Good Morning to All:
The pace has really picked up here at the capitol. The deadline is today for bills to be introduced so there has been a lot of activity. I was very lucky this week to see people from back home at the Credit Union legislative reception, the League of Municipalities reception, the Travel Industry Association of Kansas dinner and the Firefighters legislative reception. Thanks to all for coming to Topeka.
As always let us know if you would like to be taken off of our email list or if you think someone should be added. I hope to see many of you this afternoon at the Leavenworth/Lansing Chamber of Commerce Eggs and Issues at the Carnegie Arts Center in Leavenworth.
Let’s enjoy the warmer weather this weekend and Happy Valentines Day.
Kelly
Senator Kelly Kultala
Kansas District 5
Wyandotte & Leavenworth Counties
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Week 5
Senator Kelly Kultala
February 11, 2011
IN THIS ISSUE:
· Bill Deadlines
· Turnaround Schedule Announced
· District Happenings
· SB 11; The USD 207 & USD 453 Busing Bill Passes Senate
· SB 58; Designating Rep. Margaret Long Interchange
· Senate Confirms Three
· Racial Profiling
· Grandparent Advocacy Bill Introduced
· Medication Distribution in Schools
· House Passes Rescission Bill
· Kansas Arts Commission – Part 2
· Day in the Life of a Snow Plow Driver
· Important State Phone Numbers
BILL DEADLINES
Wednesday was the last day for individual members to introduce a bill on the Senate floor. Any bill that wasn’t introduced is now considered “dead”, and must wait until next session to be re-introduced. However, there are exempt committees where bills can be introduced if necessary.
TURNAROUND SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
As we approach turnaround – the deadline for most bills to clear their house of origin – Senators will be working longer hours on the Senate floor in addition to our regular committee meetings. In late February, the Senate will begin spending all day on the floor. If there is a need, we may also convene on Saturdays.
This is an exciting time of year, and I encourage each of you to take an active role in the legislative process. All House and Senate sessions are open to the public. And live broadcasts of Senate and House proceedings can be found at www.kslegislature.org. To hear legislative proceedings, just click on the “Listen in Live” link.
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.
DISTRICT HAPPENINGS
· Mayor Joe Reardon delivered good news during his State of the Government address this Tuesday. During the speech, Mayor Reardon reported that violent crime was down substantially. The county was ranked 11th nationally in job creation and ranked second for the highest-paying jobs in the state.
· Sunday, February 27, 2011, from 5 to 8 PM, the Leavenworth Animal Welfare Society (LAWS) will be sponsoring a Spayghetti Dinner to benefit the LAWS FREE Spay/Neuter program. The High Noon Saloon & Brewery @ 206 Choctaw Street in downtown Leavenworth will sponsor the event. Dinner will include spaghetti, salad, bread, dessert, and coffee or water. The cost is $10 for adults and children 12 and under $6. Tickets must be purchased in advance at Kansas Country Store, 728 Cherokee, Leavenworth, KS (651-6761) or Scriver's, 605 Shawnee, Leavenworth, KS. Tickets may also be ordered by phone by calling LAWS 913-651-LAWS (5297).
· The University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth, will hold its spring open house for prospective students from 1 to 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 11. Prospective students will have the opportunity to learn more about the university and its programs, talk with professors and students, and take student-led campus tours. Registration is required. Call 1-800-752-7043 or visit www.stmary.edu for more information or to register.
· Empower kidney disease classes will be offered from 5 to 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at Providence Medical Center, 8929 Parallel Parkway. The free classes will discuss how to take control of kidney disease and make healthy choices. Call 816-842-0076 to register for the class. Other locations also are available.
· The Schlagle Environmental Library at Wyandotte County Lake Park, 91st and Leavenworth Road, is planning a cabin fever program from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19. The Winter Fun Day will include crafts, games, scavenger hunts, hikes and snow painting. Hot cocoa and refreshments will be provided. For more information, call 913-299-2384 or visit www.kckpl.org/schlagle/.
SB 11 PASSES
SB 11, which allows USD 207 and USD 453 to bus high school students from Ft. Leavenworth to Leavenworth High School passed the Senate unanimously this week. The bill now goes to the House Education Committee for consideration.
SB 58 UPDATE
SB 58, which designates the junction of U.S. Highway 24 and K-7 Highway as the Rep. Margaret Long interchange passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee this week and will be considered by the full Senate next week. HB 2169 is the same bill in the House Transportation Committee and it has a hearing scheduled for Mon. Feb. 14 at 1:30 pm. If you would like to testify regarding this bill please call 785-296-7640.
SENATE CONFIRMS THREE
The Senate confirmed three top state officials this week. The appointments of Department of Transportation Secretary Deb Miller, Kansas Securities Commissioner Aaron Jack, and Department of Administration Secretary Dennis Taylor were all made by Governor Brownback.
Secretary Miller previously served under Governors Sebelius and Parkinson. Commissioner Jack is a former House member, while Secretary Taylor was formerly the interim director of Topeka’s Division of Utilities and Transportation.
RACIAL PROFILING
Three different racial profiling bills are working their way through committee this week.
Senate Bill 82 and Senate Bill 93 both received a two-day hearing, with proponents testifying on Wednesday and opponents testifying Thursday. Both bills redefine racial profiling as “biased policing”. Additionally, the bills would require law enforcement agencies to properly train officers, use a community advisory group, and file an annual report detailing each instance of a profiling complaint.
SB 161, which was introduced this week, outlaws racial or other profiling of motorists. It has been referred to the Federal and State Affairs Committee for a hearing.
Racial profiling is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. It is illegal – and immoral – for any person to be criminally targeted based on the color of their skin. I urge you to report any potential instance of this crime to the Kansas Human Rights Commission at (785) 296-3206.
GRANDPARENT ADVOCACY BILL INTRODUCED
This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee heard a bill that would improve court rights for grandparents. Senate Bill 52 would allow grandparents to serve as interested parties when a child has been removed from home. Under the bill, grandparents will automatically be given participatory rights unless the court finds it’s not in the best interest of the child.
Nearly 18,000 Kansas grandparents are the primary caregiver to their grandchildren. But when child custody or need-of-care proceedings are filed in the court system, grandparents often are left out. As more and more grandparents open up their homes and hearts to their grandchildren, we must make sure that a system is in place to support them.
MEDICATION DISTRIBUTION IN SCHOOLS
Senate Bill 51, which is currently in the Senate Education Committee, would authorize schools to dispense over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol to students. Medications could be distributed by a school nurse or official only when written consent from a parent or legal guardian is provided. And only recommended dosages could be given.
Hearings began this week, and will continue next week. If the committee recommends the bill for approval, it will be sent to the full Senate for a vote.
HOUSE PASSES RESCISSION BILL
The House of Representatives approved a Rescission Bill this week. The rescission cuts funding from the current fiscal year budget, so the state can end the year with a positive balance. In its current form, the plan would end the fiscal year with $36 million.
The bill cuts the pay of some state employees by 7.5%. These employees include legislators, judges, agency heads, and state employees making more than $100K. An amendment was introduced, attempting to eliminate the cut for Regents employees, but failed on a voice vote.
In order to achieve National Cancer Institute designation at the KU Med Center, bring NBAF to Manhattan, and make WSU’s National Institute for Aviation Research a national leader, we need to draw leading researchers to our universities. By cutting their salaries, these talented researches will move out-of-state – and take millions of dollars in grants with them.
The bill also cuts per pupil funding by $75 this year and drastically cuts special education. It will be incredibly hard for public schools to make these cuts in the next three months. Most schools already have their budget plans in place, and will be forced to lay off teachers or cut programs.
The Senate will vote on its own rescission bill next week. I will keep you posted about the details of this plan as it’s introduced and debated.
KANSAS ARTS COMMISSION – PART 2
The Governor’s proposal to close the Kansas Arts Commission was formally introduced this week, in the form of an Executive Reorganization Order (ERO). ERO’s are used to consolidate or eliminate a state agency.
A number of you have e-mailed or called my legislative office in the last two weeks opposing KAC’s closure. And, just yesterday, hundreds of Kansans rallied outside of the Judicial Center.
Please know that I am taking this issue very seriously. While balancing our budget is important, I have serious concerns about what KAC’s closure would mean for the arts community, economic development, and arts-sector jobs.
Moving forward, the Senate will have up to 30 days to either accept or deny the governor’s ERO. If the legislature does not pass a resolution to change or veto it, the ERO will become effective July 1st.
DAY IN THE LIFE OF A SNOW PLOW DRIVER
The Kansas Department of Transportation posted a great video on YouTube about what it’s like to work as a snow plow driver. It gave me a new appreciation for the hard work these men and women go through to keep our roads clear and drivers safe. Here’s a link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiEf0dzRNMA.
Thanks to all of our state’s dedicated snow plow operators!
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