Document Actions
March 24th - April 1st
We’re finishing the work of the regular session during the first of this week. The work of the House has been productive, resulting in the preliminary passage of numerous bills. In addition to the illegal alien act, we passed health care reform, voter ID requirements, and gun law reform.
Health Care: HB 2943 contains meaningful change which will help Kansans by making health insurance more affordable and protects Kansans who lose their employer provided insurance because of illness or job loss. The two most significant changes to current policy are deductions for small business and COBRA extensions. HB 2943 allows small businesses to deduct their insurance costs and compete with big business and the deductions that they enjoy. This affects thousands of small businesses saving them 15% or more annually. These savings should be passed on to their employees by lowering costs and would create the opportunity for more Kansans to be able to afford health insurance. Additionally, the bill extends COBRA from six to eighteen months. The COBRA policy allows employees to continue to extend their employer provided insurance plan if they are unable to work due to illness or if they have lost/changed their job. The bill would provide help for 50,000 Kansans who have lost their coverage for these reasons. It expands the lifetime maximum for the high risk pool to $3 million. It establishes a pilot project to offer cheaper insurance to low income individuals. Also, the bill directs Kansas Health Policy Authority (KHPA) to develop Medicaid programs to reward healthy behaviors like smoking cessation, drug and alcohol treatment, and weight reduction.
Illegal Alien Act: House Substitute for SB 329 relieves the burden of the cost of state services for illegal aliens on Kansas taxpayers. The bill makes a huge step toward enforcement of federal immigration laws and enhances state policy. The bill imposes criminal penalties on those who knowingly register an illegal alien to vote. The bill prevents illegal aliens from receiving state funded public assistance. This provision keeps Kansas taxpayers from continuing to spend millions of dollars providing state services to illegal aliens. SB 329 establishes penalties for any businesses found to have knowingly employed an illegal alien or failed to comply with federal law regarding employee verification. This is aimed at businesses that choose to violate Kansas law, especially repeat offenders. The penalties include contempt of court which can result in punitive fines or incarceration. Another important provision is felony charges for those who falsify documents. This provision ensures that unlawful businesses are justly punished and prevented from illegal hiring practices. Finally, we have established an employment verification center which provides assistance to Kansas employers to ensure that they are able to comply with both state and federal laws.
Voter ID: This law will strengthen existing voting laws by requiring voters to show a photo ID when registering to vote, voting on Election Day, or voting in advance. This bill exempts citizens over the age of 65 or disabled. Any citizen eligible to vote who receives any kind of public assistance will be able to receive a free state-issued photo ID (not to be confused with a driver’s license). It does not make sense that you are required to show a photo ID to rent a movie video but not to vote.
Gun Law Reform: SB 46 increases the penalty for defacing the identification numbers on a firearm. It would change the offense from a misdemeanor to a nonperson felony, substantially increasing the penalties for the offender.
House Substitute for SB 226 would re-enact the Kansas Funeral Privacy Act by prohibiting a public demonstration within 150 feet of any entrance to any cemetery, church, mortuary, or other location where a funeral is held or conducted. This is, again in response, to protect the families of our fallen Military, who have paid the highest price while protecting our freedom. The prohibition would begin within one hour prior to the scheduled beginning of the funeral.
The 1% solution, HB 2920
Kansas Healthy Marriage Institute would provide 1% of TANF funds for the enhancement of healthy marriage and family formation in low income adults. (The annual Kansas TANF Block Grant is $101,931,061). This would not cost our Kansas taxpayers anything but could provide real benefit by keeping families on track.
Proposal
- Develop healthy marriage service model for the State of Kansas
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- Oklahoma Public Strategies as consultants
- Statewide Train the Trainers Program
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- Curriculum specific training for teens, pre-marriage, and married
- Relationship skill training for teens (ages 14-18)
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- Schools—FACT, PE, and health classes
- Youth Services programs targeting low income teens
- Curriculum
- Incentives
- Pre-marriage classes
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- Curriculum
- Incentive—decreased cost for marriage license
- Mentor couple pre- and early marriage
- Married couples classes
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- Curriculum
- Incentives—gas cards for transportation, give card to offset childcare costs
- Mentor couple
- Follow up classes
SB 404 The Kansas Academy of Math and Science. The bill would give the Kansas Board of Regents the authority to admit nonresident and international students, as well as Kansas residents. However, at least two-thirds of the total number of students enrolled in KAMS must be Kansas residents. For students enrolled in a Kansas school district, the tuition and fees would be paid by the school district where the student is enrolled, but would not exceed the current base state aid per pupil. For students who are not enrolled in a Kansas school district, the tuition and fees would be paid by the student. The bill also provides clarification of some of the current language. The KAMS will provide an exciting opportunity for our Kansas kids and create a reason for top scholars to attend our Kansas Regents. Also will provide a resource for research and development in our state.
House Substitute for SB 414 Improved Stalking Law Proposed
- Intentionally or recklessly engaging in a course of conduct targeted at a specific person which would cause a reasonable person in the circumstances of the targeted person to fear for such person’s safety, or the safety of a member of such person’s immediate family and the targeted person it actually places in such fear;
- Intentionally engaging in a course of conduct targeted at a specific person which the individual knows will place the targeted person in fear for such person’s safety or the safety of a member of such person’s immediate family; or
- After being served with, or otherwise provided notice of, any protective order that prohibits contact with a targeted person, intentionally or recklessly engaging in at least one act that violates the provisions of the order and would cause a reasonable person to fear for safety, or the safety of a member of the person’s immediate family and the targeted person is actually placed in such fear.
Flood Relief Package - HB 2926 pertains to the use of personnel and equipment of the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) for demolition of housing caused by flood waters. This will provide help at very little cost to our state for cities, Osawatomie being one, to help remove homes that are a total loss.
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