SENATE HIGHLIGHTS
The Kansas Senate finished the ninth week of session with committee meetings and bills coming forward. The Senate held floor debate on Wednesday and Thursday passing out bills with the possibility of these bills having hearings next week in the House which will be the last week for committees to meet and pass out bills.

FLOOR ACTION
CEMETERY DISTRICT TERRITORY VALLEY CENTER – SB 155: Senate Bill 155 would de-annex all of Valley Center territory within the Hillside Cemetery District, located in Sedgwick and Harvey counties, from the cemetery district.

SALE OF PROPERTY IN DOUGLAS COUNTY – SB 173: Senate Bill 173 would authorize the State Board of Regents to sell the Oldfather Studios in Douglas County on behalf of the University of Kansas with proceeds from the sale deposited to the restricted use account of the University of Kansas to be used for deferred maintenance.

STATE USE LAW EXTENSION – HB 2174: House Bill 2174 extends the sunset date for the State Use Law Committee which is organized within the Department of Administration.

TEMPORARY PERMITS FOR THE SELLING AND SERVING OF ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR -SB 70: Senate Bill 70 modifies and consolidates laws concerning temporary permits to serve liquor for consumption on premises.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT DELETING REQUIREMENT FOR ADJUSTMENT OF CENSUS DATA – SCR 1605: Senate Concurrent Resolution 1605 removes the census adjustment requirement in the Kansas Constitution for military personnel and students. Currently, the state is required to contact every college student and member of the military who resides in Kansas to determine official residence. The census adjustment will ask ‘what is your permanent residence’, then adjusts the official census numbers accordingly based on that answer. This adjustment is only used for reapportionment of Kansas Senate districts, Kansas House of Representatives districts, and State Board of Education districts. During the 2010 adjustment, approximately 13,000 individuals were subtracted from U.S. Census bureau numbers because they told the State of Kansas, they considered themselves to be a resident of another state. If SCR1605 does not pass, the Secretary of State’s office anticipates needing $834,000 in state general funds to cover the costs of the adjustment as part of the 2020 Census. In addition to state savings, SCR1605 has the benefit of allowing for expedited redistricting. On average, it takes three to six months after official U.S. Census data is provided to Kansas to complete the adjustment and provide redistricting data to the Kansas Legislature. Historically, Kansas has been among the last states to complete its reapportionment requirements and SCR 1605 provides the Legislature with additional time to complete redistricting. Kansas is the only state which has this requirement.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES-RELATED STATUTES – SB 99: Senate Bill 99 creates the designation of inactive certificate, authorizing the Board to issue an inactive certificate to persons currently certified by the Board who make a written application on a Board form and pay the corresponding fee.

HOUSE PROTECTIONS FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, HUMAN TRAFFICKING OR STALKING – SB 150: Senate Bill 150 creates law prohibiting certain actions from being taken against a tenant, lessee, or applicant for a lease because such person has been or is in imminent danger of becoming a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, or stalking. An applicant, tenant, or lessee would qualify for the protections of the bill if the applicant, tenant, or lessee provides a statement regarding the circumstances to the landlord or property owner, who could also request the applicant, tenant, or lessee provide additional documentation specified by the bill. A landlord or property owner could impose a reasonable termination fee, not to exceed one month’s rent.

AUTHORIZING A STUDY OF RETAIL RATES OF KANSAS ELECTRIC RATES – Sub SB 69: Substitute for Senate Bill 69 authorizes an independent $1 million study of retail rates charged by public utilities. The bill requires the Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC), a bipartisan group of House and Senate leaders, to select a firm or organization to perform the study which is scheduled to be completed in 2020. The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC), the state’s utility regulator, would have to cooperate with the organization hired to conduct the study. Sub SB 69 requires the study to be paid for by utility companies.

$90 MILLION SCHOOL FUNDING INFLATION PLAN – SB 142: Senate Bill 142 appropriates funds to the K-12 base aid for FY 2020 and FY 2021. The legislation supplements the state’s $525 million, five-year investment that passed last year, with a series of additional $90 million bonuses during the next four years. SB 142 was crafted to comply with the Kansas Supreme Court’s instructions to add an inflation adjustment.

ALLOWING KANSANS TO BENEFIT FROM FEDERAL TAX REFORM – SB 22: Senate Bill 22 was originally introduced in response to the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act of 2017 and the revenue windfall Kansas is expected to receive because of federal tax reform. SB 22 addresses both individual and corporate taxes by decoupling state law from federal tax provisions. The bill will provide individuals with the ability to itemize when using the federal standard deduction on their tax return. SB 22 provides Kansans with the right to deduct interest on their mortgage, property taxes, and health care expenses. The bill also provides incentives for businesses to invest and create jobs in Kansas since it places Kansas on par with surrounding states that have already decoupled from federal law, increasing Kansas’ competitiveness. The House of Representatives added two amendments before it passed the House chamber. One amendment added by the House provided a one percentage point reduction in the state’s 6.5 percent sales tax on food. The food sales tax reduction is expected to provide a $43 million reduction in sales tax, beginning October 1st. The second amendment was an internet sales tax amendment that requires out-of-state vendors to pay sales tax. Online sales tax is expected to generate about $21 million annually.

GOVERNOR KELLY SIGNS SENATE BILL 9 INTO LAW
Last Friday morning, Governor Laura Kelly signed Senate Bill 9 into law. Senate Bill 9 allocates $115 million from the state general fund to the school group of the Kansas Public Retirement System (KPERS). The $115 million pays back a previously missed KPERS payment, bringing the funding ratio to the highest point it has been in 25 years. The school group of KPERS has had the lowest funding ratio, at 61.6 percent, well below the total KPERS funding ratio which is 68.4 percent. Senate Bill 9 passed both the Senate and House unanimously.

GOVERNOR KELLY CABINET APPOINTMENTS
On day 37 of a 90-day session, Governor Kelly submitted four of her acting Cabinet secretaries for Senate confirmation. The Senate read in the Cabinet secretaries on Wednesday to send to committees for screening and consideration. Once committees have held hearings on the appointment, they will then be forwarded to the full Senate for a vote.

Current Appointments submitted include:
Commerce Secretary – David Toland
Transportation Secretary – Julie Lorenz
Secretary of Health and Environment – Lee Norman
Secretary of Revenue – Mark Burghart

From the State Library
The Kansas Constitution, including the Ordinance, Preamble, and Bill of Rights, is available to print in a pocket sized version from the State Library’s website https://kslib.info/constitution. Just click on the link and follow the instructions. A helpful diagram shows how to fold and where to cut to assemble your booklet. Helpful tip: print double sided and flip on the long edge.

Visitors from Senate District #36
We had another busy week with visitors from home including Russell High School senior students and Northern Valley students from Phillips County. The Kansas Optometric Association and the Kansas Association of Insurance Agents held their annual meeting and receptions along with the Kansas Association of Community College Trustees and Phi Theta Kappa 2019 scholars. The Kansas Department of Transportation Division of Aviation their 5th annual Aviation Day with city officials from Concordia attending.

As always, I’ll keep you updated on the activities of the Senate while we continue through the second half of the session. 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 AM and the Senate at 2:30 PM. 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
[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.

Hello Friends,

I am beside myself that the Senate voted to block the President’s National emergency declaration last week. Time and time again this administration has outlined the clear threat that our broken immigration system poses. I want to FIX this problem; I long for a day where our borders are secure AND our nation’s applications backlog is manageable, so that people pursuing the American dream can come to our country the RIGHT way.

Washington has a habit of making the simple, complicated. Leaders make the complicated, simple. You’re either for securing our borders and keeping Americans safe, or you aren’t. I stand with the President.

I’ve been to the border and I’ve seen the circumstances, our border patrol and DHS agents who are fighting on the front lines need our help to stop the flow of illegal drugs, sex trafficking, and violent criminals from coming into our communities.

(Editor’s Note: President Trump vetoed the block Friday afternoon.)

Agriculture Day

Last week I had the honor and privilege to speak on the House floor to celebrate National Agriculture Day. The state of Kansas has always been a leader in agriculture – ranking first in the production of grain sorghum, second in the production of wheat, third for cattle, and fourth in the production of sunflowers. Our dairy sector is also rapidly expanding and other sectors of animal agriculture are growing exponentially as well. Kansas farmers work around the clock to ensure their animals are healthy and their crops are maintained.

The number of people in agriculture today, less than 2% of our population, is but a fraction of what it was 100 years ago, but the impact of today’s agriculture industry is extraordinary. Today’s farmer feeds about 165 people and agricultural goods are still our country’s number one export. In Kansas, agriculture accounts for nearly half of the state’s total economy. In fact, our state is second in the nation for the total number of acres farmed.

On the floor, I also spoke about the importance of the relationship between co-ops and farmers. Co-ops are responsible for more than 4,600 jobs and $1.1 billion in total economic impact statewide. Cooperatives are critical to the continued success and prosperity of the American farmer, and I will do everything in my power to continue to support them.

This #NationalAgDay we celebrated our hard-working Kansas producers, the men, and women who work tirelessly in the most important industry in our nation. The strength of our country is dependent on the work our farmers and ranchers put in every day, and I am proud to celebrate with them and fight on their behalf in Washington.

EPA Focuses On Ethanol

I am thrilled to see the EPA’s new rule embrace renewable bio fuels and allow for the year-round sales of ethanol blends. Last week Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Wheeler signed a proposed rule that would pave the way for the sale and use of E15 ethanol blends year-round. This is excellent news for the ten ethanol plants across Kansas, along with the grain producers and American consumers who will benefit from the cleaner, higher octane, and lower cost fuel blend.

Here in Kansas we produce nearly half a billion gallons of ethanol a year and this production creates more than 700 jobs, and servicing these plants also creates another 4,000 jobs across the state.

The Importance of Nutrition!

This month is National Nutrition Month, in recognition of nutrition being in the spotlight (even though for me it is something I take seriously and advocate for throughout the year) I introduced two bipartisan bills that aim to end certain food insecurities. Last week I introduced The Campus Hunger Reduction Act of 2019 and The Healthy Food Access for All Americans (HFAAA) Act.

The Campus Hunger Reduction legislation makes sure college students have access to the help that they need to be able to focus on their studies and their futures without having to worry about where they will find or whether or not they will be able to afford their next meal. We must enable our colleges and universities to build out programs and partnerships to alleviate hunger among the students they serve.

I also introduced legislation to combat food deserts. The Healthy Food Access for All Americans (HFAAA) seeks to help alleviate the fact that more than 20 million Americans live in areas where it is difficult to buy affordable fresh food. Today more than 12 million children identify as food insecure, that’s unacceptable. We need these children enjoying our Kansas commodities like nutritious beef, grain, and milk, not suffering from preventable health conditions like diabetes or obesity.

STEM Opportunities in Biotechnology and Bioscience

On Tuesday, the Research and Technology Subcommittee held its first meeting, examining opportunities and challenges with biotechnology and bioscience. Many of the panelists echoed the importance of STEM education as an important component of workforce development and US leadership in bioscience and biotechnology, especially as it relates to research and development in agriculture, energy, and manufacturing. It was a great hearing, and I look forward to continuing these important conversations about U.S. leadership in engineering biology with my colleagues here in D.C. as well as with the many fine educational and research institutions back in the district!

Internet of Things Cybersecurity Act of 2019

On Monday, I joined a handful of colleagues in introducing H.R. 1668, the Internet of Things Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2019. As we dive deeper into the digital age, we are increasingly using devices such as fitness trackers, smart watches and thermostats that connect to various networks, however many of these devices lack adequate cybersecurity protections. The number of cyber attacks are increasing, and with that comes the need to create more secure and resilient products and services, particularly when it comes to the use of “internet of things” devices by the federal government. This bill aims to address risks posed by these devices by establishing light-touch, minimum security requirements for procurement of internet connected devices by the government.

Remembering President Bardo

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