, R-Independence.

Phelps contends U.S. soldiers are being killed in Iraq as vengeance from God for protecting a country that harbors homosexuals. His Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka isn’t affiliated with a larger denomination and is made up mostly of Phelps’ family members.

Phelps announced Monday that his church would protest the funerals of two West Virginia coal miners killed in a fire earlier this week. His followers also protested the memorial service for 12 miners who died earlier this month.

Schodorf’s proposal restricts any protests or demonstrations from being closer than 300 feet from where any funeral or memorial service is conducted, and they can’t be there within one hour prior to or during the service and two hours after the start of the service.

While prompted by Phelps and members of his church, Schodorf said it isn’t directed at that group.

“This would pertain to anybody, but yes, there were two funerals in Wichita picketed by the Phelps family,” she said.

Schodorf said members of a motorcycle-riding veterans group, Patriot Guard, were at the services to shield the families from picketing by church members. Patriot Guard members also have shown up at other funerals where church members protested.

As for whether the bill violates freedom of speech, Schodorf said, “The people can protest past that point, but we feel the family should be able to bury their dead in peace.”

Similar legislation is being considered by lawmakers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Nebraska after protests by Phelps followers at military funerals.