by ANDY MARSO

A Kansas House committee unanimously passed a bill Tuesday to allow for tax-free savings accounts for children with disabilities. But even as they sent the bill to the full House, committee members expressed concerns that cost could keep it from coming up for a vote there.

House Bill 2100 would allow the families of Kansas children with disabilities up to age 26 to set aside up to $14,000 a year for them, with up to $100,000 not counting against their Medicaid benefits. The money can be withdrawn tax free to pay uncovered disability expenses, like transportation and housing accommodations.

The measure has widespread support, but Kansas is struggling to balance its budget for the current fiscal year and future years. Members of the House Children and Seniors Committee said they fear that the administrative costs of setting up the accounts, though relatively low, could derail the bill.

“My hope is that it is not a barrier,” said Rep. Susie Swanson, a first-term Republican legislator from Clay Center. “But I’m afraid it will be.” The bill’s price tag is complicated because Congress first allowed states to set up the disability savings accounts in December, and no states have done so yet.

The state treasurer’s office originally estimated that it would need $50,000 in fiscal 2017 as a one-time administrative cost, but committee members discovered Tuesday that the fiscal estimate might shift because it’s based on that administrative cost being taken over by a third-party financial firm, and finding such a firm could take longer than anticipated.

“The hope is that those expenses in the future would be borne by the contractor that we’d hire,” said Scott Gates of the treasurer’s office, “and they would pay for that through fees they’d charge the account holder.”

There’s also some uncertainty about the ongoing impact to the state’s tax receipts, because those who use the accounts would be deferring some income that otherwise would have been taxable.

“We’re not exactly sure what the ongoing long-term fiscal impact is going to be because we’re not sure how many people are going to take advantage of this,” said Rep. Erin Davis, a Republican from Olathe who sponsored the bill. “This is still a fluid process.”

Davis said “all efforts are being made to keep the fiscal note as low as possible,” adding that she hoped cost would not keep the House leadership from scheduling a vote on the bill. But she acknowledged Swanson’s concerns and said the fiscal note could be a factor in whether the bill clears its next hurdle.

Andy Marso is a reporter for Heartland Health Monitor, a news collaboration focusing on health issues and their impact in Missouri and Kansas.

CHRISTINE ARMARIO, Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The gap in bachelor-degree attainment between the nation’s richest and poorest students by age 24 has doubled during the last four decades.

A study released Tuesday by two education organizations finds that the percent of students from the lowest-income families earning a bachelor’s degree has inched up just 3 points since 1970, rising from 6 to 9 percent by 2013.

Meanwhile, college completion for students from the wealthiest families has risen dramatically, climbing from 44 to 77 percent.

The report comes amid renewed debate on college affordability spurred by President Barack Obama’s proposal to make two years of college free. If adopted in every state, the proposal would benefit a projected 9 million students each year. It would cost taxpayers an estimated $60 billion over 10 years.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Lawrence police officers will soon be able to call two dogs their partners in fighting crime.

The City Commission approved funds to create the new K-9 unit on Tuesday night. The money will be used to purchase the animals and equip vehicles for them, along with paying for veterinarian bills and food.

A police officer says Lawrence is one of 10 largest cities in Kansas that doesn’t have its own canine unit. He says the department has depended on requesting dogs from neighboring law enforcement agencies when needed.

The city’s police chief says the department will interview officers to select who will serve as the dogs’ handlers.

The Lawrence Journal-World (https://bit.ly/1C0iXoz ) reports officers will purchase the dogs from a Texas breeder used by the Kansas Highway Patrol’s Police Service Dog Unit.

WICHITA – A Reno County man was indicted Tuesday on federal charges, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said in a media release.

Justin John Michael Cook, 32, Hutchinson, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction, and one count of unlawful possession of ammunition after a felony conviction. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Dec. 17, 2014, in Sterling, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The Sterling Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting.

MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The white potato has been ostracized by health officials for several years — but no more. It’s now back in favor.

The Institute of Medicine says people aren’t getting enough starchy vegetables or potassium and fiber, nutrients that are plentiful in potatoes.

In a new report released Tuesday, the agency reversed itself and said white potatoes should be eligible for subsidized vouchers under the government’s Women, Infants and Children program. The program gives needy pregnant women and mothers government-subsidized food vouchers to ensure good nutrition for their families.

The Institute of Medicine recommendations are used by the Agriculture Department in setting its list of foods eligible for the program.

Congress voted to make white potatoes eligible for the WIC program late last year.

JOHN HANNA, AP Political Writer

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — New figures from the Kansas Legislature’s research staff show that the shortfall in the current state budget wouldn’t fully be covered under a plan being advanced by lawmakers.

Legislative researchers reported Tuesday that tax collections from July 2014 through January were almost $66 million short of expectations.

The report came after the Kansas House gave first-round approval to a bill aimed at eliminating a projected $344 million shortfall in the current budget.

Legislative researchers had estimated the plan would leave the state with cash reserves of almost $65 million on June 30, but that was calculated before the final report on tax collections.

Factoring in the new tax collection numbers, the bill would leave the state with an $800,000 deficit.

LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal health officials are facing questioning about why this year’s flu vaccine isn’t giving good protection against the winter menace.

This is a particularly bad flu season, and one reason is that the most common flu strain isn’t a good match to this year’s vaccine. Lawmakers on Tuesday asked why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention didn’t act months ago when concerns first arose to create a better-matched vaccine.

CDC immunization chief Dr. Anne Schuchat says it wasn’t possible to change course. While CDC first noticed a slight change in that strain last March, by the time the shift had become common in September, it was too late.

At the same, lawmakers urged that kids be vaccinated against measles amid an outbreak that has sickened more than 100.

HASTINGS, Neb. (AP) — A company building a wind farm near a National Weather Service radar site in Nebraska has agreed to shut down the windmills during severe weather when forecasters ask.

The weather service says wind farms can look like rain or thunderstorms on weather radar.

The weather service announced the agreement with NextEra Energy Resources on Tuesday. The pact applies to a planned wind farm of up to 66 turbines south of Blue Hill.

Under the agreement, NextEra will shut down its turbines for up to an hour at a time anytime forecasters ask between March 21 and September 21.