KDA

MANHATTAN — The Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Animal Health (KDA–DAH) is pleased to share that Kansas now has more than one million head of cattle covered by Secure Beef Supply Plans, a significant step toward supporting the economic viability of the Kansas cattle industry in the event of a foreign animal disease outbreak.

KDA-DAH has been working with Kansas beef, milk and pork producers to develop Secure Food Supply Plans in conjunction with the national plans developed by the Center for Food Security and Public Health.

Kansas was the first state in the nation to work with feedlots to implement individual biosecurity plans, and to date more than 1.24 million head of beef cattle are covered under a Secure Beef Supply Plan. In addition, 118,000 head of dairy cows and 1.49 million head of pigs are covered under Secure Dairy Supply and Secure Pork Supply Plans, respectively.

The Secure Food Supply Plans are voluntary tools which help maintain business continuity for producers, transporters and food processors within the animal agriculture industry while protecting animal health during an animal disease event. The Secure Food Supply Plans involve development of protocols including biosecurity plans, self-assessment, training, and other elements that will demonstrate the ability of the business to prevent the potential spread of disease.

The impact of a foreign animal disease outbreak on the Kansas economy would be immense, and the Secure Food Supply Plans Project is just one of the ways the Kansas Department of Agriculture works to prevent, mitigate and respond to potential incidents.

These plans provide guidance for increased biosecurity measures at feedyards, dairies and hog operations across the state, which supplement the state’s foreign animal disease response plan.

KDA annually conducts an emergency preparedness exercise involving hundreds of individuals in a multi-day effort to test the state’s ability to respond to a foreign animal disease. This year’s exercise will take place Dec. 17–20, 2018.

Beef, dairy and pork producers and operations across Kansas are encouraged to participate in the voluntary Secure Food Supply Plan Project. To find out more about the project in Kansas, go to agriculture.ks.gov/kssecurefood or contact David Hogg, assistant emergency management coordinator, at [email protected] or 785-564-7468.

OFFICE OF SEN. MORAN

WASHINGTON – The Kansas congressional delegation today called on Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai to restore sufficiency and predictability to the Universal Service Fund (USF) High Cost program’s budget. The letter was signed by every member of the delegation, including U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and U.S. Representatives Roger Marshall (KS-01), Lynn Jenkins (KS-02), Kevin Yoder (KS-03) and Ron Estes (KS-04).

“Full funding of the program, as designed, helps ensure that rural Kansans have access to high-quality, affordable broadband and voice services comparable to those available in urban areas as mandated by the Telecommunications Act of 1996,”the members wrote.“These services are necessary if rural communities are to compete in a global economy. The insufficient and uncertain USF budget continues to hamper rural providers’ efforts to strategically invest in rural broadband at a time when the federal government has made rural broadband a national priority.”

“In Kansas, the budget control mechanism resulting from insufficient funding is estimated to eliminate support that carriers would otherwise have received for deployment of broadband by nearly $13,000,000 over the 2018-2019 twelve-month period,” the members continued. “As a result, providers need to postpone or even cancel broadband investments, which reduce the availability of rural broadband and increase consumer broadband rates in rural areas. These reductions also put at risk the ability of providers to pay back loans for investments already made. Nearly 50 percent of Kansas land mass is served by rural carriers, and their services remain invaluable to the rural communities they serve.”

Full text of the letter can be found here and below.

 The Honorable Ajit Pai

Chairman

Federal Communications Commission

445 12th Street, S.W.

Washington, D.C. 20554

Dear Chairman Pai: 

We write to urge immediate action by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to restore sufficiency and predictability to the Universal Service Fund (USF) High Cost program’s budget. Full funding of the program, as designed, helps ensure that rural Kansans have access to high-quality, affordable broadband and voice services comparable to those available in urban areas as mandated by the Telecommunications Act of 1996. These services are necessary if rural communities are to compete in a global economy. 

The insufficient and uncertain USF budget continues to hamper rural providers’ efforts to strategically invest in rural broadband at a time when the federal government has made rural broadband a national priority. Therefore, we appreciated your commitment at the FCC oversight hearing held by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on August 16, 2018, to take action by the end of the year. 

As you are aware, the USF High Cost program remains a critical tool for millions of rural Americans along with the economic competitiveness of rural businesses that the program aims to serve. Additionally, all four of the universal service initiatives rely on the health of this program’s budget. However, the High Cost program’s budget has remained at stagnant levels since 2011. It remains critical that all components of the USF evolve with innovations in technology while also accounting for inflationary adjustments in future budgets. Accordingly, the FCC’s recent USF High Cost order and responses to its Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking reinforce the need for sufficient and predictable support for the long-term health of the program. 

In Kansas, the budget control mechanism resulting from insufficient funding is estimated to eliminate support that carriers would otherwise have received for deployment of broadband by nearly $13,000,000 over the 2018-2019 twelve-month period. As a result, providers need to postpone or even cancel broadband investments, which reduce the availability of rural broadband and increase consumer broadband rates in rural areas. These reductions also put at risk the ability of providers to pay back loans for investments already made. Nearly 50 percent of Kansas land mass is served by rural carriers, and their services remain invaluable to the rural communities they serve. 

As mentioned in prior letters and in-person discussions emphasizing the importance of the USF High Cost program’s budget, we urge the FCC to establish a sufficient and predictable budget that will eliminate the digital divide of broadband availability and affordability while recognizing the long-term benefits that these assets provide. We appreciate the Commission’s thoughtful actions and acknowledgement of this vital program that assures affordable broadband for rural American consumers and businesses. 

KDOR 

TOPEKA—Many Kansas drivers will have the option to renew their license online starting October 23, just one customer service improvement in a list that includes new Monday hours and faster customer processing time, the Division of Vehicles announced.

The option for some drivers to renew using the iKan mobile application comes alongside the launch of KanLicense, a software program that updates the interface used by driver’s license examiners from an outdated mainframe system to a cloud based application. The modernized software program should decrease customer processing time.

“We are so pleased to jumpstart improved customer service with these new applications,” Director of Vehicles David Harper said. “The combination of these two new platforms set the stage for the long-term reinvention of the process of obtaining or renewing a license or ID across Kansas.”

Starting October 29, the new schedule for most driver’s license offices will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The addition of Monday service, plus the option for mobile renewals and faster counter service should ease pressure and wait times during the week. Opening for service on Saturdays will remain an option during peak times such as spring break.

“We are significantly expanding our capacity to serve our customers,” Director Harper said. “We will be open normal business hours everyone is accustomed to, but also offer 24/7 access for renewals on the iKan mobile application.”

Director Harper noted that high demand will remain as Kansans come into the office to upgrade to a Real ID credential ahead of the October 1, 2020 federal implementation date.

“We are modernizing the credential process for the long-term, but many people will still have to come in to get their Real ID before the one-time federal implementation event,” Director Harper said. “We continue to encourage our customers to make sure they have all the documents they need before getting to the office.”

Driver’s and ID holders can use a Real ID checklist at ksrevenue.org/realid to ensure they have the necessary documents.

Driver’s license offices statewide will be closed Saturday, October 20 to prepare for the launch of the KanLicense system.

KID

TOPEKA – For the past several years, the premium on the fire insurance portion of Kansas consumers’ property insurance has declined in many areas, thanks in part to efforts to strengthen the ISO ratings of fire jurisdiction units throughout the state.

“Since 2011, when the Kansas Insurance Department approved a newly-revised Insurance Services Office (ISO) schedule, the classification ratings for Kansas have improved dramatically,” said Ken Selzer, CPA, Kansas Commissioner of Insurance. “Kansas is now one of only 11 states with six or more Class I communities.  We appreciate the hard work of fire service organizations across the state in working on this initiative with the department and ISO.”

A community’s fire-protection rating comes from ISO, a national company. Most insurance companies of home and business properties in the United States use the ISO’s Public Protection Classification (PPC) system to help determine premiums, said John Boyd, the administrator for the department’s Firefighters Relief Fund.

The ISO, based on its information, assigns a classification from 1 to 10 for each fire jurisdiction. Class 1 generally represents superior property fire protection, and Class 10 designates that the area’s fire-suppression program does not meet ISO’s minimum criteria.

“With the revised schedule approved by the department, more than 200 communities from the upper end of the ISO scale have moved toward the lower end,” Boyd said. “A lower ISO rating can equate to lower insurance premiums for consumers.”

The ISO’s system is just one of the factors insurance companies use in determining premiums.  Age of the structure, construction material, and loss history of a structure all affect the base rate for the community. An individual’s rate can be affected by property value, out-of-pocket (deductible) amount, multiple policies, security system use, credit ratings and other factors.

Outside of the consumer’s property, the classification ratings for each fire jurisdiction also depend on the following:

• Emergency communications systems, including facilities for the public to report fires, staffing, training, certification of the telecommunicators, and facilities for dispatching fire departments.
• The jurisdiction’s fire department, including equipment, staffing, training, and geographic deployment of the fire companies.
• The water supply system, including the inspection and flow testing of hydrants, and a careful evaluation of the amount of available water compared with the amount needed to suppress fires.
• Community efforts to reduce the risk of fire, including fire prevention codes and enforcement, public fire safety education, and a fire investigation program.

“The ISO program provides an objective, nationwide standard that helps fire departments in planning and budgeting for facilities, equipment and training,” said Commissioner Selzer.

Kansas consumers can find out their property’s specific ISO rating by contacting the fire chief of their local fire district or their local homeowners insurance agent. They can get a snapshot of premiums under ISO ratings by using the Kansas Insurance Department’s online feature, located on the department’s website at https://www.ksinsurance.org/autohome/home/hrins.php .

For direct response questions, call the department’s Consumer Assistance Hotline, 800-432-2484, or go online to www.ksinsurance.org to use the website chat feature.

EPA

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in its ongoing celebration of children’s health month, is highlighting the Agency’s commitment to children’s health and research.

“Children’s health is a top priority at EPA, and we have made tremendous progress improving air and water quality and helping kids and families lead healthier lives,” said EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “In recognition of National Children’s Health Month, EPA is highlighting the availability of its many programs dedicated to improving air quality, reducing lead exposure, and protecting the health and wellbeing of children.”

Children are uniquely vulnerable to the potential health effects of environmental hazards because their bodies are still growing and developing. Their daily interactions with the environment, such as crawling and playing close to the ground, may potentially increase their exposures to different environmental health impacts like dirt and dust.

Select EPA activities that address children’s healthy environments include:

INDOOR AIR QUALITY PROGRAMS 

EPA, through its national and regional indoor air quality (IAQ) programs, provides states, tribes, and school districts with training, technical assistance, and other resources to reduce health risks. Such risks are varied and include, radon, asthma triggers, mold improper ventilation, pests (Integrated Pest Management), PCBs, lead, and indoor particulate matter, among other indoor environmental health issues. Extra considerations are also made for emergency response and recovery situations, such as those health risks brought on by disasters like floods, hurricanes, and wildfires. For example, in Fiscal Year 2018, the State Indoor Radon Grant total allocation was $7,867,000 (radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer and the leading environmental cause of cancer mortality in the U.S).

ADDRESSING EXPOSURES IN SCHOOLS 

EPA’s $4.8 million Toxics Substance Control Act (TSCA) Compliance Categorical Grants will build environmental partnerships with states and tribes to strengthen their ability to address environmental and public health threats from toxic substances like asbestos, lead-based paint, and PCBs.

ADDRESSING POLYCHOLORINATED BIPHENYLS IN SCHOOLS 

EPA has developed guidance and outreach materials as part of Agency efforts to assess and reduce exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in schools. PCBs are class of synthetic organic chemicals that were widely used in building construction built between approximately 1950 and the late 1970s.

CHILDREN’S HEALTH RESEARCH 

Since 1998, EPA and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) have partnered to investigate new frontiers in the field of children’s environmental health research by funding NIEHS/EPA Children’s Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Centers.

There are currently 13 active children’s centers. All 13 centers are engaged in the outreach and research translation for improving the health and well-being of children in various communities. Through their groundbreaking work, the Children’s Centers have pushed the boundaries of clinical, field, and laboratory-based research. The research has been disseminated through thousands of publications in peer-reviewed journals. The research findings lay a critical foundation for reducing health risks and improving quality of life for children. These centers compliment and expand on EPA’s in-house research related to children’s environmental health.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

Learn more information about indoor air quality programs, at: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq.

Learn more about how about how EPA is reducing radon risk at: https://www.epa.gov/radon.

Learn more about how EPA is addressing asbestos exposures in schools at:  https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/asbestos-and-school-buildings.

Learn more about how EPA is addressing polychlorinated biphenyls in schools at: https://www.epa.gov/pcbs/polychlorinated-biphenyls-pcbs-building-materials.
https://www.epa.gov/schools-healthy-buildings/renovations-and-polychlorinated-biphenyls-pcbshy-school-environment.
https://www.epa.gov/pcbs/epa-regional-polychlorinated-biphenyl-pcb-programs.

Learn more about Children’s Health Research at: https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/niehsepa-childrens-environmental-health-and-disease-prevention-research-centers.

NIEHS/EPA Children’s Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Centers Impact Report: Protecting children’s health where they live, learn, and play: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-10/documents/niehs_epa_childrens_centers_impact_report_2017_0.pdf?pdf=Childrens-Center-Report

KID

TOPEKA — The Kansas Insurance Department has released more 2019 health insurance open enrollment information, including a department overview of the health plans for Kansas consumers.

The open enrollment period for the 2019 plan year begins November 1 and ends December 15, 2018, according to Ken Selzer, CPA, Commissioner of Insurance. The time period applies to plans sold on and off the federal marketplace.

Insurance companies who are offering plans in 2019 are Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, Medica and Ambetter from Sunflower State Health Plan. The companies signed their final issuer agreements for participation in 2019. There are at least two companies selling plans in each Kansas county.

“Those choosing a new health plan for coverage beginning January 1, 2019, also have several other factors to consider,” Commissioner Selzer said.  “Making sure your providers — doctors, hospitals and other health care providers — are within the plan’s network is important. Secondly, you should note that networks can vary within the same company, depending on where you live. Finally, you should understand that companies may change the type of policy they sell from one year to the next.”

For 2019, companies selling in Kansas will offer policies with the following types of network arrangements: Exclusive provider organizations (EPO) or health maintenance organization (HMO) plans. Definitions of each network are in the department’s issue brief, “2019: Overview of the Health Insurance Market in Kansas,” which can be accessed at https://www.ksinsurance.org/documents/healthlife/health/KID-Issue-Brief.pdf.

“If you purchase a health insurance policy through the federal marketplace, your cost may be reduced if you are eligible for an advance premium tax credit (APTC).  Those credits are available only if you buy insurance on the marketplace. They are not available for off-marketplace individual purchase, or if you purchase insurance through your employer,” explained Selzer.

Kansans who have questions regarding association health plans (AHPS) or short-term limited-duration insurance should contact an insurance agent for more information.

“If you need more assistance, contact our Consumer Assistance Division at the insurance department (800-432-2484) for answers to general health insurance questions, or use our online chat feature at www.ksinsurance.org ,” Selzer said.

KDWPT

PRATT — The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism (KDWPT) is accepting proposals for the Chickadee Checkoff Small Grants Program through November 15, 2018.

Grant recipients may use the funds to carry out projects focused on wildlife diversity and native non-game wildlife species, while addressing the issues and strategies within the Kansas State Wildlife Action Plan.

Through the small grants program, KDWPT is able utilize the talents and expertise of people outside of the department to complete a wide variety of educational, research-based, and habitat projects, as well as the monitoring of nongame wildlife and critical habitats. Past projects include the creation of interactive exhibits at nature centers, and assessing the occupancy, abundance, and species richness of marsh birds at state- and federally-managed wetlands.

The diverse projects completed as a result of Chickadee Checkoff funding have led to numerous publications in scientific journals, educational products, and new information on native non-game wildlife species and their habitats.

Interested parties have until November 15, 2018 to turn in a completed grant proposal.

For more information, including eligibility requirements and to view a list of priority projects for 2019, download the grant guidance document at https://ksoutdoors.com/Services/Wildlife-Diversity/Chickadee-Checkoff/Chickadee-Checkoff-Small-Grants-Program

KDOR

TOPEKA — The Department of Revenue is giving Kansas corporations more time to file returns due to the late passage and complexity of the 2017 Federal Tax Reform legislation.

Corporations filing Kansas tax returns will have an additional 30 days with no penalty, making the new deadline November 15. While the extension applies to filing corporate returns, it does not correspond to the deadline for corporate tax payments, which are required to be submitted on the 15th day of the fourth month following the end of the corporation’s tax year.

“The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act significantly changed the landscape of tax law for corporations, and the extra time is designed to give corporate filers more time to ensure accuracy and compliance with the new law,” Division of Taxation Director David Clauser said.

The extension applies to 2017 corporate income tax returns filed by November 15, or within an additional month for an extended 2017 corporate income tax return for corporations that file on a  fiscal year basis.

For more information, please see the notice published on the KDOR website. For questions, please call (785) 368-8222 option 5.

To see the official tax notice, please visit KSRevenue.org.

 KDHE

TOPEKA – Kansas, along with the rest of the nation, is experiencing an increase in the use of e-cigarettes among youth.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), along with its partners, seeks to raise awareness of the potential harm to those who use this product. According to the 2017 Kansas Youth Risk Behavior Survey, one in 10 (10.6 percent) high school students in Kansas currently use e-cigarettes. And national data show that e-cigarette use among youth increased from 1.5 percent in 2011, to 11.7 percent in 2017.

E-cigarettes are now the most commonly used tobacco product among U.S. youth.

This month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released an analysis of retail e-cigarette sales data from 2013-2017. It shows that sales of JUUL, an e-cigarette shaped like a flash drive, grew more than seven-times from 2016 to 2017, and JUUL Laboratories held the greatest share of the U.S. e-cigarette market by December 2017. In September, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the issuance of more than 1,300 warning letters and fines to retailers that illegally sold JUUL and other e-cigarette products to minors.

“Youth use of e-cigarettes is concerning because e-cigarettes often contain nicotine, and nicotine exposure during adolescence can cause addiction and can harm the developing brain,” said Dr. Greg Lakin, Chief Medical Officer, KDHE. “JUUL products contain particularly high levels of nicotine.”

The U.S. Surgeon General concluded in a 2016 report that the use of tobacco products containing nicotine among youth, including e-cigarettes, is unsafe. E-cigarettes produce an aerosol that generally contains fewer toxic chemicals than secondhand smoke from cigarettes. However, it can contain many harmful and potentially harmful substances, including nicotine, heavy metals like nickel, tin and lead, volatile organic compounds, and cancer-causing chemicals. Because e-cigarettes have risen in popularity so quickly, the long-term effects and dangers of inhaling the aerosol from e-cigarettes are still relatively unknown.

The 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) imposed restrictions on tobacco industry marketing, specifically on advertising targeting youth. Exposure to tobacco product advertising has been shown to influence young people to start using tobacco products. E-cigarette companies, however, were not included in and are not restricted by the MSA. E-cigarette companies are using techniques identical to those used by tobacco companies that have been shown to increase use of cigarettes by youth, and research shows they have been successful in their attempts to reach youth.

The 2016 National Youth Tobacco Survey found that 78.2 percent of middle and high school students had been exposed to e-cigarette advertisements from at least one source.

E-cigarettes are not one of the seven medications approved as a “quit smoking” aid by the FDA. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force concluded that there is not enough evidence to recommend e-cigarettes for smoking cessation in adults. Many adult e-cigarette users do not stop smoking cigarettes and instead transition to dual use of both cigarettes and e-cigarettes.

In 2016, more than half (56.1 percent) of Kansas adults who currently use e-cigarettes were also current cigarette smokers.

The U.S. Surgeon General concluded in a 2016 report that actions should be taken at the national, tribal, state and local levels to address and prevent e-cigarette use among youth and young adults. One of these recommended actions is engaging youth in comprehensive community and statewide tobacco control programs.

Resist is a statewide youth-led tobacco prevention initiative that seeks to change youth perceptions of tobacco use, reduce youth exposure to tobacco products and reduce tobacco use rates in Kansas. Resist is sponsored in part by KDHE.

For a complete list of resources on e-cigarettes and other tobacco products impacting Kansas youth, please visit https://www.kdheks.gov/tobacco/youth.html.

KDC 

TOPEKA – To better assist job seekers with finding great employment in Kansas, the Kansas Department of Commerce and KANSASWORKS are pleased to introduce the new KANSASWORKS app, now available on both Apple and Android devices.

This free app was designed to make it easier for Kansans to find work in the state. Once installed, the app will be able to find jobs through keyword and title searches or by zip code.

“Our agency is working hard to bring new business to the state and help companies that already call Kansas home to grow and become great successes,” said Robert North, Interim Secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce. “To grow a business anywhere, you need a pipeline of qualified employees to fill open positions. If we can make finding and hiring great workers easier, and at the same time help Kansans find rewarding employment, then this app will be a be a huge benefit to the state.”

Features of the app include:

•   Simple job search in Kansas
•   Search by job title, location and radius you’re willing to commute
•   View jobs that suite your goals
•   Connect with employers via KANSASWORKS.com, save jobs and share with friends
•   Bookmark your favorite jobs for follow up
•   Find a local KANSASWORK Workforce Center

“KANSASWORKS has been busy leveraging technology to assist employers and job seekers in our state, and this app is the latest effort to make it easier to help make matches between the needs of our employers with job seekers on the market,” said Mike Beene, Director of Employment Services at the Kansas Department of Commerce.

KCC

TOPEKA – The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) has been awarded a $57,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to assist in its underground pipeline damage prevention efforts.

The grant will be used to fund one full-time employee dedicated to damage prevention inspections and enforcement for the Wichita metropolitan area as well as augment enforcement in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Excavation damage is the most common cause of damage to underground pipelines.  In 2017, there were 485 reports of gas lines damaged as a result of excavation activity in the state. Of those, 266 incidents or 55% occurred in the Wichita and Kansas City metropolitan areas.

“This grant opportunity has allowed the KCC to have a presence in the field at the site of the damage before repairs are complete,” said KCC Chief Engineer Leo Haynos.  “The ability to interview the parties involved, to look at the locate marks, and to understand the type of excavating equipment involved, provides the inspector with the information needed to make a credible determination of the cause.”

In addition to compliance actions for violations, including the recommendation of civil penalties, the KCC’s enforcement strategy is coupled with a strong educational component that fosters communication among all parties. Using this approach, damages to underground natural gas pipelines with respect to excavation activity in the area have stabilized at 2 damages per every 1000 excavations.

Kansas was one of 24 states to receive a PHMSA grant.