Looking back at the legislative session

This year’s legislature has been quite productive and the gridlock that characterized last session has been replaced by two chambers that are able to work together to form policy that will create jobs and improve the economy. Recently, Kansas earned an “A” rating from the Kauffman Foundation for being friendly to the small businesses that create a majority of Kansas jobs. The grade was higher than last year’s rating for Kansas, and higher than the “C” grade Missouri earned. Kansas’ high grade was attributed to how easy it is to start a business, especially considering the state regulatory systems. The survey named the state the 7th easiest in the nation in which to start a business. This is encouraging news, that combined with a low tax burden will bring more businesses and jobs to Kansas.

Budget and Tax Plans

Budget and tax negotiations with the Senate will continue after legislators return to Topeka on May 8. By then, House and Senate budget negotiators will have April revenue numbers as well as consensus revenue estimates through November 2013. This will enable them to make budget decisions based on the most recent tax collections. The budget and tax conference committee members will come to an agreement, and bring that back to the full House and Senate for votes by both chambers. The full House will have an opportunity to vote whether to adopt the budget and tax committee reports. The goal of the House budget is to increase accountability and efficiency. It uses resourceful methods to find savings across the entirety of the state budget. The House budget freezes the total amount of money allocated for state employee salaries, eliminating funds for unfilled state employee positions that were continually financed by taxpayers but used in other areas without accountability or oversight from the agency.

Marketplace Freedom

The House and Senate approved House Bill 2069 that prohibits local governments from requiring private businesses contracted to complete tax payer funded projects to pay certain wages or benefits to their workers. This prevents artificial interference and allows the markets, not government, to keep the cost of taxpayer funded projects low. This legislation did not change any contracts between private companies and only applies to contracts funded with taxpayer dollars.

Restraint of Trade

The legislature worked this session to clarify that nothing in the Kansas Restraint of Trade Act can be interpreted to restrain trade or commerce, or contravene public welfare. This bill comes a year after the Kansas Supreme Court made a ruling that was contrary to the intent of the original Kansas Restraint of Trade Act, creating a situation of uncertainty with many Kansas businesses regarding their contracts, agreements and arrangements. Senate Bill 124 clarifies the law, reinforcing Kansas specific application of the federal antitrust laws. The details of this legislation were very technical and many parties were involved in finding a compromise that will work for all Kansas industries and businesses. The legislature’s work ensures that the regulatory system in Kansas is coherent and consistent and encourages a stable business environment while not being overly burdensome.

Judicial Selection

The current system of selecting state judges leaves the vast majority of Kansans out of the process and which is not democratic. A board made up of nine members—five of whom are placed there by the Kansas Bar Association—interview candidates for the appeals court system in secret. The result of those closed meetings is three candidates, sent to the governor for appointment. Until the change this year, the Court of Appeals selection commission was not accountable to the people of Kansas. Furthermore, members of the Bar Association say they often have no idea who they vote for to join the commission. This session the governor signed into law a bill that will change the way appellate court judges are picked in Kansas. The new law would make the Governor the appointing authority for appeals court judges, subject to confirmation by the Senate, similar to the federal model. This system is democratic. Everyone involved in the process is accountable to the people of Kansas through election. This is a statutory change, unlike a constitutional change needed to change process of selecting judges on the Kansas Supreme Court.

Protecting Women

Kansas law now has no statute of limitations on felony rape charges or aggravated criminal sodomy. Governor Brownback signed the bill into law earlier this session, joining 19 other states without an expiration date by which rape charges can be filed. The previous statute of limitations in Kansas was five years. It’s important for offenders to be prosecuted for aggravated crimes even if time has passed since the incident. This bill is especially important because advances in DNA technology make it possible to find an assailant years later. It can also take years for a victim to have the emotional strength to go through a trial and face her attacker. Another separate bill imposes tougher penalties for human traffickers and individuals for having sex with a child. The bill puts in place new intervention and support services to help all victims of human trafficking. The bill also provides training for law enforcement and social services professionals throughout Kansas on the subject of human trafficking.

The Hays Police Department conducted 53 traffic stops and received 20 animal calls between Friday morning and Sunday evening, according to the Police Activity Log.

Theft: The Hays Police Department investigated five thefts between Friday evening and Saturday evening. The first theft was reported Friday at 5:24 in the 1500 block of US 183 Alternate Highway. The second theft was reported in the 100 block of East 15th Street at 6:56 p.m. Friday. Officers investigated a report of theft in connection with a fraud report in the 2700 block of Epworth Street Friday night at 8:01. Officers responded to a civil dispute in the 2700 block of Vine Street Saturday morning at 6:51 and investigated a theft in connection with the dispute. The final theft was reported Saturday evening at 5:34 in the 4300 block of Vine Street. Officers also investigated drug offenses in connection with the theft.

Burglary: The Hays PD received five vehicle burglary reports over the weekend. The first two were reported in the 700 block of West 12th Street at 3:01 a.m. Both of them were in connection with a report of criminal damage to property. The third burglary of a vehicle was reported in the 1100 block of East 13th Street Friday morning. The burglary occurred between Thursday morning at 10:00 and 10:00 a.m. Friday. A fourth vehicle burglary was reported in the 200 block of East 15th Street Saturday morning between 12:00 and 4:00. The last vehicle burglary was reported in the 200 block of East 16th Street Saturday morning. The alleged burglary occurred between 9:00 Friday night and 9:00 a.m. Saturday.

Drug Offenses: Officers conducted four drug offenses investigations over the weekend. The first drug offense was reported in the 100 block of West 7th Street Friday morning at 1:45. The second drug offense was in connection with a disturbance report in the 1700 block of Vine Street Friday evening at 5:39. A third drug offense was investigated in the 400 block of Main Street Sunday night at 11:14. Officers also investigated another drug offense in connection with a theft report Saturday evening.

Driving Under the Influence: The Hays Police Department conducted three driving under the influence stops over the weekend. The first was Friday morning at 1:47 in at 8th and Main Street. The second was in the 700 block of East 6th Street at 1:58 Friday morning. The third DUI stop was conducted in the 200 block of West 8th Street Saturday morning at 1:57.

Criminal Damage to Property: Police Officers investigated seven criminal damage reports over the weekend. The first was reported in the 2300 block of Plum Street and occurred between Friday evening at 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. Saturday. The second report of criminal damage to property was reported at 19th and Longfellow Road and occurred between 10:00 p.m. on Saturday and 8:00 Sunday morning. A third report of criminal damage to property was reported in the 1900 block of Longfellow Road Saturday night and 10:00 and Sunday at 8:00 a.m. Sunday the Hays Police Department investigate a report of damage to property in the 1000 block of Highway 40 Bypass at 3:46 Sunday afternoon. The final criminal damage to property was reported in the 700 block of West 12th Street Sunday morning between 2:00 and 2:30.

Civil Dispute: Officers responded to one civil dispute on Friday and one on Sunday. The first was in connection with the report of criminal trespass in the 1400 block of Oak Street Friday evening at 5:20. The second civil dispute was reported in the 1000 block of Reservation Road at 10:13 Sunday evening.

Criminal Threat: Police Officers responded to the report of a criminal threat in the 2200 block of Virginia Drive Friday evening at 6:27. There was also a report of disorderly conduct in connection with the criminal threat.

Disturbance: The Hays Police Department received 13 disturbance reports over the weekend. Officers responded to a domestic disturbance in the 2300 block of Vine Street Sunday morning between 3:00 and 3:05. Eight of the disturbance was reported were for noise. Officers also responded to a fight in the 700 block of West 12th Street between 2:20 and 2:25 a.m. A disorderly conduct report was in connection with this disturbance report.

Motor Vehicle Accident: Hays Police Officers responded to eight motor vehicle accidents over the weekend. One accident was reported as a personal injury accident in the 3100 block of East 27th Street at 8:53 p.m. on Friday. Two of the accidents were hit and run accidents. The first hit and run was reported in the 3800 block of Vine Street at 11:00 p.m. on Saturday. The second hit and run accident was reported in the 500 block of Vine Street Sunday morning at 3:08.

Several Ellis County residents were at today’s Boston Marathon when the explosions occurred. Doug Williams and Scott Manhart of Hays and Marian Lindberg of Ellis

7:30 p.m. “Here is an update: first of all we are all ok! Thank god my husband is fast, ran it in 3hours 19 min 20 sec. Yay Scott! When we finally found him, we headed over to the big mall 2 blocks away at the prudential center. Had to feed is and especially Scott. We were at the food court and heard the first explosion and felt it then the second one on which caused a mass exiting of the mall and me and my son and Scott got trampled a bit. Lost Jordyn, my mother and Scott’s parents but were reunited after about 10 min. The police were moving us and thousands of other people down the street. Reminded me of 9-11. When u are from the great state of Kansas u sure do appreciate the flat lands and not too many tall buildings! We were finally able to wander around the great, and I mean great city of Boston, trying to find a way to get the hell out! We are currently safe, out of the downtown, and at the hotel.”

Doug Williams confirmed to Eagle News this evening that although their motel had been evacuated, they are back in the motel and hope to be able to fly out of  Boston on Tuesday.

Stay tuned to Eagle Radio and check Hays Post for additional details as they become available.

The 7th Annual Edible Books Festival at the Hays Public Library on Saturday was a grand success, with 7 youth entries and 4 adult entries. Photos of the winners and their entries are below. Click on the photos for a closer look.

Winners were…

Adult – Eye Candy: Leisha Sadler and Hailey Mandeville, Lord of the Flies
(lemon pudding cake and chocolate pudding cake, cream cheese frosting)

Adult – Taster’s Choice: Nicole Thibodeau, The Bean Trees
(black beans, brownies, frosting)

Youth – Eye Candy: Chasey Wasinger (age 7), I Spy
(cake, frosting, candy)

Youth – Taster’s Choice: Meredith Martin (age 16), Catching Fire
(cake, frosting)

A big thank you to judges Kris Kuksi and Beau Dealy, who had their work cut out for them with all of the outstanding talent shown. Winners each took home a cookbook and measuring beaker.

Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) Trooper and Public Relations Officer (PRO) Tod Hileman, Troop D – Hays, is a 2013 recipient of Kansas’ “People Saving People” award.
The award was presented to Hileman last week during the annual Traffic Safety Conference, which was held in Wichita.
Sponsored by the Kansas Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration, the “People Saving People” award was presented to Trooper Hileman for his dedication to the cause of teen driving safety – for his personal establishment of the peer-to-peer SAFE (Seatbelts Are For Everyone) program in 11 high schools across Northwest Kansas.
SAFE is an student-driven cooperative effort of students, educators, law enforcement and community leaders to increase teen seatbelt use through positive rewards and enforcement. It is designed to bring awareness to the importance of wearing a seatbelt and therefore reducing the number of motor vehicle related injuries and fatalities among Kansas high school students. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for individuals between the ages of 15-17. In 2009, only 61% of Kansas teens aged 15–17 were wearing their seatbelt. Seventy- six percent of teens aged 14–19 that were killed in 2009 were not wearing their seatbelt
The SAFE program began in Crawford County during the 2008–2009 school year. It has grown steadily with 40 participating Kansas counties and 100 high schools across the state.
Three years ago, Trooper Hileman assisted in implementing the SAFE program in six schools in three western Kansas counties. In 2012, he aided and supported the six original schools and helped three more start their own SAFE programs. In 2013 he has helped establish three additional SAFE programs. In total, he has been involved in helping start 11 of the 102 SAFE programs in Kansas. The six counties in northwest Kansas that participated in the SAFE program in 2012 experienced an average of 14% increase in teen seatbelt usage and their compliance rates were 5.7% higher than the state teen average.
Trooper Hileman uses his personal time to help secure funds that supports each SAFE program. After each program is established, he routinely visits the schools to provide education and support.
Tod has been a trooper with the KHP for 15 years. He and his family live in Hays.