Two important bills continue to move through the legislative process.
SB9, which will make a $115M, postponed payment from 2016 to KPERS, passed out of the House this week.
Since this bill has passed both chambers it will now head to the Governor’s desk. The Governor has three options: she can sign the bill and it will become law, she can veto the bill which will send it back to the Senate where it will take 27 votes to override her veto and then to the House where it will take 84 votes to override her veto or the Governor can leave it on her desk for 10 days without signing it and the bill will then become law.
The vote was very bipartisan and passed both chambers unanimously.
Governor Kelly is not interested in making the missed payment to KPERS. Governor Kelly has her own plan to amortize the KPERS unfunded liability, which would cost the state an additional $7.4 billion over the term of the amortized payment.
A second important bill passed out of the Senate this week and has been passed to the House for a vote is SB32. SB32 allows the Kansas Farm Bureau to establish a health care benefit that offers coverage specifically for Farm Bureau members in Kansas. SB32 aims to reduce the number of uninsured Kansans by creating competition and free-market options for health care. SB32 is the Farm Bureau’s solution to addressing the critical need for KFB members to find affordable health care coverage. A recent study pointed out that 65% of agriculture producers view health care as the number one threat to the future of their operation.
I would like to thank Fort Hays State University President Dr. Tisa Mason, Coach Dr. Duane Shepherd and his wife assistant coach Denise Shepherd, Executive Director DeBra Prideaux and 26 members of the Fort Hays State University shooting club for making the trip to Topeka last Thursday. It was my honor to recognize the Fort Hays State University Shooting Club in the Senate chambers for earning the SCTP Division II National Championship title. This is the fourth national championship title and the club has also earned four runner-up championship titles.
The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee held hearings for SB162, which would require foster care contractors to inform the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) within 24 hours if any child in the foster care system goes missing. The bill would give DCF 48 hours to then inform legislators, the Governor and media about missing children. In addition, SB 162 would compel DCF to fine their private contractors $500 daily for violations of the proposed disclosure law. This legislation comes after multiple reports over previous years about missing children in DCF. Currently there are around 7,500 children within the Kansas foster care system.
Town Hall meeting times and locations have been scheduled and I look forward to seeing many of my constituents from the 40th Senate District. Dates, times and locations are as follows:
Friday, March 1, 2019
8:00-9:00 a.m. Ellis Co. -Ellis Public Library-907 Washington St.
9:45-10:45 a.m. Rooks Co.-Stockton City Building-115 S. Walnut St.
11:15-12:15 Phillips Co.-Phillipsburg-Branding Iron II-1310 State St
1:30-2:30 p.m. Norton Co.-Norton Public Library-1 Washington St
3:15-4:15 p.m. Graham Co.-Hill City-Graham Co Courthouse Commissioner’s Office-410 N. Pomeroy Ave.
Saturday, March 2, 2019
8:00-9:00 a.m. (MT) Wallace Co- Sharon Springs Senior Center 223 N. Main
9:30-10:30 a.m. (MT)Sherman Co.-Goodland Farm Bureau 1610 Main St.
12:30-1:30 p.m. Cheyenne Co.-St. Francis Public Library-121 N. Scott St
2:00-3:00 p.m. Rawlins Co.-Atwood Jamboree Food Deli-106 N 4th St.
3:30-4:30 p.m. Decatur Co- Oberlin BEE Building-104 S. Penn
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
8:00-9:00 a.m. Thomas Co.-Colby CCC Student Union, Room 106
9:30-10:30 a.m. Logan Co.-Oakley Buffalo Bill Cultural Center
11:00-12:00 Sheridan Co.-Hoxie-Midwest Energy meeting room-916 Sheridan Ave.
1:00-2:00 p.m. Gove Co-Quinter City Hall-202 Gove St.
2:30-3:30 p.m. Trego Co.-WaKeeney Livestock Market
Thank you for those who stopped by my office this last week.
I am honored and grateful to represent the 40th Senate District in Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact or call me with your questions and concerns, my office number is 785 296-7399 or my cell is 785 899-4700. If you are in Topeka stop by my office at 236-E.
Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, is the Kansas state senator for the 40th District, which includes Cheyenne, Decatur, Ellis, Gove, Graham, Logan, Norton, Rawlins, Sheridan, Sherman, Thomas, Trego and Wallace counties as well as portions of Phillips county