Senate Highlights
The Kansas Senate finished a busy fourth week of session with committee meetings and bills coming forward. The Senate held floor debate on Tuesday and passed out five pieces of legislation.
JEFF COLYER INAUGURATED AS 47TH GOVERNOR OF KANSAS
On Wednesday January 31st, Jeff Colyer was sworn in as the 47th governor of Kansas replacing Sam Brownback. The inauguration of Colyer comes after Governor Brownback resigned from office to become the U.S. Ambassador to International Freedom in the Trump administration. Governor Colyer was accompanied by his wife and two of his daughters when he took the oath of office in a ceremony at the Kansas Statehouse. Governor Colyer is scheduled to address the legislature Wednesday.
Senate Floor Action
UPDATING EFFECTIVE RISK-BASED CAPITAL INSTRUCTIONS DATE – SB 267 changes the effective date specified in the Insurance Code for the risk-based capital (RBC) instructions
MID-TERM APPOINTMENTS OF CREDIT UNION COUNCIL MEMBERS – SB 275 adjusts the provisions relating to the terms of service for members of the Credit Union Council (Council).
AUDITS OF THE KANSAS 911 ACT – SB 255 would modify the Kansas 911 Act by changing the duration between audits of the 911 system from three years to five years.
TRANSFERRING DUTIES FROM JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATOR TO DIRECTOR OF PROPERTY VALUATION – SB 261 revises the law requiring an appraisal prior to the State purchasing or disposing of any real property. The bill transfers the duty to appoint a disinterested appraiser from the Judicial Administrator to the Director of Property Valuation, the head of the Department of Revenue’s Division of Property Valuation.
AUTHORIZATION OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF A STATUE HONORING DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER – SB 262 would authorize the Capitol Preservation Committee to approve plans to place a permanent statue of Dwight D. Eisenhower on the northwest quadrant of Kansas Capitol grounds. The bill also authorizes the Department of Administration to receive moneys from grants, gifts, contributions, or bequests to finance the construction of the statue and its pedestal. All funds received would be remitted to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Statue Fund, which would be created by the bill and would be used solely for creating and constructing the statue and its pedestal or other purposes specifically indicated in the bequest. No public funds would be used to construct the statue and pedestal. The monument will be an exact replica of the statue created by Lawrence native, Jim Brothers, which currently resides in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C.
Committee Action
ONLINE SALES TAX HEARING
Last week the Joint Tax Committee heard from the South Dakota Attorney General’s office on their pending lawsuit before the United States Supreme Court regarding online sales tax. South Dakota passed legislation that would require sales tax to be remitted to the state from remote sellers who do not have a physical presence within the state but have what is considered an ‘economic presence.’ This comes after a growing concern from many states that are seeing sluggish sales tax receipts due to more Americans shopping online rather than in-store. The Attorney General of South Dakota recommended that Kansas write an amicus brief in support of South Dakota’s efforts. This would have to come from the Kansas Attorney General. South Dakota expects a ruling to come from the Supreme Court this summer.
CYBERSECURITY ACT
On Thursday, the Senate Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on SB 342 which enacts the Kansas Cybersecurity Act. The Cybersecurity Act focuses on making data in the state more secure. Throughout the past eight years, the bill has taken various forms while the need for cybersecurity has steadily increased. The bill aims to protect Kansas from cyber-attacks, loss of sensitive information, and financial liability due to breaches of information.
BILL CALLS FOR EQUAL CUSTODY FOR DIVORCING PARENTS
On Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on SB 257 which would provide divorcing parents equal amount of time with their child by default. If the parents do not have a parenting plan one would be created for them allowing each parent equal custody. If evidence shows that equal time with both parents is not in the best interest of the child the court can create a different custody arrangement.
The bill does not address child support.
MEDICAID SUSPENSION BILL HEADS TO SENATE
On Tuesday, the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee sent SB 195 out of committee to the Senate. SB 195 would suspend instead of eliminate eligibility for Medicaid benefits for those in prison, jail, or mental health facilities. The bill does not require the person to reapply for their KanCare coverage therefore allowing them to immediately receive benefits when they are released from a state facility. SB 195 would not allow reimbursement while incarcerated but works to decrease the amount of time an individual must wait to receive coverage after being released. Supporters of the bill believe it will lower recidivism rates since it will provide access to continuous mental health coverage. A mental health task force had recommended the policy to legislators earlier this month.
DENTAL CARE EXPANSION
A new bill to expand dental care in Kansas will be heard in the next few weeks in both Health Committees. This legislation would allow the creation of dental therapists working under the direct supervision of licensed dentists. The dental therapists are licensed dental hygienists required to complete additional training in an accredited course of study. Once dental therapists complete the required 500 hours of training they would then be allowed to perform an additional 35 dental procedures.
Kansas Department of Labor and Revenue facts
Federal tax reform again influenced state tax receipts in January, artificially bumping collections for the month over $165 million above expectations. Receipts for the month of January totaled $746.65 million. The fiscal year total is $3.94 billion, which is $248.63 million above expectations. Sales tax collections since July 1 have averaged approximately 3 percent above the previous year during that time, which translates to about $40.43 million more in revenue. Unemployment in Kansas went down another tick to 3.4%. One year ago, the rate was 4.3% and Kansas gained 5,000 jobs in the last two months.
Visitors from Senate District #36
As always, it is so nice to see visitors from home who either come to testify on bills or to attend functions with their organizations. Wednesday, the Rooks County Leadership delegation made their annual visit to Topeka. This is their 30th year in a row to visit legislators and to meet other officials during their stay. The State Independent Telephone Association held their annual meeting and reception with Blue Valley Tele-Communications, Cunningham Telephone, Nex-Tech, Twin-Valley Telephone and Wilson Telephone visiting the Utilities committee during the day and with legislators in the evening. Rural leaders from economic development offices and members of Credit Unions across Kansas also visited with us this week for their annual events.
As always, I’ll keep you updated on the activities of the Senate while we continue through the last few weeks before turn-around. I always encourage you to stay informed of the issues under consideration by the Kansas Legislature. Committee schedules, bills, and other helpful information can be easily accessed through the legislature’s website at www.kslegislature.org. You are also able to ‘listen in live’ at this website. The House meets at 11:00 a.m. and the Senate at 2:30 p.m.. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions. An email is the best at this point in the session.
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