Bill process, water policy, military funerals, school tax holiday

The House worked the first two bills of the session. A bill is introduced, assigned to a committee where it will have a hearing to receive public testimony, if the committee chairman chooses. Any person or group may testify in person or with testimony in favor or against and suggest changes to the proposed legislation. After the hearing, the committee chair has the option to "work the bill."

At this time committee members may make amendments and modify the existing bill. If the bill is passed out of committee, it then goes to the Majority Leader who will decide when, or if, the bill will be heard on the House floor and debated. Once a bill has been designated to be worked by the Committee of the Whole (on the House floor), all House members have an opportunity to try and amend the bill with a majority vote. If the bill passes the Committee of the Whole, it is put on the agenda for the next day for the final vote. That vote is recorded in the journal as the public record. If you ever wish to testify or send written testimony to any committee hearing, you may contact me or the committee chair.

This week, the committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources took the first step in reversing a decades-old policy on water rights, commonly referred to as "use it or lose it." This controversial policy forced those with water recourses to use their cap without the possibility of carrying over their credits from year to year. It makes little sense for farmers to use water they don't need just so they don't lose out on it in the next year. The phrase "use it or lose it" might better be said "waste it" so you are given permission to use more.

I have talked about the same problems with the budget process, "the use it or lose it." It promotes wasteful spending. I am currently combing through state expenditures to find specific examples of this problem. If you know of any examples, please contact me.

The House Judiciary Committee is considering HB 2406, which would prohibit the injury, intimidation, interference, or harassment of any member of the military or immediate family with a cause of civil action being the punishment.

This bill is another attempt to provide protection for Kansas military families during the most difficult times in their lives. It is disheartening that we need a law to protect our military in such a manner, but protesting funerals crosses the line. The bill is controversial because of the First Amendment, freedom of speech.

The House Tax Committee held hearings on a bill to create a sales tax holiday in August before school starts. The tax holiday would rival a similar tax holiday currently in effect in Missouri. The tax holiday would apply to any article of clothing having a taxable value of $300 or less; all back-to-school supplies not to exceed $100 per purchase; all computer software with a taxable value of $300 or less; and all personal computers or computer peripheral devices not to exceed $2,000.

This week, the Brownback administration filed with the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for a two-track waiver to allow Kansas to begin its Medicaid reforms. The governor has asked for waiver authority to move people on Medicaid populations into a person-centered integrated care system, also known as managed care (Kan-Care), to cover all services through this model and to create and support alternatives to traditional Medicaid, including programs to aid the transition to private insurance, particularly among disabled Kansans. Since these changes are being made through the administration, the contact if you have any additional questions or comments is Mark Dugan in the Lt. Governor's office: mark.dugan@ks.gov or (785) 296-2214. You may also contact me and I will forward your question or comment.

Editor's Note: Rep. Caryn Tyson, R-Parker, can be reached at (785) 296-6838 (office), (913) 898-2366 (home), or email, Caryn.Tyson@house.ks.gov.