Governor Laura Kelly Signs Several Pieces of Bipartisan Legislation into Law

TOPEKA – Today, Governor Laura Kelly signed 26 pieces of bipartisan legislation into law.

“Today, I signed 26 bipartisan bills that will help everyone from Kansas veterans, to businesses, to farmers, to our infrastructure and our environment,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This is the kind of success that can be achieved when we work together – not as Republicans or Democrats – but as Kansans. I want to thank my colleagues in the legislature, on both sides of the aisle, for their efforts.”

House Bill 2021

HB 2021 authorizes the Kansas Development Finance Authority (KDFA), on and after July 1, 2021, to issue bonds, not to exceed $10.5 million, for the purpose of financing the construction of a state veterans home facility located in northeast Kansas, including, but not limited to, in Douglas, Jefferson, Leavenworth, Shawnee, and Wyandotte counties.

House Bill 2074

Senate Sub. for HB 2074 enacts the Technology-enabled Fiduciary Financial Institutions Act (Act), which will be part of and supplemental to Chapter 9 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated (the Kansas Banking Code). On July 1, 2022, the bill requires the State Bank Commissioner issue a charter to The Beneficient Company and establish a fidfin fiduciary institution pilot program with an economic growth zone designated in Harvey County. The bill also establishes an income and privilege tax credit beginning in tax year 2021 for trust banks in an amount equal to such fiduciary financial institution’s qualified charitable distributions during such taxable year if the trust bank maintained such fiduciary financial institution’s principal office in an economic growth zone.

House Bill 2102

Senate Sub. for HB 2102 updates the Kansas Egg Law regarding repackaged eggs.

House Bill 2114

HB 2114 creates the Kansas Senior Care Task Force, creates and amends law regarding elder and dependent adult abuse multidisciplinary teams, and amends law regarding abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of adults.

House Bill 2143

HB 2143 modifies law related to sales tax.

House Bill 2201

Senate Sub. for HB 2201 modifies certain provisions related to the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (Eisenhower Program).

House Bill 2203

HB 2203 establishes the Asbestos Remediation Fund (Fund). The bill also requires the Secretary of Health and Environment (Secretary) to remit all moneys received from the following sources to the State Treasurer, to be credited to the Fund:

• Permit and approval fees related to the Asbestos Control Program;
• Moneys recovered by the State under the provisions of the Asbestos Control Act (Act), including administrative expenses and moneys paid under any agreement stipulation, or settlement; and
• Interest attributable to investment of moneys in the Fund.

The bill requires moneys in the Fund to be expended only for the purpose of administering the Act, including funding of a technical and environmental compliance assistance program.

House Bill 2243

HB 2243 makes several changes to law governing the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS or the Retirement System) pertaining to a study performed by the KPERS Board of Trustees, authorization of the allotment for the KPERS Death and Disability Program and a moratorium on payments in FY 2021 by all employers, provisions in the Kansas Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) Act relating to participating members’ election and extension of their DROP periods, and administration of certain KPERS benefits and the application of certain federal Internal Revenue Code provisions on the Retirement System (“guidepost” section).

House Bill 2244

HB 2244 amends the Commercial Industrial Hemp Act (Act) to transfer registration and regulation of industrial hemp processors from the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) to the State Fire Marshal (Fire Marshal). The bill also amends law regarding the disposal of industrial hemp; the definition of “hemp products”; marketing, selling, or distributing hemp products unlawfully without registration or licensure; and an exception for transportation of industrial hemp between producers and processors.

House Bill 2254

HB 2254 increases the monetary cap on irrevocable prearranged funeral agreements, contracts, or plans, on and after July 1, 2021, to $10,000, which will increase in an amount equal to the average percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index each year. The bill also amends the documentation a licensed crematory operator or crematory operator in charge is required to receive, prior to the cremation of any dead human body, to only a completed and executed coroner’s permit to cremate, if required under the Uniform Vital Statistics Act (Act).

House Bill 2390

HB 2390 reviews, amends, and adds exceptions to the Kansas Opens Records Act (KORA) and creates and amends law regarding the filing of fraudulent liens.

House Bill 2391

HB 2391 amends law related to the Office of the Secretary of State. The bill revises and updates certain provisions pertaining to business and other related filings and repeals obsolete laws.

House Bill 2405

HB 2405 authorizes the Kansas Development Finance Authority (KDFA) to issue bonds, in one or more series, in an amount not to exceed $500.0 million, plus all amounts required to pay the costs of issuance. Proceeds from those bonds must be applied to the unfunded actuarial pension liability (UAL) of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS). The interest rate of those bonds may not exceed 4.3 percent. Bonds may not be issued without approval of the State Finance Council, which may give approval while the Legislature is in session. The bonds issued and interest owed would be an obligation of KDFA and not KPERS. The bonds issued would not be considered a debt or obligation of the State for purposes of the Kansas Constitution. The Department of Administration and the KDFA would be permitted to enter into contracts to implement the payment arrangements after the bonds are issued.

House Bill 2408

HB 2408 authorizes and directs the Executive Director of the Kansas Historical Society (KSHS), on behalf of the KSHS, to convey by quitclaim deed a 9.86 acre parcel of land in Doniphan County to the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska.

Senate Bill 26

House Sub. for SB 26 updates statutes related to the regulatory authority of the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) with regard to motor carriers.

Senate Bill 36

SB 36 amends procedures related to certain vehicle identification number (VIN) checks and transfer of ownership of certain salvage vehicles; prohibits a motor vehicle from being towed out of Kansas without the consent of the driver or owner of the vehicle; and makes technical changes, including changes to remove outdated language.

Senate Bill 38

SB 38 establishes a pesticide waste disposal program and adds and amends law regarding the roles of the Division of Conservation (Division) within the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) and the State Conservation Commission (Commission).

Senate Bill 67

SB 67 creates law regarding the right-of-way for funeral processions and for certain vehicles involved in utility repairs.

Senate Bill 95

SB 95 amends a requirement regarding odometer readings upon assignment of a vehicle title and amends the definitions for “all-terrain vehicle” (ATV) and “recreational offhighway vehicle” (ROV).

Senate Bill 103

SB 103 amends the Kansas Power of Attorney Act (Act) to state a power of attorney executed on or after July 1, 2021, is deemed sufficient if in substantial compliance with the form set forth by the Judicial Council, and the bill directs the Judicial Council to develop such form. The bill states the amendments made by the bill shall apply prospectively and shall not affect the validity of a power of attorney executed prior to July 1, 2021.

Senate Bill 106

SB 106 enacts the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA) and repeals the Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (ULONA), as well as other current laws regarding notaries. Throughout RULONA, some provisions from ULONA and other current law are continued, reorganized, or updated without substantive changes. The bill also updates references to ULONA in other areas of statute. This summary sets forth the RULONA structure and notes provisions containing substantive changes or additions to ULONA and other current law provisions.

Senate Bill 107

SB 107 enacts the Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act [UFIPA] and repeals the Uniform Principal and Income Act (1997) [UPIA]. Throughout the UFIPA, some provisions from UPIA are continued, reorganized, or updated without substantive changes. The bill also amends one statute within the Kansas Uniform Trust Code (UTC). This brief summarizes the UFIPA structure and notes provisions containing substantive changes or additions to UPIA provisions.

Senate Bill 122

SB 122 amends various sections within the Kansas Rules of Evidence (Rules).

Senate Bill 142

SB 142 requires an operator of any watercraft vessel to require every person on such vessel age 12 or younger to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device while aboard or being towed by a vessel unless the person is below decks or in an enclosed cabin. The bill requires the Secretary of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism to promulgate rules and regulations regarding required personal flotation devices. Currently, regulation of personal flotation devices is set in statute.

Senate Bill 143

SB 143 updates and rearranges definitions regarding grain and grain warehouses, clarifies when applications for licenses should be made, removes a reference regarding an independent public accountant, clarifies the fee for a functional unit license, increases the caps for storage fees, and increases the allowable examination period for grain warehouses.

Senate Bill 178

SB 178 amends provisions in the Kansas Banking Code governing organization and supervision to permit a national bank, federal savings association, or federal savings bank to convert to a state trust company. The bill also permits a trust company to convert its charter to one of the above-named financial institutions.

Governor Laura Kelly Signs Military Family Bill

TOPEKA – Today, Governor Laura Kelly signed a bipartisan measure to help keep veterans and their families living and working in Kansas.

House Bill 2066, the Occupational License Reciprocity bill, provides License Reciprocity – recognition of a license gained in one state by another, in this case Kansas – to military spouses and all Kansans. The bill was signed into law by Governor Kelly in a public ceremony on Wednesday afternoon.

“This bill is a win-win for our veterans and military families and our continued economic recovery following COVID-19,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “By providing Occupational Licensing Reciprocity, this bipartisan legislation will benefit our state’s military community, help our employers who rely on licensing for hiring, and spur economic growth statewide.”

HB 2066 expands the existing law to make it easier for military spouses from other states to use their professional licenses in Kansas by expediting key elements of the licensing process.

Occupational Licensing has grown rapidly in the U.S., with nearly 25% of all Americans relying on a license for employment. As each state has developed its own set of guidelines for each license, transferability of licensing has become expensive and time consuming unless a reciprocity program is in place.

“Our state’s Framework for Growth is clear: Kansas is facing a significant working-age population decline,” Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland said. “Transferable occupational licensing and eased requirements on license reciprocity for military spouses represent a creative approach to making sure our state is able to accommodate as many professionals as possible. Kansas veterans are unmatched in their conviction and professionalism, and we should do everything we can to keep them and their families in our state. Thank you to Representative Croft, our other partners in the Legislature and Governor Kelly for making this happen.”

To read HB 2066, click here.

 

April 16, 2021

 

Governor Vetoes Tax RELIEF that would Slow Government Growth

It is not a surprise but disappointing the Governor vetoed Senate Bill (SB) 50.  The bill would provide some RELIEF for Kansas taxpayers by allowing them to keep more of their hard-earned money.  There were several items in the bill.  There are too many to list but here are a few key items.  It would give Kansas taxpayers the option to itemize whether they itemize on their federal return or not.  The bill would also increase state standard deductions by $500 so individual deductions would increase to $3,500 and married filing jointly to $8,000.  It also would allow a deduction on money spent on business meals.  Additionally, it would allow net operating losses to be carried forward and would allow all to expense tangible property deductions, something corporations in Kansas can already do.  It would also extend the corporate filing deadline by 30 days past the IRS deadline.

 

The Governor called the bill “irresponsible”.  Since when is it irresponsible to lower the tax burden for Kansans, especially since taxes collected from July 2020 to March 2021 are up $232.8 million above estimates.  The Department of Revenue estimates that SB 50 will decrease taxes collect by $94 million.  The responsible action would be to make SB 50 the law decreasing taxpayers’ burden, especially with the hardships they have faced this past year.  There will be an attempt at a veto override in early May when the legislature returns to Topeka.

 

Unemployment

The Kansas unemployment system has been one of the largest mismanaged disasters in Kansas.  It did not happen overnight.  It has been building for years and when the Governor shut down most businesses last year, the system that had been a failure became a complete disaster.  Over the years the legislature has allocated money to update the system, but it was never completed.  Kansas had one of the highest numbers of known fraudulent unemployment applications in the nations.  The unemployment funds have been depleted and businesses that pay unemployment tax were looking at major increased payment obligations.

 

Senate Substitute for House Bill (Sen Sub HB) 2196 addresses all these issues.  Representative Sean Tarwater lead the effort and I was glad to help.  We spent many hours on this legislation.  It is unique because we were trying to mandate a new unemployment system.  The bill establishes an oversight council that is a major stakeholder in the project to help keep the system update on target.  The bill also changes the tax table for businesses and shores up funds with federal corona virus relief aid.  The bill passed both chambers unanimously.

 

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12^th District State Senator.

Caryn

Governor Laura Kelly Signs Several Pieces of Bipartisan Legislation

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today signed several bipartisan bills that will implement meaningful changes for Kansans, communities, and businesses.

House Bill 2071

HB 2071, as amended, would amend the definition of the crime of stalking to include intentionally engaging in a course of conduct targeted at a specific child under the age of 14 that would cause a reasonable person in the circumstances of the targeted child, or a reasonable person in the circumstances of an immediate family member of such child, to fear for such child’s safety.

House Bill 2085

HB 2085 creates the Students’ Right to Know Act, which requires the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) to ensure the distribution, electronic or otherwise, of certain information to all students in grades 7 through 12. Information to be distributed will include:

• The State Board of Regents degree prospectus information;
• The placement and salary report of the Kansas Training Information Program;
  and
• Any other information relevant to students’ understanding of potential earnings as determined by the Department of Labor and each branch of the armed services of the U.S. military.

The bill also authorizes KSDE to enter into memorandums of understanding and other agreements with state agencies or other entities as needed to accomplish this task.

House Bill 2101

HB 2101 extends the current transfer of the first $10.5 million credited to the Expanded Lottery Act Revenues Fund (ELARF) from ELARF to the Kan-grow Engineering Fund – KU, the Kan-grow Engineering Fund – KSU, and the Kan-grow Engineering Fund – WSU with each fund receiving equal amounts of $3.5 million in each fiscal year, for FY 2023 through FY 2032. The transfer first occurred in FY 2013 and is currently scheduled to end with the transfer in FY 2022.

House Bill 2165

HB 2165, as amended, would amend the definition of an antique vehicle for purposes of vehicle registration.

House Bill 2167

HB 2167, as amended, would add two exceptions to law requiring a license plate to be attached to the rear of a motor vehicle. The bill would allow concrete mixer trucks the option to display a license plate on the front of the vehicle rather than on the rear of the vehicle and would require a dump truck with a gross weight of 26,000 pounds or more to display a license plate on the front of the vehicle. The requirement for a dump truck to display a license plate on the front of the vehicle would not apply to a vehicle registered as a farm truck.

House Bill 2245

HB 2245, as amended, would add law authorizing the Division of Vehicles (Division), Department of Revenue, to collect emergency contact information and would provide for the use of such information by law enforcement agencies.

House Bill 2247

HB 2247, as amended, would designate portions of highway in Johnson, Marshall, and Norton counties as memorial highways and would designate certain bridges in Cowley, Riley, and Seward counties as memorial bridges.

House Bill 2379

HB 2379 enacts the Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Vehicle Sharing Program Act.

Senate Bill 16

SB 16 would amend statutes to remove requirements that the following reports and certifications be provided to the Legislative Division of Post Audit (LPA), the Post Auditor, or the Legislative Post Audit Committee.

Senate Bill 89

SB 89, as amended, would amend law on securing loads on vehicles to create an exemption for trucks, trailers, or semitrailers when hauling agricultural forage commodities intrastate from the place of production to a market or place of storage or from a place of storage to a place of use. The bill would state this exemption would not apply to trucks, trailers, or semitrailers hauling hay bales or other packaged or bundled forage commodities. Continuing law requires securing a load on a vehicle so as to prevent any of this load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping.

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Governor Laura Kelly Signs Several Pieces of Bipartisan Legislation

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today signed several bipartisan bills that will implement meaningful changes for Kansans, communities, and businesses.

House Bill 2071

HB 2071, as amended, would amend the definition of the crime of stalking to include intentionally engaging in a course of conduct targeted at a specific child under the age of 14 that would cause a reasonable person in the circumstances of the targeted child, or a reasonable person in the circumstances of an immediate family member of such child, to fear for such child’s safety.

House Bill 2085

HB 2085 creates the Students’ Right to Know Act, which requires the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) to ensure the distribution, electronic or otherwise, of certain information to all students in grades 7 through 12. Information to be distributed will include:

• The State Board of Regents degree prospectus information;
• The placement and salary report of the Kansas Training Information Program;
  and
• Any other information relevant to students’ understanding of potential earnings as determined by the Department of Labor and each branch of the armed services of the U.S. military.

The bill also authorizes KSDE to enter into memorandums of understanding and other agreements with state agencies or other entities as needed to accomplish this task.

House Bill 2101

HB 2101 extends the current transfer of the first $10.5 million credited to the Expanded Lottery Act Revenues Fund (ELARF) from ELARF to the Kan-grow Engineering Fund – KU, the Kan-grow Engineering Fund – KSU, and the Kan-grow Engineering Fund – WSU with each fund receiving equal amounts of $3.5 million in each fiscal year, for FY 2023 through FY 2032. The transfer first occurred in FY 2013 and is currently scheduled to end with the transfer in FY 2022.

House Bill 2165

HB 2165, as amended, would amend the definition of an antique vehicle for purposes of vehicle registration.

House Bill 2167

HB 2167, as amended, would add two exceptions to law requiring a license plate to be attached to the rear of a motor vehicle. The bill would allow concrete mixer trucks the option to display a license plate on the front of the vehicle rather than on the rear of the vehicle and would require a dump truck with a gross weight of 26,000 pounds or more to display a license plate on the front of the vehicle. The requirement for a dump truck to display a license plate on the front of the vehicle would not apply to a vehicle registered as a farm truck.

House Bill 2245

HB 2245, as amended, would add law authorizing the Division of Vehicles (Division), Department of Revenue, to collect emergency contact information and would provide for the use of such information by law enforcement agencies.

House Bill 2247

HB 2247, as amended, would designate portions of highway in Johnson, Marshall, and Norton counties as memorial highways and would designate certain bridges in Cowley, Riley, and Seward counties as memorial bridges.

House Bill 2379

HB 2379 enacts the Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Vehicle Sharing Program Act.

Senate Bill 16

SB 16 would amend statutes to remove requirements that the following reports and certifications be provided to the Legislative Division of Post Audit (LPA), the Post Auditor, or the Legislative Post Audit Committee.

Senate Bill 89

SB 89, as amended, would amend law on securing loads on vehicles to create an exemption for trucks, trailers, or semitrailers when hauling agricultural forage commodities intrastate from the place of production to a market or place of storage or from a place of storage to a place of use. The bill would state this exemption would not apply to trucks, trailers, or semitrailers hauling hay bales or other packaged or bundled forage commodities. Continuing law requires securing a load on a vehicle so as to prevent any of this load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping.

Governor Laura Kelly Remains Committed to Fiscal Responsibility, Vetoes Senate Bill 50

TOPEKA – The following message is from Governor Laura Kelly regarding her veto of Senate Bill 50:

“Last year, despite COVID-19, Kansas experienced a record-setting $2.5 billion in new investment from businesses. These companies chose to make Kansas home in large part due to the state’s recent investments in our economic development tools, prioritizing funding for infrastructure improvements, and reinvesting in our students.

“As many of you with whom I served well remember, in order to provide sustainable funding for essential government services, we cannot return to the era of perennial, self-inflicted budget crises that undermine the very fabric and foundation of our state.”

“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto Senate Bill 50.”

Kansas Department of Health and Environment Reports on Third Year of Statewide Survey of Mothers

Topeka – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has released its third annual report from the Kansas Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). The 2019 PRAMS Surveillance Report provides insight from women who were interviewed in the months following the birth of their infant, about their health and experiences around the time of pregnancy. Forty-seven states participate in the PRAMS survey, covering about 83% of all live births in the United States.

Kansas joined the PRAMS project in 2016 and began data collection in 2017. The PRAMS survey helps shed light on issues that affect the well-being of mothers and infants. Some of these issues, such as postpartum depression and stressors experienced around the time of pregnancy, had never been studied at the statewide level in Kansas before the PRAMS study.

Some notable findings from the 2019 Kansas PRAMS survey include:

• Nearly 1 in 8 mothers who went for prenatal care (12.1%) reported not receiving prenatal care when they wanted it. Among those who either did not get prenatal care when they wanted it, or did not have any prenatal care, the most frequently reported barriers were that they couldn’t get an appointment when they wanted one (36.4%), and that they didn’t know they were pregnant (32.5%).
• More than 1 in 6 mothers (16.9%) had smoked cigarettes in the 3 months before pregnancy. Among those who smoked 3 months before pregnancy and went for prenatal care, 79.4% reported that a healthcare worker had advised during a prenatal care visit that they quit smoking.
• More than 1 in 8 mothers (13.8%) reported that there was a time after their infant was born that they thought they needed treatment or counseling for depression, but did not get it.
• Nearly 3 in 4 mothers (72.1%) reported breastfeeding their infants for at least 8 weeks.
• More than 1 in 17 women (6.1%) reported having at least “a lot” of difficulty with at least one of six tasks (seeing, hearing, walking, remembering or concentrating, self care, or communicating).

This report also includes information on trends and demographic disparities for some outcomes, from survey years 2017 through 2019. For instance, the prevalence of reporting that prenatal care started in the first trimester increased, from 85.7% among women with a live birth in 2017, to 90.0% among women with a live birth in 2019. However, racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities were observed. For instance, non-Hispanic Black women and Hispanic women with a live birth in 2017-2019 had a lower prevalence of self-reported first-trimester prenatal care, compared to non-Hispanic White women.

“This report reveals many gaps that still need to be addressed,” said Dr. Farah Ahmed, Environmental Health Officer and State Epidemiologist with KDHE. “For instance, we continue to see many women reporting needing counseling for depression after having a baby and not receiving it. We also see missed opportunities to advise all pregnant women who smoke to quit smoking during prenatal care visits.”

“Current data validates the collaborative work underway to support mothers in accessing the care they need at a time that’s right for them,” said Rachel Sisson, Director of the KDHE Bureau of Family Health. “Mothers reported they did not receive prenatal care when they wanted it. For some, a contributing factor to timely prenatal care was not knowing they were pregnant. It’s critical that community providers caring for women of childbearing age conduct comprehensive assessments at every visit to determine their goals and needs.”

The report is available online at:  www.kdheks.gov/prams/downloads/Kansas_PRAMS_2019_Surveillance_Report.pdf.  For more information about the PRAMS project in Kansas, visit: www.kdheks.gov/prams.

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Governor Kelly’s Advantage Kansas Coordinating Council Holds First Meeting on Improving Workforce Development in Kansas

TOPEKA – The Advantage Kansas Coordinating Council held its first meeting Monday, officially beginning its work to implement Governor Laura Kelly’s vision of Kansas having the best educated, most skilled workforce in the Midwest.

The Governor signed an Executive Order in March establishing the Advantage Kansas Coordinating Council, which creates a statewide forum for crafting policy and legislative proposals aimed at workforce development.

“This council will align our education system with the needs of business and industry to build the robust pipeline of skilled workers needed to ensure we don’t fall behind in a constantly-evolving economy,” Governor Kelly said. “We must invest in our children and our businesses to create opportunities for all Kansans.”

During Tuesday’s meeting, the Council committed itself to the Governor’s 5-year vision of being the best in the Midwest in three key areas:

1. Post-secondary readiness and success;
2. Preparation for high-wage, high-demand, high-skilled, critical need occupations and;
3. Business expansion, attraction, and retention.

The Council reviewed findings surrounding Kansas’s economic competitiveness from the state’s new economic development strategy, the Framework for Growth. After assessing the state’s existing advantages and areas for growth, the Council delved into educational attainment data in Kansas, identifying information gaps and metrics to assess growth in workforce development opportunities like apprenticeships, certifications, and more. The group concluded the meeting by organizing itself into three workgroups, each focused on one of three priority areas identified by the Governor:

• The Jump Start Kansas team will work on post-secondary readiness and success, helping to improve work based and applied learning opportunities in the state;
• The Talent Ready Kansas team will focus on preparation for high-wage, high-demand,, high-skilled, critical need occupations in Kansas, working to expand apprenticeship programs and increasing industry preparation in higher-education;
• The Opportunity Kansas team will center its work on business expansion, attraction, and retention, helping to make Kansas the best place to live, invest, and grow.

The Advantage Kansas Council will meet monthly, with the next full-council meeting scheduled for May 12^th. All meetings will be streamed live and notice will be posted via Public Square. Members of the public can view the meeting on the Board of Regent’s YouTube page here and access the meeting documents here.

Governor Kelly appointed the following members:

• Alan Cobb, Topeka, Co-Chair
• Shelly Kiblinger, Cherryvale, Co-Chair
• Vijay Ramasamy, Topeka, Governor’s Office Representative
• Dr. Cindy Lane, Kansas City, Governor’s Office Representative
• Ann Mah, Topeka, State Board of Education Representative
• Jean Clifford, Garden City, State Board of Education Representative
• Dr. Randy Watson, McPherson, KS Commissioner of Education
• Dr. Blake Flanders, Topeka, President and CEO of KBOR
• Trent Armbrust, Manhattan, KS Department of Commerce
• Matt Lindsey, Lawrence, Kansas Independent Colleges Association
• Becky Wolfe, Augusta, Chamber of Commerce Executives of Kansas
• Bob Hale, Kansas City, Organized Labor Association Representative