Friends,

The Kansas Legislature marked the halfway point of the session last Saturday with “Turn Around Day”. The deadline requires most bills be passed out of the chamber (House or Senate) in which they were introduced or they “die”. So far the House has debated and approved 67 bills and forwarded them on to the Senate.

Budget Progress

So far, as predicted, the state budget has dominated the session. The Legislature and the Governor resolved the revised 2009 budget last week and we have now turned our attention to the 2010 budget. Legislative Leadership has said to expect a 10% reduction in spending but the Governor recently announced she will be presenting a new budget proposal that includes some of the federal stimulus money.

I’ve said before, resolving our budget shortfall is going to take a little giving by all involved. As a fellow legislator said earlier this month, the only options we have are bad options.

State IDs $500 million in “Buy Last” Spending Priorities

With the budget shortfall weighing heavily on the Legislature, a report submitted to the Joint Legislative Post Audit Committee identified $500 million in “buy last” spending priorities.

Auditors asked state agencies to prioritize their programs into “buy first, buy next, buy last, or don’t buy.” They were told to put 80 percent of their funding into the “buy first” category and about 10 percent into the “buy next” and “buy last” categories.

You can review the complete audit at: http://www.kslegislature.org/postaudit/audits_perform/09pa05a.htm

Some of My Committee Action

Taxation: The Committee has held a number of public hearings during the last few weeks. Some requesting sales tax exemptions for non-profit organizations. Others wanting hold-off implementing tax reductions.

HB 2079 would authorize state sales tax refunds on certain telecommunications machinery and equipment. The refunds don’t go into effect until 2013. The bill is now in the Senate. A hearing on HB 2150 – as known as Proposition K - packed the committee this week. The legislation would automate the property-appraisal process and limit property valuation increases to 2% a year. I expect this issue to get a lot more debate and discussion before there’s a vote on it.

Veterans, Military & Homeland Security: The Committee has passed several bills – among them is HB 2171 which creates within the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs, the Vietnam War Era medallion program. This bill will allow the Kansas VA to recognize every veteran who was honorably served on active duty in the United States military service at any time beginning February 28, 1961, and ending May 7, 1975 with a Vietnam War Era medallion, medal and a certificate of appreciation.

HB 2267 would require confirmation by the Senate for all persons appointed to the Kansas Commission on Veterans’ Affairs. Additionally, appointees would be required to show proof of their honorable discharge from military service via their military discharge papers.

Both bills are in the Senate.

Additionally, HB 2252 instructs all funding for Community Colleges w/Vocational and Technical programs to be funded equally and will have a hearing in the Higher Education Committee on March 3rd. Some of the Bills passed by the House …

HB 2321 makes Horsethief Reservoir Benefit District a political subdivision in order for the entity to be treated like any other subdivision in regards to tax treatment.

Substitute for HB 2143 establishes a Graduated Driver’s License. The bill requires every teen to hold a learner's permit for 12 months before obtaining a restricted or a full license. It also limits teen drivers the number of non-sibling passenger under the age of 18 in their car and late-night driving during the first 6 months of full licensing. It prohibits them from using cell phones while they are driving unless it is to report an emergency. However, it makes no changes to the existing farm permit provisions or restricted license provisions.

HB 2165 establishes "recklessness" as a standard when enforcing current law that prohibits adults from hosting or allowing minors to have parties in their home where alcohol is consumed by the minors.

Law enforcement and prosecutors have found it difficult to enforce the law because the adult who provided the alcohol will say they were not aware that the minors were consuming alcohol. The bill eliminates that loop hole.

HB 2096 amends current law concerning electronic solicitation (think Internet chat rooms, etc). The bill would clarify that enticing a person whom the offender believes to be a child 14 or more years of age but less than 16 years of age for an unlawful sexual act would be a severity level 3 person felony.

HB 2308 amends our state's conceal and carry law to allow activity military members assigned to Kansas who have met all of the required qualifications to receive a conceal and carry license. This bill came about after the Department of Revenue refused to issue the licenses to members of the military because they weren't Kansas residents – even though they had gone through the training and background checks.

HB 2126 requires wireless phone providers to provide information about the location of users of their services to law enforcement in emergency circumstances.

This bill was introduced in reaction to the Kelsey Smith kidnapping in Overland Park. It will provide an important tool for law enforcement when it comes to locating individuals in emergency situations, saving lives in the process.

Happenings in the Senate…

Senate Bill 212 would allow Kansans to have wine delivered directly to their homes from a winery. Currently a person must have the winery ship the order to a retail liquor store for pick-up.

The bill would require the buyer to provide proof of being at least 21 years old and require the delivery person make sure it’s accepted by someone who’s at least 21. It also limits wineries to shipping no more than 12 cases a wine a year to the same person.

Senate Bill 160 would increase the state minimum wage of $2.65 per hour to $7.25 per hour on Jan. 1, 2010, five months after the federal minimum wage, currently $6.55 per hour, is scheduled to increase to $7.25 per hour.

The proposed bill would also track federal law when it comes to employees who receive tips. Under federal law, a tipped employee can be paid as little as $2.13 per hour as long as that rate combined with tips equals the federal minimum. If it doesn’t, then the employer must make up the difference.

Senate Bill 25 prohibits smoking in bars, restaurants, workplaces and government buildings and within 10 feet of any doorway, open window or air intake of any place where smoking is banned.

Private clubs that existed on January 1st, casinos and cigar bars are among the few places exempt from the ban. Hotels and motels can allow smoking in 20% of its rooms as well as designated smoking areas in adult care homes and long-term care facilities.

Upcoming Events

• Monday, March 2nd - Dodge City Nite in Topeka
• Saturday, March 21st - Dodge City Chamber Legislative Coffee @ High Plains Journal, 10 a.m.