Topeka, Kan. – The Kansas Department of Commerce announced today that applications are now being accepted for the Community Service Tax Credit Program (CSP).

CSP assists private nonprofit organizations and public health care entities in undertaking major capital campaigns for projects involving:

• Children and family services
• Non-governmental crime prevention
• Youth apprenticeship
• Youth technical training
• Health care

Under this program, the state authorizes specially selected nonprofit organizations to offer tax credits to donors making contributions toward approved projects.

This year, CSP has earmarked $1 million for childcare and early childhood development projects for services to those under the age of five. The program will award $4.1 million in total tax credits.

“Community service tax credits are a powerful tool to support the quality of life in communities large and small,” Secretary of Commerce Toland said. “We are particularly pleased that by aligning CSP with Governor Kelly’s early childhood agenda, we can support Kansas non-profits who provide services to kids whose parents are needed in the workforce.”

The proposed projects should be unique or one-time in nature and create a lasting value for charitable organizations (e.g., capital campaign, major equipment purchase, major renovation, capacity building, etc.). Eligible projects must also result in the organization becoming more self-sufficient.

Applicants may request up to $250,000 in tax credits. Applicant organizations in rural areas (less than 15,000 population) are eligible for a 70 percent credit. Applicant organizations in non-rural areas are eligible for a 50 percent credit.

Applications for the Community Service Tax Credit Program will be accepted through May 31, 2020. Awards will be announced July 15.

More information on the program and application process may be found online at www.kansascommerce.gov/csp.

Governor signs bipartisan bills to help Kansans during COVID-19 Pandemic

Extends unemployment eligibility, education disaster allowances, judicial disaster allowances

Governor Laura Kelly signed three bipartisan bills into law today in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I want to thank the Legislature for working together to fast track this critical legislation,” Kelly said. “As COVID-19 continues to spread, our response is constantly evolving. We must have a plan for Kansans who are facing so much uncertainty. The bills will help our state navigate these difficult circumstances. We will get through this together.”

Senate Bill 27:

House Substitute for Senate Bill 27 extends unemployment eligibility for workers who started to file unemployment insurance claims on or after January 1, 2020. These workers would be eligible for a maximum of 26 weeks of benefits, instead of the current effective maximum of 16 weeks.

“The fallout of the aviation industry has been felt all across Kansas, long before the COVID-19 epidemic,” Kelly said. “Now, more than ever, hardworking Kansans need the support necessary to provide for their families.”

Senate Bill 142:

House Substitute for Senate Bill 142 expands education waiver authority during disaster emergencies. Under current law, students are required by statute to attend at least 1,116 school hours per school year. This bill allows local school boards to receive waivers for this requirement under a state of disaster declaration, with the understanding that they will utilize continuous learning for their students during this time. Additionally, the bill codifies legislative intent that school districts continue to pay all hourly employees during a disaster shutdown.

“In a time of crisis and uncertainty, our schools need flexibility and support to maximize learning opportunities for students while making sure children, their families and school district employees are safe,” Kelly said.

Senate Bill 102:

House Substitute for Senate Bill 102 expands authority of the judicial branch in time of disaster, permitting the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to issue an order extending statutory deadlines or time limitations on court proceedings and authorizes video conferencing.

“This will allow our court system to continue to function during the crisis while ensuring our court employees and the public are safe and healthy,” Kelly said.

These bills become effective upon publication in the Kansas Register. A special edition has been expedited for publication and printing today by the Legislature and the Secretary of State.

State Treasurer Jake LaTurner announces operation plans for Kansas State Treasurer’s Office during government shutdown

Topeka— In response to the Governor’s order that state agencies shut down nonessential operations beginning March 23^th and continuing through April 3rd, The Kansas State Treasurer’s Office (STO) will continue to serve in its capacity as the state bank.

“The STO will continue to operate in partnership with the Department of Administration to support other State agencies with mission essential functions,” stated Treasurer LaTurner. “As we learn which essential functions agencies plan to carry out we are responding accordingly.”

At this time, STO has enabled services with its banking partner to allow state agencies to make deposits directly to bank branches via drive-through services and will continue servicing ACH payments and wire transfers.

The STO will also continue to service bonds, making payments to bondholders for any bond payments that occur provided that funds have been remitted to the office from the issuer and, in the event of principal payments, the bond or temporary note certificate has been submitted to the office in accordance with the bond or note documentation.

For municipalities in the State of Kansas, the STO will be sending the regular monthly distribution for sales and compensating use tax, community development, and transportation development district tax early. The payment was previously scheduled to settle on March 30^th and will now settle in the accounts on March 25^th. Municipalities who receive this distribution will receive email notification of these payments on Friday, March 20^th.

The Unclaimed Property division of the STO will offer limited services for the next two weeks. Kansans can search online for claims via the STO website www.kansascash.ks.gov where many claim requests can be submitted online. Claim packets can also be requested via email or postal mail. However, claim processing and payments will be delayed.

The STO will utilize this time to further enhance its teleworking plans so that services may return in full without sacrificing the health and safety of its employees or customers.

Situation Overview
For more information: www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus

2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Kansas Test Results
Updated 3/19/20 at 10 a.m.

Total Positive Cases
34
Private Labs
12
Kansas Health and Environmental Lab
22
Deaths (included in above numbers)
1
Out-of-State Resident Positive Cases
(not counted in Kansas numbers)
2

Positive Case Information
County
Number
Butler County
1
Cherokee County
1
Douglas County
1
Franklin County
1
Jackson County
1
Johnson County
16
Leavenworth County
2
Linn County
1
Morris County
2
Wyandotte County
8
* Ford and Miami Counties reported positive cases in out-of-state residents. Numbers included in cases home states.
2

CLARIFICATION: Please note that these mandates do not apply to critical infrastructures needed to continue operations during this pandemic.

Public health, including hospitals, clinics, etc. need to have the staffing resources to continue serving Kansans.

While KDHE strongly recommends these quarantine restrictions for everyone, we do recognize that medical care needs to continue and no healthcare facility should ever be to a point where it would need to close due to staff being quarantined.

We ask facilities to ensure they have updated their Emergency Preparedness Plans and implement protocols to ensure that no employee comes to work symptomatic.

Other examples of critical infrastructures include pharmaceutical and food supply, along with others defined by the Department of Homeland Security.

Situation Overview
KDHE continues to closely monitor an outbreak of a respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19). The outbreak first started in Wuhan, China, but cases have been identified around the world including in the United States. The first case in the United States was announced January 21, 2020. Five new cases announced today.
Please visit our website, www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus, for more information and answers to your FAQs. New information is added daily.

For more information: www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus

2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Kansas Test Results
Updated 3/18/20 at 10 a.m.

Total Positive Cases
21
Private Labs
2
Kansas Health and Environmental Lab
19
Deaths (included in above numbers)
1
Out-of-State Resident Positive Cases
(not counted in Kansas numbers)
2

Positive Case Information
County Number
Butler County
1
Douglas County
1
Franklin County
1
Johnson County
11
Leavenworth County
2
Wyandotte County
5
* Ford and Miami Counties reported positive cases in out-of-state residents. Numbers included in cases home states.
2

Governor Kelly announces proactive measures to mitigate spread of COVID-19 pandemic in Kansas

This afternoon Governor Laura Kelly announced two additional measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and better position Kansas to combat this unprecedented emergency in the months to come.

First, in consultation with the Kansas State Department of Education, the Kansas Board of Education, the Kansas Association of School Boards, the Kansas School Superintendents Association, United School Administrators of Kansas and Kansas National Education Association, Kelly officially extended the closure of K-12 schools for the duration of the 2019-2020 school year by Executive Order # 20-07 (attached).

EO 20-07 Executed

“This was not an easy decision to make,” Kelly said. “It came after close consultation with the education professionals who represent local school boards, school administrators and local teachers. These unprecedented circumstances threaten the safety of our students and the professionals who work with them every day and we must respond accordingly.”

Kelly emphasized the need for students to continue to receive high-quality education during this closure. On Sunday, March 15, Governor Kelly tasked the Department of Education to convene a group of experts to develop a comprehensive education plan for students for the remainder of the year.

Additionally, effective Monday, March 23, Kelly directed state employees to stay home on administrative leave to minimize additional risk of exposure to the virus for two weeks. The break will allow agencies to assess their essential functions to ensure that they can safely continue to serve the core needs of Kansans. This directive only applies to executive branch agencies under jurisdiction of the governor. This does not include agencies such as the Office of the Attorney General, the Insurance Department the State Treasurer or the Secretary of State’s office. Additionally, the order does not apply to legislative or judicial branch employees. Those branches will issue their own, separate, guidance to employees.

Kelly has directed Cabinet agencies, boards and commissions to develop an internal plan that will ensure a seamless transition. They will each identify which employees can work remotely, which will need to be placed on administrative leave, and how to best ramp operations back up at the appropriate time.

“The steps we are announcing today will create the space we need at the state level to develop a more strategic, resilient infrastructure so that we can get ahead of this threat and limit its long-term impact to Kansans,” Kelly said.