Governor applauds action that clears way for transgender Kansans to amend sex designation

Gov. Laura Kelly applauded action Friday that cleared the way for transgender Kansans to amend the sex designation on their birth certificates.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) entered into a consent decision Friday, resolving a federal case filed in October 2018 regarding the amendment of Kansas birth certificates.

The plaintiffs had argued the KDHE denied Kansans an accurate birth certificate in violation of Equal Protection and Due Process clauses of the U.S. Constitution. In addition, the suit said, forcing transgender individuals to identify with a sex “that is not who they are” violated free speech rights.

Kansas was among just three states, along with Tennessee and Ohio, that blocked modification of birth certificates to reflect a person’s sex consistent with their gender identity.

“It was time for Kansas to move past its outdated and discriminatory anti-transgender policy,” Governor Kelly said. “This decision acknowledges that transgender people have the same rights as anyone else, including the right to easily obtain a birth certificate that reflects who they are.”

Stephanie Mott, known for her work on transgender issues, sued the KDHE so she could change the gender on her birth certificate to female. While Mott eventually dropped her lawsuit, the Kansas Statewide Transgender Equality Project was a plaintiff in the 2018 federal lawsuit filed on behalf of transgender Kansans seeking to change their birth certificates.

Mott died in March.

“Her advocacy to make Kansas better is remembered in this important decision and in other progress she achieved for transgender people,” Governor Kelly said.

As a result of Friday’s consent decision, the Office of Vital Statistics under KDHE now will allow a transgender person born in Kansas to obtain a certified copy of his/her amended birth certificate reflecting a change in sex designation.

In order to request a certificate, the individual will need to submit a sworn statement requesting the change and accompanied by one of three things:

• A passport that reflects the person’s true sex; or
• A driver’s license that reflects the person’s true sex; or
• A certification issued by a healthcare professional or mental health professional with whom the person has a doctor-patient relationship. The certification must state, based on his or her professional opinion: 1) the true gender identity of the applicant; and 2) that it is expected that this will continue to be the gender with which the applicant will identify in the future.

For media questions, please call either (785) 296-5795 or (785) 296-1317. For questions on amending your birth certificates, please contact the Office of Vital Statistics at (785) 296-1438.

Governor orders flags lowered honoring Congresswoman Jan Meyers

Governor Laura Kelly has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff Monday, June 24, at the Kansas State Capitol complex in honor of former Congresswoman Jan Meyers, who passed away Friday. Meyers served Kansas from 1985 to 1997 in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Congresswoman Jan Meyers, whom I respected and admired. As the first Republican woman elected to the U.S. House from Kansas, she was a groundbreaking public servant in many ways, and a role model for all.

“Her dedication to Kansas as a member of Congress will be forever remembered,” the governor said. “Lt. Governor Lynn Rogers and I, along with our families, extend our heartfelt condolences to Congresswoman Meyers’ family.”

To receive email alerts when the governor orders flags to half-staff, please visit https://governor.kansas.gov/newsroom/kansas-flag-honors.

Governor Laura Kelly praised federal officials for taking an important step toward transitioning operations of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) from New York to Manhattan, Kan.

Officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Thursday signed a memorandum of agreement that formally outlines how the two departments will transfer ownership and operational responsibility for the NBAF from DHS’ Science and Technology Directorate to the USDA.

Under the terms of the memorandum, DHS retains responsibility for completing construction and commissioning of the $1.25 billion facility, while the USDA will assume responsibility for all operational planning and eventual operation of the facility. DHS’ efforts are on schedule and on budget to complete construction in December 2020 and to complete commissioning in May 2021, when ownership of NBAF will be formally transferred to the USDA.

“We’re grateful to the Trump administration and our congressional delegation from Kansas for their support of this important project,” Governor Kelly said. “NBAF will help protect the nation’s food supply for many years to come, while also providing an economic boost to the animal-science corridor and entire Kansas economy through private animal-health firms and others involved in research at the site.”

The state-of-the-art NBAF facility in Manhattan will replace the aging Plum Island Animal Disease Center in New York. The Kansas site strategically places it near the largest concentration of animal health companies in the world, providing access to important veterinary, agricultural and biosecurity research and expertise.

The facility will be the only one of its kind in the United States. NBAF will provide scientists unique access to high consequence pathogens that affect large livestock, as well as enhanced diagnostic capabilities that will speed up the response time to threats that harm the nation’s food supply. As the only biosafety level-4 large livestock research and diagnostic laboratory in the nation, NBAF seeks to protect the nation’s agriculture and public health by understanding and developing vaccines for zoonotic (animal-to-human) and high consequence foreign animal diseases.

“The mission of the Kansas Department of Agriculture includes protecting animal health, promoting public health and safety, and ensuring a safe food supply,” Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam said. “NBAF will provide fundamental research ensuring livestock, food and fiber industries in Kansas remain secure.”

The agriculture industry impacts the state’s economy more than any other sector, accounting for more than $63 billion to the Kansas economy each year. In an economy that relies heavily on the agriculture industry, innovative research is imperative for future progress and security.

The most recent magazine from the Kansas Water Office is below.

This issue gives flooding updates for the state.

https://www.kwo.ks.gov/docs/default-source/waterfront/waterfront_spring_2019.pdf?sfvrsn=52978514_0

Honoring her promise to pursue commonsense, bipartisan reform of the Kansas tax code, Governor Laura Kelly today announced the appointment of two former state senators to serve as co-chairs of the new Governor’s Council on Tax Reform.

Kelly selected Steve Morris of Hugoton and Janis Lee of Kensington to lead the Governor’s Council on Tax Reform, charged with thorough review of the state’s tax code and recommendations for a more fiscally responsible and fair tax structure.

Morris, a moderate Republican, served 20 years in the Kansas Senate, including eight years as Senate president. During Lee’s 22 years in the state Senate, she was a longtime ranking Democrat on the Senate Tax Committee. She also is a former chief hearing officer for the Kansas Court of Tax Appeals.

Kelly served with Morris and Lee in the state Senate, and said their experience and bipartisan approach would be instrumental as the new Council on Tax Reform moves forward in pursuit of sound tax policy.

“The people of Kansas elected me to bring fiscally conservative and responsible principles back to our government,” Kelly said. “To that end, I expect the Council on Tax Reform to thoughtfully evaluate tax policy and recommend prudent, sustainable changes for the future.

“I know Steve and Janis share my desire to keep the state tax burden as low as possible. They also understand how important it is to ensure that our tax code supports public investment in areas such as education, public safety and infrastructure needed to help Kansas prosper.

“While it’s necessary to proceed with caution due to economic uncertainty, it’s also time to begin the conversation on tax reform that’s beneficial for families and businesses alike,” the governor said.  “We can and should build a sensible tax system that benefits Kansans who need it most, and ultimately all Kansans.”

Kelly plans to issue an executive order establishing and announcing the full membership of the Governor’s Council on Tax Reform, and detailing the full scope of work involved in the coming weeks.

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) requests comments on an amendment to the FFY 2019-2022 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) document.

The STIP is a project specific publication that lists all KDOT administered projects, regardless of funding source, and includes projects for counties and cities as well as projects on the State Highway System. The list of projects being amended to the STIP can be viewed at http://www.ksdot.org/bureaus/burProgProjMgmt/stip/stip.asp

The approval of the STIP amendment requires a public comment period, which concludes July 3. To make comments on the amendment, contact KDOT’s Bureau of Program and Project Management at (785) 296-2252.

This information is available in alternative accessible formats. To obtain an alternative format, contact the KDOT Office of Public Affairs, (785) 296-3585 (Voice/Hearing Impaired-711).