SENATE HAPPENINGS
This week, the Senate standing committees continued to hold hearings and bring forward legislation. The Senate will be returning to General Orders where we will see the first committee bills to have a vote from the entire Senate. There was no floor action on bills this week on the Senate floor.
SNAPSHOT OF THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE 2018
The Kansas Senate consists of forty Senators – thirty-one Republicans and nine Democrats with fifteen women and twenty-five men. Fourteen Senators live in cities of 100,000+ population, ten with 20,000 to 100,000, six with 5,000-20,000 and five with 2,000-5000 and five with 0-2000. The Kansas House of Representatives consists of one-hundred twenty-five members with eighty-five Republicans and 40 Democrats with thirty-four women and ninety-one men. Fifty-three Representatives live in cities of 20,000 – 0 population with two living in unincorporated communities.
JEFF COLYER TO BECOME GOVERNOR WEDNESDAY
Governor Sam Brownback will resign this week after being confirmed as U.S. Ambassador to International Religious Freedom this past Wednesday. Brownback’s last day in office will be January 31st and Lt. Governor Colyer will be sworn in as governor at 3 pm the same day. Governor Sam Brownback was formally nominated by President Trump in July.
KANCARE
Last week, legislators heard from hospital representatives, district attorneys, county sheriffs, and leaders from community health centers about the growing mental health crisis in Kansas. A brief background was explained on how both the state and federal governments have cut funding to mental health over the past 60 years. This has resulted in Kansas emergency rooms and local jails being filled with people needing treatment. A few goals were outlined to address this growing issue. One goal was to change Medicaid policy to allow recipients of KanCare who are incarcerated to have their Medicaid eligibility suspended rather than terminated. This would provide a safety net for treatment to people who are continuously arrested and would also help alleviate some costs that the hospitals are absorbing. SB195 addresses this goal and was heard in the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee and is expected to be passed out next week. There were no opponents to changing the policy. Another recommendation was to look at the needs of the state on a regional basis and to begin the creation of regional acute behavior health facilities. Acute care facilities would provide care for patients needing care for less than two weeks. Lastly, it was acknowledged that the state needs a long-term care facility. It was expressed that Osawatomie Hospital is not meeting the long-term and acute care needs of behavior health for patients needing more than two-weeks of care. Advocates hope with more funding and attention to mental health, Kansans can get the care they need to live stable and productive lives.
KANCARE 2.0
Governor Brownback’s administration announced last week that they would halt their plan to move forward with KanCare 2.0. The announcement comes after Senate President Susan Wagle, Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee Chairwoman Vicki Schmidt, and Senate Ways and Means Chairwoman Carolyn McGinn expressed concerns with the implementation of KanCare 2.0 in early January. Governor Brownback and Lt Governor Colyer explained this week that they want to address the concerns raised by legislators in regards to increased costs and the state’s ability to absorb those costs in future budgets. The administration plans to work with the Kansas legislature to determine the best path forward with the program.
INTRODUCING REAL ID
Our Elections, Ethics and Local Government heard an update from representatives of the Department of Revenue, Driver’s License department concerning Real ID. Real ID is a federal law, passed by Congress in 2005 to ensure state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards meet minimum security standards. To get a Real ID before law goes into effect on October 1, 2020, you’ll need to bring certain documentation into the local driver’s license office. Anyone boarding an airplane or entering a federal facility, such as a military base, using a state issued ID or driver’s license on October 1, 2020, will be required to have a credential that is Real ID compliant. To apply for this ID, you will need a valid passport or birth certificate, Proof of social security such as a social security card, current W-2 or 1099, or current pay stub with full SSN, Proof of residency, which can be a utility bill, your vehicle registration, or your current driver’s license. All documents should be un-laminated originals. If your name is not the same on all of your documents because of adoption, marriage, divorce, or any court ordered name change, you must provide proof of the name change such as your marriage license, adoption certificate, or divorce decree. The fees remain the same for Real ID: $26 if you’re renewing and $8 to replace. If your credential expires after the 2020 deadline and you want a Real ID, you can bring your documents in to the office, receive the Real ID, and only pay the $8 replacement charge. Finally, it is worth noting that you have the option to choose between a Real ID or a non-Real ID card. For more details and a checklist that will help make sure you bring everything you need when you go to the driver’s license station, visit ksrevenue.org/realid and you can find your local driver’s license office at https://www.ksrevenue.org/dovstations.html.
‘IF I WERE MAYOR” WINNER ANNOUNCED
On January 24, the League of Kansas Municipalities held their annual Local Government Day event. At this event, six 7th graders received recognition for their participation in the League’s annual “If I Were Mayor” memo contest. The League presented awards to five regional winners from across the state along with the overall winner. The League oversees a statewide competition for all seventh-grade students in public or private school systems. The League, which represents Kansas’ cities, asked students what they would do if given the opportunity to serve as mayor of their town. This year, the students were asked to write a memo concerning a topic and think about policy considerations, resources needed, and barriers to success. This year, over 375 students from across Kansas participated with two students from District #36 recognized – Samantha Clark, Palco Junior/Senior High School and Ariona Miller, Marysville Junior/Senior High School.
FOLLOW THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE
Both the House and Senate have taken historic steps towards the promotion of open government. For the first time, you can view video streaming of both chambers via the Kansas Legislature YouTube page. In addition, many committees are now audio streamed. Finally, the Kansas Legislature website remains a great resource.
Website: http://www.kslegislature.org
YouTube Streaming: http://bit.ly/2CZj9O0
Committee Hearings: http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/View/Calendar/
TOLL-FREE LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE
Kansas residents can access information on legislation, legislative procedure, state government, public policy issues and more by calling 1-800-432-3924. Calls are answered by experienced reference/research librarians at the State Library of Kansas and kept confidential. Lines are open weekdays 8AM-5PM. Callers can also leave brief messages to be delivered to legislators as well as request copies of bills, journals, and other legislative documents. In addition to calling the hotline, residents can also text questions to 785 256-0733, email or instant message at kslib.info/ask. The State Library is located on the 3rd floor, north wing of the Capitol.
VISITORS FROM SENATE DISTRICT #36
The first three weeks of the legislative session was a busy one with people visiting from home for meetings and to celebrate Kansas Day on Friday – 157 years of statehood. The Municipal Judges, Electric Cooperatives members and Title Company representatives from District #36 had their annual meetings and receptions this month. Members of the Joint Law Enforcement community, County Clerks & County Appraisers, and officials from city and county government were in Topeka for Local Government Day. Doctors across the state attended the Kansas Academy of Family Physicians annual legislative day with Dr. Jen Brull from Rooks County serving as Doctor of the Day at the Capitol on Thursday.
Thank you for the honor of serving you!
Senator Elaine Bowers
Kansas State Capitol Building
Room 223-E
300 SW 10th St.
Topeka, KS 66612
[email protected]
785 296-7389 www.kslegislature.org