Week 14 Legislative Update: May 6, 2011

Hello Everyone:

The Veto Session continues on.  There is still not any agreement on the budget.  Earlier this morning the budget conference committee met and after the Senate expressed concern about the lack of progress regarding budget proposals from the House, the House announced that the conference committee was at impasse and they wouldn’t meet again until Monday morning to present another offer.  The 90^th day of the legislative session is next Thursday, May 12 and the legislature has not budgeted for any additional days.  The Senate introduced a bill today in the Ways & Means Committee, which would prevent legislators from getting paid past the 90^th day, even if there is not an agreement on the budget.  The budget is the ONLY piece of the legislation that the legislature is required to pass each year via our Constitution. 

The Ft. Leavenworth busing issue is still alive.  Rep. Melanie Meier was able to get the issue amended on the House floor into SB 21 this week.  So now, it rests in SB 11 and SB 21 both bills are in the Education conference committee.

Have a great weekend and Happy Mother’s Day.

Kelly

Senator Kelly Kultala

Kansas District 5

Wyandotte & Leavenworth Counties

Legislative Update

Week 14

Senator Kelly Kultala

May 6, 2011

IN THIS ISSUE:

·                  Veto Session Enters Week Two

·                  District Happenings

·                  Children’s Initiative Fund

·                  911 Service Fees

·                  Scrap Metal

·                  Annexation Leaves Committee

·                  Kansas Byways Receives Grant

·                  Racial Profiling Bill Passes

·                  Important State Phone Numbers

VETO SESSION ENTERS WEEK TWO

The 2011 veto session continues to progress at a snail’s pace.  As week two comes to a close, legislators continue to meet in their respective conference committees.  These committees must find compromises on a number of important issues before the session can adjourn. 

With 84 days of the 90 day session already used, legislators are very aware that time is limited.  If we are not able to finish our work this weekend, legislators may choose to forfeit some of their pay to extend the session into next week.  I will do my best to keep you up-to-date as these scheduling decisions are made. 

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 to contact me at 785-296-7357, if you should have any questions. Due to state budget cuts our office staff has been sent home for the rest of the legislative session, so you will need to leave a message and I will check the answering machine as my schedule allows.

DISTRICT HAPPENINGS

·     The 7^th Annual Lansing DAZE festival will be held this weekend in Lansing.  Festivities will include games, rides, and fireworks.  For more information, contact the Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau at 913-727-5488.     

·     Congratulations to the 127 Leavenworth High School students who were recognized Monday night at the Academic Banquet.  Honorees represented the top 2.5 percent of freshman, the top 5 percent of sophomores, the top 10 percent of juniors and top 15 percent of seniors.

·     Sporting KC and Cerner Office Complex in KCK is a Top 10 Economic Development Project in North America. Site Selection Magazine has name the $400 million Sporting Kansas City Major League Soccer Stadium and Cerner Corporation Office Complex in Village West one of the top 10 economic development deals in North America in 2010.

·     The 2011 Kansas Sampler Festival will be held Sat. May 7 from 10 am – 5 pm and Sun. May 8 from 10 am – 4 pm at Ray Miller Park, 4201 South 4^th St. in Leavenworth.

CHILDREN’S INITIATIVE FUND

I’ve received a number of calls and e-mails this week from citizens concerned about a possible 17.5% cut to the Children’s Initiative Fund (CIF).  Funding for the CIF is currently being debated by members of the budget conference committee.  The Senate proposed moving $8.3 million dollars from the State General Fund (SGF) into the CIF for early learning programs.  As of today, the House has refused to accept the offer.

  

The Children’s Initiative Fund helps prepare Kansas children for school, especially at-risk children in under-served areas.  I believe it’s a vital program that should be protected.

911 SERVICE FEES

The Senate has imposed a monthly fee on landline and cell phone users to help pay for 911 services.  The fee will be 53 cents per month, which replaces the previous fee of 75 cents per month on landlines and up to 50 cents a month for cell phones.  Those using prepaid wireless service will be charged $1.06 per retail transaction. 

I voted for this bill. Because we need to continue to update and fund our emergency response systems.

 

SCRAP METAL

In an effort to curb scrap metal theft, the Senate on Monday passed a mandate that will allow property destruction to be considered when fines are given to thieves.  Under current law, individuals convicted of scrap metal theft can only be fined the cost of the stolen metal.  HB2312 also includes new provisions which will make it more difficult for thieves to sell their stolen goods to scrap metal dealers, and require dealers to keep more detailed records. 

Scrap metal theft has been a problem for many years.  Stolen scrap metal – especially copper – can be resold for thousands of dollars.  Unfortunately, when the metal is taken from a building or construction site, it often leaves thousands of dollars worth of damage for the owner.  Creating a dealer paper trail and increasing penalties are both good steps to deter future theft. 

ANNEXATION LEAVES COMMITTEE

A Senate and House Conference Committee debated a measure that would make changes to the state’s annexation and incorporation laws.   As originally approved by the Senate, the bill allowed a city to incorporate if it had 250 residents or more.  Current law requires a minimum of 300.  

The House altered the bill, adding a number of changes to the state's current annexation statutes. The new bill would allow residents whose land is in a proposed annexation area to vote whether the annexation should be approved. If a majority of landowners voted against the annexation, it would not be allowed.  It also requires that within three years of an annexation, county commissions determine if the city has provided appropriate municipal services. If a hearing is not held within the allotted time, a landowner could bring legal action against the commission.

The approved conference committee report will be sent to the full Senate for a vote sometime next week.

KANSAS BYWAYS RECEIVES GRANT

The Kansas Byways program has been awarded a $220,000 grant from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).  The funding will provide local byway committees that may not have local funds an opportunity to develop and tell their story.

Since 1992, the National Scenic Byways Program has awarded over $428 million in funding for more than 2,926 state, tribal and nationally designated byway projects in 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.  To learn more about the 10 Kansas Byways, visit the website at ksbyways.org.

RACIAL PROFILING BILL PASSES

SB 93 would prohibit a law enforcement officer from using racial or other biased-based policing, allow community advisory boards to be established, and require written policies and annual reports, data collection, and procedures for the investigation and disposition of a racial or other biased-based policing complaint.  Complaints will go to the Attorney General’s Office for investigation, then if necessary, forwarded for possible action to the Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training (CPOST).