Week 12 activities in the Kansas Legislature

Thursday I enjoyed having four young people from Linn County serve as Pages for me. They were Natalie Black from Jayhawk Linn and Morgan Conrad, Aaron Loggins and Dillon Roberts from Pleasanton High School. On Friday I had the honor of leading the Pledge of Allegiance for the Kansas House of Representatives opening session.

First Adjournment

We came to an "abrupt" first adjournment late Friday night. That means the Legislature will break for approximately a month. The whole Legislature will reconvene on April 30, 2008, for the "Wrap Up" and/or Veto Session. This is the time when the State Budget comes together called Omnibus. Many important budget items have been referred to Omnibus this year waiting on Consensus Revenue Estimating Group to lay out the financial condition of the state.

Energy Bill Update

The question of whether to allow two coal-fired plants in Holcomb has dominated the entire 2008 legislative session. It was the topic we started the session with and now it appears that it will be the topic we conclude with. In a test for override votes in the Kansas House, a new greener Coal Bill was voted on in the Kansas House on Friday. House Substitute for SB 148 provided for a first in Kansas, by creating energy efficiency standards and establishing some renewable portfolio standards for public utilities. This bill was approved on a vote of 83 "yes" to 41 "no" votes. It would take 84 votes to override a Governor's Veto. The "political drama" was tense and continues for the energy issue. Veto Session will be very interesting!!!

KPERS/State Employee

Pay Plan

With the non-approval by the Kansas House of a 3 percent COLA to be paid from gaming revenue for KPERS Retirees, this issue will be taken up in the Wrap-Up Session. The State Employee Pay Plan will also be delayed until the Wrap-Up Session in terms of approved funding.

Resolutions

Resolutions are used to express a formal determination or sentiment of one or both chambers on a particular matter. Resolutions approved this week:

* A resolution encouraging the State Board of Education to collaborate with institutions of higher education to review alternative teacher certification programs

* A resolution requesting the State Board of Education to study reading problems, including dyslexia

* A resolution urging Congress to amend the Flood Control Act of 1944, relating to Kansas reservoirs

* A resolution urging the United States to withdraw from the Security & Prosperity Partnership of North America (NAFTA highway)

The Senate also submitted another resolution, requesting the creation of a task force to study an electronic motor vehicle financial security verification system.

Health Insurance Mandates

Another important issue debated this week was whether the law should contain mandates for health insurance coverage. House Substitute for HB 2601 was amended to require insurance companies to cover colonoscopy screenings for colorectal cancer, but an amendment to require coverage of hearing aids failed.

Fourth Year School Finance

The House approved a bill this week that increases state funding for public schools by $37.2 million in the 2009-2010 school year. It adds a fourth year to the school finance plan originally passed in 2006. The legislation was debated at length and explored differing needs between rural, suburban and urban school districts. Under the House plan, base state aid per pupil will increase to $4,492 beginning in the 2009-2010 school year. This increases the current rate by $59. On the House side, legislators proposed several amendments to the bill with an intent to modify the formula for determining how much money each district receives. The education debate was one of the most important debates we engaged in during the 2008 session. I am confident the legislation we approved will keep our promise of a quality education for all Kansas schoolchildren, regardless of what public school they attend.

Deferred Taxes for

New Homes

The House gave approval this week to House Substitute for House Bill 2543, which would allow homebuilders to delay paying property taxes on unsold homes for as long as two years. With the real estate market down, many new homes are sitting unsold for extended periods of time. Though homebuilders would get a break, Kansans who purchase those homes may not get the one-year break they would enjoy as a new homeowner under current law. Under the House bill, new homeowners would pay a pro-rated tax on their property during the year they move in. The measure now moves to the Senate.

Amusement Rides

The House passed a bill, House Bill 2616, creating inspection rules for amusement rides. Currently, Kansas is one of only a few states that have no statewide regulations for rides. The Senate has not yet considered the measure. The bill requires inspection and certification by qualified inspectors and oversight by the Department of Labor. The bill does not require state inspection, however, as that would make the state liable for injuries on the ride.

Gun Sales

House Substitute for Senate Bill 46 started out last year as a bill to create a crime of defacing identification marks on a firearm. It was passed 40-0 by the Senate in February. This week, the bill was amended by the House Fed. And State Affairs Committee and provisions added that would allow persons who are in compliance with the National Firearms Act to possess silencers for firearms, shotguns with barrels less than 18 inches long, and automatic weapons. The amendment added the contents of House Bill 2819. The bill would allow a licensed dealer, manufacturer, or importer to deal in these types of firearms in Kansas and for any person to possess such firearms as long as they comply with federal restrictions. The underlying bill would amend current law to increase the penalty for the crime of defacing identification marks of a firearm from a class B nonperson misdemeanor to a severity level 10, nonperson felony. Under current Kansas law, it is illegal to possess silencers for firearms; to sell, manufacture, purchase, or carry shotguns with barrels that are less than 18 inches; and to sell, manufacture, purchase or carry any automatic firearm.

Keep in Touch

I will be home until April 29th. Please feel free to contact me at home (620-223-4105) with your comments and or questions. I enjoy hearing from you.