Document Actions
February 25th – February 29th
Legislative Update
Week Seven February 25th – February 29th
Turn Around And Many Issues Not Yet Addressed
Turn Around is the time of the session that bills from non-exempt committees have to have passed from their House of origin. However, bills from exempt committees are still alive and many of the more controversial and also important issues are always worked after the Turn Around. One of the most interesting facts is that the second House has more time to work the other legislative bodies’ proposed legislation and so often obvious problems become very evident. Also, the public interaction with their legislators becomes more focused as the media and various citizens and business groups begin to analyze the contents and affects of the bills being considered.
Numerous Constituents Respond to Voter’s Survey
I have received around 500 surveys and some are still coming each day. If you have not sent your survey it is still meaningful because of the second half of the session final debate. Votes will be made on several issues that are addressed in the survey. I do take time to read each survey myself after my mother-in-law, Oletta Ross, tabulates and organizes the surveys. This is a task that she has done every time that we have done a voter’s survey. I greatly appreciate her help and know that she is trustworthy and treats the surveys with integrity and respect.
If you live in the 6th District and for some reason overlooked the survey in the mail, please let me know and I will send one to you.
Annexation Sub-Committee
The work of our sub-committee has been placed on hold for right now. We held two meetings and had started working on possible changes to HB 2747 when the Johnson County Commission approved a smaller annexation of about 8.4 sq. miles rather than the 15 sq. miles that had been requested by Overland Park. The residents that are in that area have hired both a lobbyist and legal council and are working on a revised bill. As soon as the proposal is brought to us, I plan to hold hearings allowing comment from both proponents and opponents. Our committee will then work to discern our recommendation to the full committee.
Bills Passed This Week on the Floor:
House Bills
HB 2707 closes a loophole and clarifies that stealing a car from a car lot or rental car business is a crime.
HB 2827 would require state agencies to consider the effects of proposed rules and regulations on small employers. Defines small employers as those with 50 or fewer employees, the majority of whom are employed within the State of Kansas.
HB 2727 Would allow the victim of a sexual assault to receive examination at a health care facility and the report of the crime is their decision. We also passed a bill that would not allow a victim to be forced to take a polygraph test.
HB 2772 Clarifies that only licensed appraisers can legally perform written appraisals for real estate-related financial transactions.
HB 2721 Board of Cosmetology now would add cosmetic tattooing to the list of regulated practices. Each licensed school is required to have one instructor for every 25 students in the instructional classroom. The bill would expand the instructor requirement to the floor where consumer services are provided. The bill would also change the practice hours required for esthetic licensure from 650 to 1,000 clock hours.
HB 2732 Would not allow possibility of probation in cases of extreme sexual violence.
HB 2657 Would delete the current requirements for mufflers to be installed on motorboats and would change the amount of permitted exhaust noise to 92 decibels on the “A” weighted scale when subjected to a stationary sound level test as prescribed by SAE.
HB 2850 would allow a defendant’s attorney to contact a protected person for legitimate purpose within the scope of the civil or criminal proceedings. A restraining order or no contact order would not prevent either attorney from contacting each other; a person from appearing at a scheduled court or administrative hearing; or a defendant or defendant’s attorney from sending the plaintiff copies of legal pleadings filed in court that is related to the civil or criminal case.
HB 2805 would enact the Kansas Emergency Communications Preservation Act. Under this act, a city or county could not adopt an ordinance, resolution, regulation, or plan that would prevent the operation of federally licensed amateur radio service communications. HB 2805 also establishes guidelines a city or county would follow if they adopt regulations about the placement, screening, number, health, safety, or aesthetics of an antenna structure.
HB 2734 would provide that if a school district would consolidate with another district with less than 150 students, the combined general fund budgets would be guaranteed for three years. If the district has more than 150 students, but less than 200, the general fund budgets would be guaranteed for four years. If the district has over 200 students, the combined general fund budgets would be guaranteed for five years. In all three scenarios, a consolidated district would receive either the guaranteed general fund budget or the actual computed amount under current law, whichever is higher.
Immigration And Other Issues Still to Be Worked:
HB 2836 concerning Immigration is still being
worked in committee. There will be continued hearings in two
weeks in Fed and State Committee. The topic of discussion centers
around the e-verify requirements on employers and that employers, who
knowingly hire illegal immigrants would loss their license to do
business and the state is prohibited from any monetary penalty by the
federal government. The fact is clear that because of the actions
of our surrounding states, this is a very important debate for the
future of our state.
GDL Drivers License. Our Transportation Sub-Committee has come up with agreed language that will be brought to our full committee. The recommendation will be to leave the driving age the same as current law but to add driving instruction requirements and prohibit the use of electronic devises by teens while driving and also prohibit driving from 11 P.M. to 5 A.M. Because the GDL is in a Senate bill we have time to pass the changes and the issue will then go to conference to be resolved. Again the fact that Kansas first time drivers have a 60% hirer fatality rate than the National Average this is an issue that must be studied and appropriate solutions be made law.
The Budget. Our budget process is always one
of the longest and last policies that is adopted by our legislature.
The problems continue to arise concerning our budget profile. It is
probable that our economy has slowed and our revenue estimates will
also likely cause our revenue estimates to be lowered. The
first House Appropriations bill will be debated soon in the House we
will have opportunity to vote on amendments and create a House position
that we will take to conference with the Senate.
Senate Bills. Several important issues such as the ban on
smoking in public places, components to health care reform, and
numerous others will come to the House from the Senate. As we continue
our work, I will do my best to make the best decisions for our
district.
It is a great honor and privilege to serve you. Thank
you.
Contact Information
To reach me, please contact my office assistant, Maureen (she always knows how to find me) by phone at (785-296-6014), by US Mail at (Rm 121-W Statehouse, Topeka, KS 66612) or by email at (vickrey@jenevickrey.org) during the Legislative Session.