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. 

Week 1 Legislative Update - January 14, 2011

Good Morning Everyone:

Today marks the end of the first week of the 2011 Legislative Session and attached is the first of my weekly legislative updates.  It has been a week of highs and lows.  Last weekend I attended the Inaugural Ball and mourned the tragic shooting of Congressman Gabrielle Giffords and the deaths of six others.  The Inauguration of Governor Brownback and Lt. Governor Jeff Colyer and all the other statewide elected officials was held on Monday.  On Wednesday the House and Senate assembled to listen to the State of the State of Address and on Thursday the Governor’s Budget was presented.  In addition we have a lot of new faces here at the Capitol, over 30 new members of the House and 5 new members of the Senate. We are all trying to find new committee rooms and offices.

As always it is an honor and a privilege to serve the people of the 5^th District.  If you would like your name removed from this email list or you would like to have your email added just respond back to me.  In closing I would like to share a quote from President Obama’s speech given at the memorial service for victims of the Arizona shooting.

“We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us.  I believe that for all our imperfections, we are full of decency and goodness, and that the forces that divide us are not as strong as those that unite us.”

Have a wonderful weekend, be safe, and give your loved ones a hug.

Best,

Kelly

Legislative Update

Week 1

Senator Kelly Kultala

January 14, 2011

IN THIS ISSUE:

·    2011 Session Underway

·    District Happenings

·    State Offices Closed Monday

·    Governor Delivers State of the State Address

·    Democrats Respond

·    Budget Recommendations

·    Apply Now for LIEAP

2011 SESSION UNDERWAY

The Kansas Legislature convened on Monday for the 2011 legislative session.  As a first order of business, all 125 members of the House and 5 members of the Senate were administered the oath of office.  Although senators weren’t up for election this year, 5 new members were needed to fill seats vacated by retirements, cabinet appointments, and congressional elections. 

Governor Sam Brownback, Lt. Governor Jeff Colyer, and statewide officeholders were also sworn in this week. 

Even with a number of new faces, I am confident that members of the legislature can solve important issues facing our state.  By putting partisan politics aside, we can pass legislation that improves the lives of all Kansas families. 

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 Leavenworth High School wrestler Nathan Butler.  Butler, who is ranked No. 1 in the state for his weight class, recently won the Leavenworth Challenger, the Smithville Invitational, and the Louisburg Invitational.

·    The US Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Prisons will be hosting a public meeting on January 20^th.  The organizations will share their proposal for building a new medium-security correctional facility on the ground of the existing US Penitentiary.  The meeting will start at 7p.m. at the Riverfront Community Center.

STATE OFFICES CLOSED MONDAY

The Statehouse will be closed Monday in recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  All state offices will reopen Tuesday morning.   

Celebrations in honor of Dr. King will be taking place across the state.  Here are several planned in our community:

Kansas City:

·     Southern Christian Leadership Conference Community Breakfast

MidAmerica Nazarene University, 2030 E. College Way, Olathe

8 a.m., January 17^th, 2011

·     MLK Holiday Celebration

Jack Reardon Civic Center, 5^th Street and Minnesota Ave.

11 a.m., January 17^th, 2011

·     Motorcade for Hunger

Mount Zion Baptist Church, 5^th Street and Richmond Avenue

10 a.m., January 17^th, 2011

·     7^th Annual Legacy an Scholarship Awards Dinner

Overland Park Marriott, 10800 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park

5:30 p.m., January 17^th, 2011

·     Bonner Springs and Edwardsville Celebration

148 Nettleton, Bonner Springs

1 p.m., January 17^th, 2011

:

GOVERNOR DELIVERS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS

On Wednesday, Governor Sam Brownback delivered his first State of the State Address.  He did so before a joint session of Senate and House members, cabinet secretaries and dozens of state dignitaries.  

In his speech, Governor Brownback outlined several themes his administration plans to implement this year.   Here are the highlights:

Brownback Proposals:

·        Increase private sector jobs and eliminate 2,000 unfilled state jobs;

·        Eliminate corporate tax subsidies;

·        Allow Kansas businesses to deduct a higher percentage of investment costs;

·        Waive state income taxes for individuals relocating to counties with a double digit percentage population decline in the last 10 years;

·        Build the Holcomb Power Plant;

·        Transfer $200 million from the Kansas Dept. of Transportation to help defray the increased costs of Medicaid;

·        Expand wind energy projects;

·        Update policies that govern wireless and broadband access;

·        Reform the current school finance formula;

·        Establish an Office of the Repealer;

·        Freeze the state budget;

·        Fight federal health care;

I was pleased to see that jobs and the economy were core themes.  The Kansas Legislature has made tremendous strides in the last decade to ease the burden facing workers and small business owners.  But if we are going to position Kansas as the best place in the nation to work and do business, we must stay united in our efforts. 

We must focus our attention on job growth, retention, and good benefits for hardworking Kansans.  We must create an environment where businesses look to Kansas as a land of opportunity and every willing Kansan has the chance to be gainfully employed.

I also appreciate that Governor Brownback addressed education funding.  Our current school finance formula passed with bipartisan support, and provides a quality education to every Kansas child.  It also expands resources for low income, at-risk, special education and bilingual students – including many in this district. 

As a result, student achievement has improved.  In the last four years, reading scores have increased more than 8 percent.  Math scores have increased more than 10 percent.  We’re clearly on the right path.  We must not turn back now. 

In the 2011 session, we must maintain our commitment to public education without making crippling cuts to local schools.

We must fund education without implementing a budget freeze or shifting the burden onto local property taxpayers.  At a time when so many families are struggling to make ends meet, we can’t shirk our constitutional obligation.

A full transcript is available at: http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1103863233447-34/2011+State+of+the+State+address.pdf.

DEMOCRAT RESPONSE

As is tradition, the party not in power presents a response to the State of the State.  This year, the response was given by Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley.

Working together and protecting Kansas values were overriding themes.  “We must work together – not as Democrats and Republicans – but as Kansans – to continue moving our state forward while protecting the values we cherish most,” Hensley said. 

The response included a number of initiatives supported by the Democratic caucuses.  These include:

·        Fund the current school finance formula without passing the buck to local property taxpayers;

·        Increase access to affordable higher education;

·        Protect the safety net for older and disabled Kansans;

·        Maintain our commitment to the jobs-creating transportation plan;

·        Insure adequate benefits for Kansans laid off because of the recession;

·        Provide fair workers compensation for Kansans injured on the job;

·        Implement a tax structure that is fair to families and small business owners

If there is one value all Kansans hold dear, it is education.  But students cannot succeed in the school house if we fail them in the Statehouse.

Democrats believe that it is the legislature’s constitutional duty to fund public education – not property taxpayers.  Therefore, we have proposed that the state continue funding the current finance formula.  If we don’t, local schools will suffer crippling cuts and school boards will be forced to increase their local option budgets.

Democrats also propose that the state look for ways to improve higher education.  Addressing the growing cost of tuition, improving retention and graduation rates, and increasing work-readiness will all be needed.

All Kansans should have access to affordable higher learning opportunities.  Whether it’s at one of our regent’s universities, community colleges or technical schools, Kansas students should have an opportunity to fulfill their academic dream. 

Protecting a safety net for disabled and older Kansans is also a priority for Democrats. 

Safety net providers deliver an invaluable service, offering health care and home care to thousands of Kansans.  In rural communities especially, these providers help to keep patients in their own home as long as possible.  

As we debate the future of health care in our state, we need to recognize the limitations placed on these growing populations.

To ease the burden facing Kansas families, Democrats propose that the State maintain its commitment to a comprehensive transportation plan.  This plan will create 175,000 jobs in the future and make new investments in every Kansas county.

For unemployed Kansans and those injured on the job, Democrats propose a safety net that insures adequate benefits.  Without unemployment or workers compensation, many of these struggling Kansans would be unable to put food on the table or keep a roof over their head. 

All too often in the past, the issues of unemployment and workers compensation have divided Democrats against Republicans, labor against business.  These issues are too important for the working men and women of Kansas to allow this divisiveness to continue.

BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS OUTLINED

Governor Sam Brownback presented his budget to members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Thursday.  It will take several days for me to read through all of the details of the 429-page proposal.

In general, I am concerned that his budget will be detrimental to local public schools and social services.  The budget presented to us will cut funding to schools by $332 per student in the next two years; $75 cut in the current budget year, $157 cut in 2012 budget and $100 cut in the 2013 budget.  It also eliminates Early Head Start.

Governor Brownback’s proposal eliminates state aid to mental health centers, eliminates developmental disability grants, and reduces general assistance by $3.5 million.

I look forward to working in a bipartisan manner to pass a responsible state budget.  But, we must do so without causing harm to essential state services or public schools.

 

To access the Governor’s Budget Report in full, visit the Kansas Division of Budget’s Web site at http://budget.ks.gov.

APPLY NOW FOR LIEAP

Kansans struggling to afford energy costs this winter may qualify for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP).  LIEAP is a federally-funded program that helps eligible households pay a portion of their winter heating bills.

To qualify, you must have paid your heating bill the last three months.   You must also prove that your bill totals 10 percent of your household total income.  Individuals who are disabled, elderly, or have children are more likely to receive assistance, although any Kansan may apply. 

Anyone receiving SRS benefits (cash, medical, food assistance or LIEAP) will automatically receive an application packet in the mail.  Applications can also be requested by calling toll-free 1-800-432-0043 or visiting  www.ks-energy-assistance.com. 

SRS will be accepting applications through March 31, 2011.

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End of Season Wrap Up!

May 28, 2010

The Legislature will convene once again at 10 a.m. today for Sine Die – the ceremonial closing of the 2010 Legislative Session. This will be the final time the entire legislative body will be together until commencement of the 2011 Session next January.

Below I have detailed a number of the key issues that affected the legislature this session: the state budget, transportation, safety, education, and housing, among others. I hope you will find this re-cap helpful.

We faced one of the most difficult legislative sessions in our state’s history. By working in a bipartisan manner the legislature was able to uphold our commitment to our children’s education, our communities’ public safety and our aid to Kansas’ most vulnerable citizens. We also created tens of thousands of jobs and saved over 3000 jobs from being eliminated. I believe that to work our way through the national recession we have to continue to create jobs and put people back to work.

Please note that during the break, I will continue traveling to Topeka on a regular basis to attend Interim Committee meetings. I will also be in my Statehouse office on a frequent basis in order to attend to any constituent issues that may arise.

During this time, please feel free to contact me at (913) 721-0055 or kelly.kultala@senate.ks.gov.

BUDGET ISSUES:

This year, Kansas continued to suffer the trickle-down effects on a national economic recession which began in 2008. Since then, the state budget has gone to the chopping block six times – three times by the legislature and another three times through actions by the Governor. Even though we cut spending by more than $1 billion in just 18 months, we were still more than $500 million short by April 2010.

Even with these facts in mind, it still took an entire session for a budget proposal to materialize in the House Appropriations Committee. Unfortunately, that proposal demolished important investments and created more problems than it solved. I simply could not agree with a plan that inflicted such devastating harm onto Kansas families, schools and communities.

Luckily, in the final days of the session, a bipartisan coalition came together to pass a more reasonable alternative budget and a revenue enhancement package. The legislature increased the sales tax by 1 cent for three years, then at the end of the third year the sales tax increase rolls back .6 cents and .4 cents will be directed to the 2010 T-Works Comprehensive Transportation Plan. The coalition budget maintained critical investments that will both grow and preserve jobs in Northeast Kansas, while putting our state on the road to economic recovery.

While the final product is not perfect, it was by far the best proposal that surfaced this session. It stopped any further cuts to K-12 schools and added significant money to our higher education system. It prevented as many as 3,000 teachers and 125 parole officers across Kansas from being laid off. It will help more than 190,000 of Kansas’s working poor through the Earned Income Tax Credit and more than 300,000 poor Kansans receive a tax break with the Sales Tax Rebate Program.

It is also important to note that the coalition budget cut more than $200 million beyond the Governor’s recommendations (on top of the previous $1 billion cut). This is a fiscally responsible piece of legislation; only including funding for what was absolutely necessary to keep our community safe, vulnerable citizens protected and public education institutions intact.

In coordination with the coalition-approved budget, the Legislature also approved a job-creating transportation plan that will get 175,000 Kansans back to work.

The Transportation Works for Kansas Program (T-WORKS) provides a framework for the future of our state’s infrastructure. It is multi-faceted, with a focus on preservation, expansion, economic development, modernization (such as widening lanes), assistance to cities and counties, and a multi-modal economic development program, among others.

More than 1,000 Kansans participated in the development of this program, and it could not have been enacted at a more appropriate time. Kansas maintains more than 130,000 miles of local roads, 10,000 miles of highways, and 20,500 bridges. Looking ahead, the need for efficient mobilization will only increase. By enacting a transportation play this year, we will create or sustain an estimated 60,000 construction jobs and 175,000 total jobs (including local suppliers, etc).

T-WORKS was absolutely critical in ensuring that we will meet future demands of our population, solve long-term energy challenges, and emerge from the economic recession as quickly as possible.

While protecting our investments is vital to the future of our state, one of my greatest disappointments this session was the Legislature’s failure to enact a Rainy Day Fund.

A Rainy Day Fund would protect vital services in times of economic downturns by requiring the Legislature to set aside a small percentage of state general fund revenues in times of economic prosperity. This money would be locked away and could only be used if the state suffered another recession.

Governor Parkinson wholeheartedly endorsed the fund and the Senate passed the legislation. However, I wish that it had received more serious consideration by the House. Much of our current situation could have been avoided if the state had established a Rainy Day Fund years ago.

It’s unfortunate that the legislature was not able to take a more cautionary step to protect our future.

SAFETY:

The success or failure of a legislative session is often based on our ability to protect the state’s most vulnerable citizens – our children, the elderly, the disabled and victims of violence. In this respect, the 2010 session was a major success, as we enacted a number of laws that will better protect all Kansas residents.

Two transportation initiatives became law this year making every Kansas road safer. First, a primary seatbelt law will allow officers to stop a vehicle for a seatbelt violation beginning June 30, 2010. Previously, the primary seatbelt law applied only to minors.

Based on KDOT estimates, Kansas can expect a 10% increase in seatbelt usage as a result of this law. In addition to increasing the safety of everyone on the road, a primary seatbelt law will enable Kansas to take advantage of a one-time federal grant of $11.2 million, which will be enormously helpful during this difficult budget year.

Kansas also joined many other states by banning texting while operating a motor vehicle. The law will make it a traffic infraction on the first offense for texting or sending images while driving a vehicle. It covers using a telephone, pager, personal digital assistant, text messaging device and laptop computer. Exceptions would be for checking weather or traffic updates or sending a written message to report criminal activity or a traffic hazard. Warning tickets will be issued until January 1, 2011.

Studies continually prove that texting while driving is extremely dangerous. A 2007 study by Clemson University reported that drivers who were texting or using an iPod left their lanes 10% more often than non-distracted drivers. A similar report found that texting took the focus away from drivers an average of 4.6 seconds – enough time to travel the length of a football field at 55 mph.

To better protect children, the Senate enacted “Lexie’s Law”, named on behalf of a 13-month-old child who died while staying at a day care provider in 2004. This law will require the state to inspect all licensed facilities and require that providers submit written self-examinations annually.

Not only will this law provide parents with better access to relevant background information on those daycare facilities located in Kansas, but it will mandate that all facilities follow the same guidelines for childcare and self-examination. It is an important step to preventing the tragic loss of any more Kansas children who are under the supervised care of a daycare provider.

To preserve and protect Kansas communities, the Kansas Legislature also passed a new law requiring persons convicted of a sex crime to register as a sex offender for life.

Currently, the Kansas Offender Registration Act requires a person convicted of a sex crime to register for 10 years. The new law requires a person convicted of certain sex crimes to register for life, including aggravated trafficking, rape, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, aggravated criminal sodomy, promoting prostitution if the prostitute is less than 14 years of age, and sexual exploitation of a child.

Sex offenders commit some of the most heinous acts in our society and their victims are often the most vulnerable members of our society. I am proud to vote for any legislation that helps keep Kansans informed about potentially dangerous individuals living in their neighborhoods.

EDUCATION:

School issues continued to play a key role during the 2010 session. Although the state faces an uphill battle budget-wise, properly funding education and putting our state on the path to economic recovery go hand-in-hand. To dismiss the needs of our school children just because we are in a recession would have been detrimental not only to them, but to our economy’s future.

With this in mind, the legislature approved a number of changes this year that will allow local districts to save money and more evenly distributes what money there is available to public schools across the state.

In April, the Governor signed into law changes to the current funding formula for catastrophic aid, which helps districts pay the high costs of care for students with significant needs. The previous wording of the catastrophic aid funding allowed for three major Johnson County school districts: Blue Valley, Shawnee Mission, and Olathe, to maximize their claims and receive $7.8 million out of the state’s total budget of $12 million.

Shawnee Mission alone accounted for 44% of all of the claims statewide last year, with 333 claims. The school districts’ acquisition of the large amounts of funding was done legally, but, other school districts – such as those in the 5^th Senate District – were left with significantly less funds for the school year.

With the new law in place, these school districts will be unable to continue the requests for large amounts of funding and significantly reduce aid while increasing available amounts for other districts.

The legislature also made it easier for students to attend a nearby school of their choice by authorizing local school boards to provide transportation to non-resident students until the end of the school year.

These new rules will not cost the state any money, although those school districts voluntarily transporting students who live outside of the district could incur addition transportation costs.

Local districts were also given permission to cut costs by making official notices via the district’s Web site rather than in an official city or county newspaper. This is especially important in urban districts which often spend hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to place expensive notifications in local papers.

The bill gives school districts more input in how best to use staff resources and money to meet the needs of our community. By denoting a Web site as an official publication, local districts can save thousands of dollars annually; money which I believe could be better used in the classroom.

HOUSING: HISTORIC TAX CREDITS

This year the legislature passed and the Governor signed SB 430, which is the Historic Tax Credit fix. The bill removes the hard cap on credits and the 10% "haircut" for fiscal year 2011 and in the future. It puts the historic tax cut back to where it was before the 2009 session. For more information about the program, go to the Kansas Historical Society web site: http://www.kshs.org/resource/statetax.htm

These tax credits provide a key tool for the rehabilitation of historic properties -- both income-producing and non income-producing by allowing developers to receive tax credits worth up to 25 percent of a historical rehabilitation or preservation project. Projects which are already exempt from federal taxes were eligible to receive a credit up to 27 percent of the projects cost.

The credit has proven to be a very productive economic development tool and it is crucial for several projects in the Leavenworth community, including the former Tire Town project to create the Stove Factory Lofts and the CPAC project that is planned for a 60,000 sq. ft. building to be rehabilitated on the Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center grounds.