Week 2 Legislative Update - January 21, 2011

Good Afternoon Everyone:

Attached is Week 2 of the Legislative Newsletter. We had a short week here at the Capitol due to the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday on the 17^th.   Legislative committees are starting to meet and bills are being introduced.  I have introduced SB 11, which helps the Ft. Leavenworth and Leavenworth School Districts concerning a busing issue. We’ve also had a hard time trying to get around the streets of Topeka and the interstate highways due to the massive amounts of snow and I understand that there is a potential of another 3-4 inches on the way by Sunday.  Yikes!  I’m ready for Spring, that’s for sure.

In the Senate this week we honored the nominees for Kansas Teacher of the Year.  They were from all over the state and it was wonderful to hear about the great work these people do for our children every day.

As always, thank you for the privilege of serving as your state senator.

Best,

Kelly

Senator Kelly Kultala

District 5

Wyandotte & Leavenworth Counties

Legislative Update

Week 2

Senator Kelly Kultala

January 21, 2011

IN THIS ISSUE:

·    Short Week at the Capitol

·    District Happenings

·    Budget Breakdown

·    Confirmations

·    State’s 150^th Birthday

·    Busing Bill To Help USD 207 & USD 453 To Receive Hearing

·    Search and Seizure Hearing Set

·    Cereal Malt Beverages

·    Important State Phone Numbers

SHORT WEEK AT THE CAPITOL

The legislature met for only four days this week, so state employees could commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  Even with the short week, the Senate made a number of confirmations and introduced several bills.

I am honored to serve as your Senator.  My office is located in room 124-E.  Please feel free to visit or contact me at 785-296-7357, if you should have any questions.

Daily calendars, committee and district information are all available at www.kslegislature.org.  To hear legislative proceedings, just click on the “Listen in Live” link.

DISTRICT HAPPENINGS

·   Congratulations to Piper High School student Alex Reberry for being named a Garvey Competitive Scholarship winner by Washburn University.

·   The City of Leavenworth Parks and Recreation Office is holding its 1^st Annual Indoor Ironman in February.  Distances include a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike, and a 26.2 mile run or walk.  For more information, call (913) 651-2132.

BUDGET BREAKDOWN As has been reported by the mainstream media, Governor Brownback's budget reduces overall state spending by $876 million (5.9%). Almost all of that reduction was forced by the sunset of the federal stimulus funds Kansas has received over the past 2-plus years ($492 million), the reduction in federal unemployment funds ($425 million) and a reduction in federal disaster relief expenditures ($133 million). Just $9.2 million will be saved by agency reorganization or elimination. What hasn't gotten any press is the fact that the Governor's budget actually calls for an increase in state general fund (taxpayer dollars) spending of $346 million (6%). Most of that will go for Medicaid, pension and debt service costs. It makes very clear that Kansas will need to reform its own health care and pension systems to ensure economic and financial sustainability over time. Budget Losers: ·        K-12 EDUCATION – Our classrooms will lose another $75 per pupil ($50 million statewide) in the current fiscal year, another $157 per pupil ($105 million) in FY 2012 and another $100 per pupil ($210 million) in FY2013. ·        COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS – All remaining state aid ($10.2 million) is eliminated.  These funds are used to provide services to poor people who have no private insurance or Medicaid. ·        EARLY HEAD START – All funding ($11.3 million) is eliminated.  These wrap-around programs are provided for our poorest young children. ·        KANSAS ARTS COMMISSION – Will be essentially eliminated by July 2012 ($800 thousand). ·        PUBLIC BROADCASTING – All state funding ($1.7 million) will be eliminated.

Still Standing: ·        DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS – All $40 million of lost stimulus funds have been replaced with state general funds. ·        DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE & PARKS – Will now oversee the Division of Travel and Tourism, including 13 staff members and $44.3 million added to its budget.  Its new name will be the Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. ·        HIGHER EDUCATION – $10 million in new budget money has been added, with strings attached for Regents institutions. ·        TRANSPORTATION – The 10-year transportation plan has been left in place, although $200 million will be swept from highway funds into the state general fund next year.

SENATE CONFIRMATIONS

On Wednesday, the Senate confirmed 22 appointments made by the Governor and Legislative Leaders.  Confirmations are required by Kansas law.  Here is a full list of confirmed office holders:

             State Board of Regents – Ed McKechnie, Mildred Edwards, and Timothy Emert

Kansas National Guard, Brigadier General – Colonel Victor Braden, Colonel Bradley Link, Colonel Eric Peck, and Colonel Lee Tafanelli

             Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation – Kenneth Frahm

             State Banking Board – Dale Koch

             State Civil Service Board – Wilbert Leiker

             KU Hospital Authority – Charles Sunderland and Robert Regnier

             Kansas Human Rights Commission – Clyde Howard

             Securities Commissioner – Marc Wilson

             Kansas Human Rights Commission – Antonio Villegas

            

             Kansas, Inc. – Lawrence McCants and Donald Schnacke

             State Board of Indigent Defense Services – James Colgan and John Weber

             State Court of Tax Appeals – Trevor Wohlford

             Pooled Money Investment Board – Betty Ann Corbin

             Kansas Health Policy Authority – Raymond Davis

STATE’S 150^th BIRTHDAY

Kansas will celebrate its 150^th birthday next week, January 29^th.  In Topeka, there will be an official ceremony on the south steps of the capitol building.  The event will be streamed live on the Internet and on PBS starting at 10 a.m. 

A number of celebrations are being planned across the state as well.  These are the events being planned in our community: 

     

             Leavenworth:

             Traditional Dance in Contemporary Kansas

             January 23^rd, 1:30p.m.

             Leavenworth Public Library

             Kansas 150^th Birthday Celebration

             January 28, 5-7 pm

             J.W. Crancer’s

             Bring coats, mittens and hats to donate to NE Leavenworth Catholic Charities

            

             Kansas City

             Traditional Dances in Contemporary Kansas

             January 29^th, noon

             Argentine Branch Library

             Kansas Flora and Fauna, According to Lewis and Clark

             January 29^th, 11a.m.-3p.m.

             Schlagle Library and Environmental Learning Center

             Prehistoric Kansas Hike

             January 29^th, 3p.m.

             Stotler Cove Nature Trail

             Legends Outlets Celebrates Kansas’ Sesquicentennial

             January 28 & 29; audio walking tour of Kansas history and birthday cake available

             Call 913-788-3700 for more information or to make reservations, which are suggested but not required

          Lansing

             Why You Love Kansas

             Now through January 29^th

             Lansing Community Library

             Kansas Day at the Museum

             January 29^th, 1p.m.

             Lansing Historical Museum

The Kansas 150^th Advisory Committee is asking Kansans to “Bake a Cake for Kansas Day.”  Cakes can be any size, shape or design.  Winning designs will be displayed online.  For more information, contact the Kansas Historical Society at (785) 272-8681.

BUSING BILL TO RECEIVE HEARING

The Senate Education Committee will hold a hearing on Senate Bill 11 this coming Wednesday, January 26^th.  The bill would allow USD 207 to bus students living on the Fort Leavenworth military base to Leavenworth High School.

Previously, the federal government paid for this transportation.  But with federal money now gone, the State must pass a law so USD 207 can continue busing enrolled students. 

I support this bill.  Our military families have sacrificed so much to serve our country.  The least we can do is help the students living at Fort Leavenworth get to and from school each day.

SEARCH AND SEIZURE HEARING SET

The Senate Judiciary Committee has set a hearing on Senate Bill 6 for Monday, January 24th. 

If enacted, the bill would tighten regulations during search and seizures.  After a lawful arrest is made, police would be allowed to search for the following:

·        Items which would protect the officer from attack;

·        Items that would help the arrestee escape;

·        Evidence of the crime in question

Previously, law enforcement officers were allowed to seize evidence of any crime.  They weren’t limited to just the crime in question.

CEREAL MALT BEVERAGES

A hearing has been scheduled on Senate Bill 25 in the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee for Wednesday, January 26^th.

SB 25 would authorize temporary licenses for on-premises sales of cereal malt beverages.  According to the Alcohol Beverage Control Division, cities and counties currently have no authority to issue temporary licenses for special events.