Voter Survey - would raise from ten to twenty the number of claims a person or business may file in a calendar year. The bill was debated on the House floor and final action is expected this week.Please take time to complete the voter survey you've received and return to me. I appreciate hearing from you. If you'd like to subscribe to my E-News, go to my website:

www.jenevickrey.org

Turn Around Next Week

There are many huge issues still working their way to the floor of the house for debate. Next Tuesday will be the last day for of the week for Committees to meet. We will then begin working all day in Session on the bills that have passed out of Committee. We have about 50 bills out and probably several dozen more on the way. One the interesting things that happens is now that the bills that did not pass out of committee will be offered as amendments to bills with the same topic. One such example: The House Federal and State Affairs committee took final action on House Bill 2615 which would repeal a law passed 2 years ago granting in-state tuition to undocumented aliens who had graduated from a Kansas high school or received their GED in Kansas. The bill received a tie vote in Committee and therefore failed to be referred to the full House. Currently, there is an action in court brought by families of out-of-state students asking for in-state tuition under the equal protection clause. This would be a real cost to our state if we lose so we can be sure that this will be offered as an amendment some time next week. Other major issues that will be worked this session:

M and E

As I studied the information about Miami County, I found several interesting facts. Of our 313 million total assessed value, we have 9 million assessed value of M and E which is 2.98% of our tax base. Because of depreciation, the M and E assessed value dropped 1.486 Million ,-.506% as of Nov. 2005. Last year, our county gained 9.475 Million from New Construction which is 3.222% of our total county's valuation growth. It is so important for our county to experience real commercial growth which will help us be less reliant on residential property. Multiple amendments were suggested in Committee for the M & E bill, House Bill 2619. Many of them were designed to soften any reduction in tax revenue local taxing authorities maybe experiencing. The first, introduced by Representative Arlen Siegfreid, R-Olathe) and commonly referred to as the "Siegfreid Slider," will reimburse localities for lost revenue in the first five years of the exemption. The rate of reimbursement declines 20% per year from 100% in the first year until it is phased out in year five. When the bill reached the floor, many amendments where considered. One that I supported would have reinstated the demand transfers with the new calculation based on our sales tax pull factor. This would have brought 400 thousand dollars to our county. It failed to pass but added to the bill was a provision to expand the Homestead Property Tax Refund Act by increasing the income eligibility threshold for claimants age 65 and above from $27,000 to $50,000. Additionally, the bill would also expand the school finance residential homestead property tax exemption from $20,000 to $30,000. Both of these are targeted to help the people who need relief the most. our elderly, who live on a fixed income, and young families. The bill passed by a vote of 108-14 and was sent to the Senate.

Booster Seats

A bill which I have supported, sponsored twice, and had been narrowly defeated in previous years in the Kansas House received approval this week. House Bill 2611 passed the House by a vote of 90-29 and would require children aged 4-7, weighing less than 80 pounds and who are less than four feet nine inches in height to be in a booster seat. Compelling testimony changed several votes and allowed for its passage. The bill was supported by the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Kansas Department of Transportation, the Kansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as the Kansas State Nurses Association. No opponents testified against the bill in Committee. I have been a proponent since the first hearing years ago when I found out the danger that my two older children had been placed in because of the lack of knowing the need for them to be in booster seats. My younger twins, now both 7, did have the protection because my wife, Teresa and I, now have the understanding. While it is true not every parent will take advantage of the best safety practices, many will, and terrible injuries will be avoided. Indiana adopted a similar law last year and within 4 months booster seat use for 4-7 year olds increased from 9% to close to 80% usage.

Small Claims Court

House Bill 2704

Additional Information

If you have any additional information or if you would like to offer your opinions or suggestions regarding these issues or any others that may be coming before the Kansas House, I want to hear from you. Please contact my office by phone at (785)-296-6014, by US Mail at Rm 115-S Statehouse, Topeka, KS 66612 or by email at: