Newsletter 2/5/2010
February 5, 2010
The Legislative Session is in that portion of the process when there are many more questions then there are answers. Often, it seems that we are working on issues that are not very important, especially this year, with the ever looming budget problem facing our state. We are working hard to find our way through this difficult challenge. The House and Senate have agreed to move the legislative calendar days ahead to achieve a quicker pace. This will, hopefully, bring us to a budget solution sooner and give our constituents more time to plan and adjust to the changes. When returning to working on issues that don’t seem very important, I always have two principles that I have learned. First, is that even if the matter may be a small change in our law and impacts just a few residents of our state, that change may make a meaningful difference to them and or others in a similar situation in the future with respect of the merits and cost should it be passed. The second is an issue that I think of as “could happen” or “happened once” to a constituent of mine type of legislation. Many times the merit of these bills is questionable and I try to not vote for these. We don’t have to have a law for every situation. Many times there is a real expense tied to the enactment of a new law.
Education Committee
On Wednesday of this week a hearing was held on HB 2410. Legislative Division of Post Audit had recommended this bill. It would disallow the estimated 1800 students each year that are determined to be ineligible for free lunches but were still counted for at-risk funding. Testimony revealed that the 1800 number included a large number of families that do not respond to school districts before the November deadline but later are determined to qualify. Also, there are students that apply and qualify after at risk funding is set for the year. Our committee passed HB 2433 which would allow all six state universities to utilize purchasing authority which has been extended to two institutions as a pilot project for the past three years. Over the three years, KU and Fort Hays State experienced $2 million in savings through the pilot program. This would allow all the universities to be exempt from state purchasing statutes and develop purchasing programs through the Kansas Board of Regents. This will provide improved efficiency in the administrative process resulting in a more streamlined purchasing process. Hopefully, the savings experienced in the pilot program will be achieved for all state universities.
Transportation Committee
We passed HB 2486 this week in committee. This bill would change the requirement from 20 years to 25 years that a school district removes a bus from service. Discussion to allow a longer length of time determined that a five year change would not cause the Federal Government to be involved. Lessening the requirement could help some schools save money.
Osawatomie State Hospital (OSH)
This Wednesday was the first hearing for the portion of the budget that contains our state hospitals. Just like everywhere you look, the effects of budgets cuts whether on our schools or on our nursing homes are producing real stress at OSH. With a staff that is recommended to remain at 441.5 this enables an average daily number of 170 to be given care at OSH. This year, the average number of patients at the hospital has been over census 23% of the time meaning more than 170 in treatment with a high of 205. The last month was extremely tough because of a “spike” in admissions to OSH. It not really understood why these spikes happen and they can’t be anticipated. With budgets already reduced, our staff continues to be challenged to provide more care with less. OSH has a consistent history of passing surveys and proving they provide excellent care. They’ve also been innovative to stretch funding in the past by adopting Triage of Care to better assess a person who is newly admitted to the right treatment plan.
Bills Pass the House:
H Sub SB 48 lowers the 911 fee on landlines from 75 to 55 cents. Also, the bill restructures the distribution of the money collected and will increase the amount given to counties like Miami County with a population under 75000 residents
HB 2411 Adding K2 to the list of controlled substances. Another “ecstasy formulation” was also included in the annual list. This is a bill that we pass every year to keep ahead of the newly created or re-created drugs
HB 2082 Provides protection to vocal or instrumental groups that produce sound recordings from unauthorized performing groups representing themselves to be the original recording group
HB 2160 Would attempt to remedy a problem when some out of state mortgage holders have been delaying insurance payments for payment for completed work
HB 2476 Will allow the judicial branch to charge a $5 per docket fee until June 31st of this year. The provision is needed because there was an $8 million underfunding of the courts at the end of last session. The problem occurred when the House adopted the Senate version of the budget without going to conference. Taking two versions of legislation to conference provides better view and fewer oversights are avoided.
HB 2440 Victims notification Passed first action on the floor of the House. Final action will be Monday. Would require notification of victims when the person who committed a crime against them or their family is released from a treatment program
You can get copies of all bills and follow their progress by going to the state website: http://www.kslegislature.org/ or contact me at 785-296-6014. Maureen Stinson, my Legislative Assistant always knows where I am. You may also e-mail :