SENATE HAPPENINGS
Last 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.
SENATE BILL 22 – TAX
The Senate Select Committee on Federal Tax Code Implementation approved Senate Bill 22 last Thursday. The bill which would allow Kansans to deduct interest on their mortgage, property taxes, and health care expenses, was created in response to President Trump’s historical tax cuts of 2017. The bill is expected to deliver millions from the unexpected tax windfall back to individuals and businesses in Kansas. Numerous proponents of the legislation stressed the point that inaction or failure to pass the bill, would result in a tax increase for Kansans with the possibility of Kansas-based companies leaving the state to find more affordable options. The windfall directly linked to the Trump tax cuts belongs to Kansas taxpayers, not government and Senate Bill 22 would allow Kansans to fully benefit from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The Kansas Senate is expected to debate SB 22 this week.
SENATE BILL #9 – KANSAS PUBLIC EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SYSTEM REPAYMENT
The Senate Ways and Means committee sent SB9 to the full Senate for debate – this is the KPERS repayment bill for $115M which is the $97M payment plus interest (at the interest rate of 8%). The $115 million payment would be credited to the public-school unit within KPERS, which has an unfunded liability of more than $6 billion and retains the system’s lowest actuarial funded ratio of 61.6 percent. The bill aims at rectifying a 2016 decision to delay the payment until this session year. KPERS serves about 300,000 current and retired government workers and has $19B in assets with about $1B in contributions coming in each year. In 2018, $1.7B in total benefits were paid out in retirement, life insurance withdrawals and disability payments. It is managed by a nine board of trustees and has a 25-year rate of return of 8.1%.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Senate Transportation Committee
The Secretary of Transportation Commissioner, Julie Lorenz, presented a report to the committee with an update of the department. Kansas has the 4th largest system in the nation with 142,046 miles of public roads and 24,833 bridges across the state. $600 million of freight is transported daily; there are 2 million plus registered drivers in the state with 2.4 million plus registered vehicles. KDOT has six districts with 1,600 employees and employs 600 employees at the headquarters in Topeka. Senate District #36 spans four of these districts. Traffic fatalities decreased in 2018 with seatbelt usage up at 84% but not to the national average of 90%. The entire report can be found at www.ksdot.org along with 511 updates on road conditions and also includes a link www.safetravelusa.com with travel information for surrounding states.
Highway Patrol Colonel Mark Bruce spoke to the Kansas Senate Transportation committee about the challenges of recruiting and retaining troopers within the Kansas Highway Patrol. He broke down the current makeup of the agency and its attempts to employ a diverse organization that also reflects the population it serves. He detailed efforts to retain current troopers through a competitive compensation plan, training, as well as incentives to keep officers on the job longer through deferred retirement strategies. The KHP has had recent success in its last two graduating classes from the academy with records reached in class size, and the number of minority and female graduates. However, despite those successes a recent study in 2018, determined that agency staffing is over 150 troopers short of what is necessary for the KHP to meet its traffic safety mission. Colonel Bruce indicated he would continue to work with the legislature to increase trooper numbers in order to adequately protect the citizens of Kansas.
Ethics, Elections and Local Government
The new Secretary of State, Scott Schwab, gave his first annual report to the committee with information about the office. The website at www.sos.kansas.gov has a new look and highlights the different services the office provides such as the business section to search for Kansas businesses, applying for Notary stamps, filing annual corporation reports, obtaining Certificate of Good Standings and locating charitable organizations registered in the state. The office also oversees cemeteries in Kansas which must be registered and file a report. The site lists all lobbyist’s and legislator’s campaign reports under the campaign finance tab along with election statistics. The Secretary reported a record number of persons registered to vote for the 2018 general election and a record number of votes cast in gubernatorial year 2018. It was also the highest voter turnout for a gubernatorial year since the passage of the National Voter Registration Act in 1994. The election also included the highest percentage of ballots cast before Election Day (advance votes) for a gubernatorial election. There were 232 total candidates for state and national office with the Kansas House of Representatives electing 28 new members as a result of the primary and general elections.
SENATE BILL #32 – INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL INSURANCE COMMITTEE
Kansas Farm Bureau is seeking legislation that would allow them to offer member healthcare benefit overage. Committee testimony noted nationally nearly 65% of farmers polled say healthcare is one their largest threats to their operations. In the past 5 years new farm income has declined by nearly 50% while insurance costs have increased by more than 200%. KFB members agree and are seeking options to the Affordable Care Act coverage which has become unaffordable for many producers. The KFB member health benefit coverage would be available to any KFB member and anyone may join KFB by applying and paying membership dues. According to the bill, each individual will be rated, and they will select their plans based on their needs. Members may apply for the healthcare benefit coverage by completing an application and the program is voluntary. The plans will be fully insured and backed by the resources of Kansas Farm Bureau.
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.
NATIVE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF KANSAS
Marysville business owner, Don Landoll, was recognized as the Business Leader of the Year for 2018 at the annual Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas Banquet. The Board of Directors of the organization selected Don for his many years of success and leadership in his industry and contributing to the betterment of the lives of Kansans through exceptional ingenuity, vision, intelligence and perseverance. Landoll Corporation was founded 55 years ago and continues to thrive in Marysville and Marshall County. Congratulations to Don!
2019 Keep it Clean Kansas Calendar – Kansas Department of Health and Environment
This yearly calendar features the winning artwork of Kansas students’ grades K through 12 who entered the calendar contest. The Bureau of Waste Management has sponsored this contest since 2000 to encourage students, their families and other Kansans to respect and take care of our Kansas land, water and air. Cooper Miller, a kindergartener from Phillipsburg Elementary School was a runner-up and is featured on a page of student artwork of all grades. Lexi Meitler, a kindergartener at Minneapolis Grade School drew the artwork for the January calendar page. Jordyn Wisinger at Phillipsburg High School was the 2019 Grand Prize Winner and is the front cover artist of the KDHE calendar. Calendars are available at no cost at KDHE by calling Julie Coleman at 785-296-1600.
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 – 158 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, American Legion & VFW, School Board officials, agriculture Retailers & Co-ops and officials from city and county government were in Topeka for their annual events. Doctors across the state attended the Kansas Academy of Family Physicians annual legislative day with Dr. Jen Brull and Dr. Fisher from Rooks County stopping in.
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
Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, is the 36th Dist. state senator and serves as the Senate Majority Whip. The 36th Senate District includes Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Osborne, Ottawa, Republic, Rooks, Russell, Smith and Washington counties and portions of Marshall and Phillips counties.