3.25.2011 Newsletter
March 25, 2011
The Kansas House of Representatives completed the 11th week of the legislative session with the debate and passage of around 50 different bills or resolutions. Most of the bills we worked on had been sent over to us from the Senate and in several cases we added the contents of bills that had passed the House with a large majority. While we do this, the Senate is doing the same. Next week marks the end of the time allowed in the legislative calendar to finish our work in the regular portion of this Legislative Session.
The start of next week will begin debate on the House floor over the FY 2012 budget. Members of the House will be meeting with their Senate counterparts in conference committees to negotiate the differences in legislation. When agreement is reached by a conference committee, the House and Senate then each vote and if both approve the compromise, it will be sent to Governor Brownback for his consideration. The House will be working on a very wide range of issues through this part of the process. I have learned from experience that it is also the time of year to be very cautious and discern how the different proposals in these conference committee reports will affect Miami County.
At the end of next week the Legislature will adjourn and will return to Topeka on April 27th for the “Veto Session.” April 27th by design is the 76th day of the 90 day session. Final April revenue receipts will be received by April 27th. By reconvening April 27th, we will have the best information of how to project the next year’s revenues and complete our work.
This week the Kansas jobs report for February came in with news the private sector lost 6800 jobs. This is the second month in a row that the private sector has suffered a large drop. I explained last week how the actual unemployment rate for Kansas is closer to 13% if you include the number of people who have run out of benefits and are still without work. The other category of real concern is the number of underemployed workers. We will most likely be working with tough budget numbers in April.
EPA’s Regulatory Train Wreck / HR 6008
The House passed HR 6008 which calls on Congress to require the administration to undertake a cost-benefit analysis of the EPA’s current and proposed regulations on power plants. It also asks for a two year moratorium on new regulations. We currently find ourselves in the middle of numerous environmental requirements on power plants that are costly and driving KCPL’s rates up. One of the new proposed requirements on the horizon is to require cooling towers at plants such as the La Cygne Electric Power Plant. This along with several other new requirements will dramatically increase electric rates even more. At a time when the economy is down, it is a top priority for us to do all we can to avoid any further increased cost for businesses and families.
Funding KPERS (Sub. HB 2333)
The House had a lively debate Wednesday on Sub. for HB 2333 which would revise the KPERS retirement plan for current state, school and local government employees but does not apply to the Kansas Police and Firemen’s (KP&F) or Judges retirement plans. The bill reduces the annual KPERS benefit multiplier from 1.75 percent to 1.4 percent for future service credit beginning July 1, 2012 for all current and future public employees. It is important to note that it would not affect the calculation on the years that have been earned before July 2012. It also increases the cap on annual KPERS employer contributions from 0.6 percent to 0.8 percent on July 1, 2012. Finally, it directs any net proceeds from the sale of state property to the unfunded liability of KPERS.
During this debate an amendment was attached to the bill that creates a new tier III defined contribution plan for all new state, school and local public employees effective July 1, 2013. The Senate has a different solution to fund KPERS which would be to increase the amount that employees are required to contribute. The House and Senate will be meeting in conference to discuss KPERS.
Smoking Ban would include Casinos (Sub. HB 2340)
The Kansas Indoor Clear Air Act was passed in 2010 by the Legislature banning smoking in most public places. However, last year’s law did include several exemptions. The most controversial was the one which allowed smoking in State owned Casinos. This exemption was unfair and self serving to the state since the state has a significant interest in most of the casinos in Kansas.
Sub. for HB 2340 amends the Kansas Indoor Clear Air Act to delete the current exemption for the gaming floor of a gaming or racetrack facility. The House debated this legislation on Tuesday, March 22nd and proceeded to pass Sub. for HB 2340 by a vote of 97 to 26 on Wednesday, March 23rd.
Senate Vacancies - House adds Voter ID (House Sub. SB 129)
SB 129 as passed by the Senate would change the requirements for filling a vacated State Senate seat. The date would be moved to May 1st from the current October 15th. When a Senator vacates office before the second year of their term an election is held that November to select a person to serve out the remaining two year term. If the vacancy occurs after the date a person is selected by the political party and appointed by the Governor to serve the remainder of the term with no midterm election.
The House inserted the provisions of HB 2067 into SB 129. HB 2067 would require voters to show photo identification before voting. It also requires voters who vote by advance ballot to provide their ID number or a copy of their ID with their ballot application and requires proof of U.S. citizenship for any person registering to vote. The bill exempts all current Kansas registered voters from providing proof of citizenship. If a person fails to have a valid form of identification, they would be allowed to vote but through a provisional ballot. For individuals who need a birth certificate or photo ID to vote or register to vote, the state would waive the normal fees that apply to such documents if they have a household income at or less that 150 percent of the federal poverty level.
Twenty-seven states have tougher voter ID requirements than those required by the federal Help America Vote Act. In those states, all voters must show ID before voting. Nine other states require photo ID and the remaining 18 states accept additional forms of ID. Current Kansas law requires first time voters to provide identification unless they did so when registering. The identification does not require a photo. Previous attempts to require voter ID passed both chambers in 2008 but the legislation was vetoed by then Governor Sebelius. On Wednesday, March 23rd, the House passed House Sub. for SB 129 by a vote of 87 to 37.
Kansas Uninsurable Health Insurance Plan to add Children (SB 14)
In late 2010 the Kansas Insurance Department was informed that several insurance companies offering individual coverage policies would no longer issue individual coverage to children under the age of 19. As a result, the State’s Insurance Department determined that amending the eligibility requirements under the Kansas Uninsurable Health Insurance Plan was the best way to ensure coverage would continue to be available for children under 19.
SB 14 was introduced to amend the Kansas Uninsurable Health Insurance Plan Act to allow children under the age of 19 to have coverage under the Kansas Uninsurable Health Insurance Plan if coverage is unavailable under an individual health insurance policy. In addition, the bill increases the statutory lifetime limit from $2 million to $3 million to ensure enrollees with ongoing serious health conditions continue to have coverage. On Tuesday, March 22nd, the House passed SB 14 by a vote of 108 to 15.
Wildlife and Parks Cabins (SB 123)
Many Kansans do not know most of our state parks have cabins available for rent. The popularity of these cabins is quickly growing as Kansans look for more affordable options to escape from home. SB 123 allows the Secretary of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) to set fees for the use of cabins owned and operated by KDWP. The bill limits the maximum fees for the cabins from exceeding $250 per night; $1,500 per week; and $5,000 per month. In addition, the measure lowers the aggregate threshold amount requiring legislative approval for land purchased by KDWP to 160 acres from 640 acres.
SB 123 passed the House by a vote of 102 to 22 on Tuesday, March 22nd. To get more information on where you can rent cabins at state parks, please visit the link below:
http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/news/layout/set/print/State-Parks/Locations-With-Cabins
State Employee Award Program (Sub. HB 2221)
On June 30, 2006, a state employee suggestion program expired leaving the state with no method to reward state workers who bring wasteful state programs or spending to the attention of their superiors. Sub. for HB 2221 institutes a new program allowing state employees to submit a cost reduction suggestion for a state agency. If the suggestion is adopted, the employee will receive a monetary reward in an amount not to exceed 10 percent or $5,000 of the cost reduction.
This bill passed the House on Wednesday, March 23rd, by a vote of 120 to 4. In the past few years, hundreds of state jobs have been eliminated and state employees are often doing the work of two or more people. This is good legislation that encourages state workers to speak up if they find deficiencies or waste in their department or agency and rewards them for their action.
Contact Information
I hope you are following the legislature’s work in Topeka and, if possible, take the time to visit this Session. If you would like an individual meeting, I’d be happy to arrange one. In the meantime, I’m always anxious to hear your thoughts on how the issues discussed in Topeka affect you. Please feel free to call me at 785.291.3500 or email me at jene.vickrey@house.ks.gov. Thank you for the honor of serving you.
Sincerely,
Jene Vickrey