State senator Richard Hilderbrand 13th district
communications from the state capitol
January 18, 2019∙ Week One
HARD FACTS:
- According to the Kansas Department of Commerce, in 2018 Kansas added over 11,000 new jobs and $1.7 billion in capital investment (Kansas Department of Commerce).
- GEICO announced a new service center in Lenexa, adding 500 new jobs (Kansas Department of Commerce).
- Spirit AeroSystems announced another major expansion with plans to add over 1,400 new jobs in the Wichita area (Kansas Department of Commerce).
- Since December 2017, Kansas gained 20,100 seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs and 17,200 private sector jobs (Kansas Department of Labor).
The Kansas Constitution, including the Ordinance, Preamble, and Bill of Rights, is available to print in a pocket-sized version from the State Library’s website https://kslib.info/constitution. Just click on the link and follow the instructions. A helpful diagram shows how to fold and where to cut to assemble your pocket-sized constitution. Tip: print double sided and check “flip on the long edge”. A long reach stapler is helpful, but not necessary. There is also a larger sized booklet version. Need help? https://kslib.info/Ask
FLOOR ACTION
Thursday the Senate voted to confirm 17 governor nominated appointments and 2 attorney general nominated appointments.
NEW APPOINTMENTS:
Bowser, Steven – Member, Pool Money Investment Board
Confirmed on a vote of 40-0
Fertig, Sarah– Medicaid Inspector General
Confirmed on a vote of 40-0
Hutton, Mark – Regent, State Board of Regents
Confirmed on a vote of 39-0
Schmidt, Allen – Regent, State Board of Regents
Confirmed on a vote of 40-0
Samaniego, Richard– Crime Victims Compensation Board
Confirmed on a vote of 40-0
Norris, Eric– State Librarian
Confirmed on a vote of 40-0
Thomas, Donna Dr. – Member, University of Kansas Hospital Authority
Confirmed on a vote of 40-0
Copeland, Michael – Member, University of Kansas Hospital Authority
Confirmed on a vote of 40-0
REAPPOINTMENTS:
Dillon, David– Member, University of Kansas Hospital Authority
Confirmed on a vote of 40-0
Feurborn, William– Regent, State Board of Regents
Confirmed on a vote of 40-0
Graves, Gregory– Member, University of Kansas Hospital Authority
Confirmed on a vote of 40-0
Lair, Casey– Member, Kansas State Banking Board
Confirmed on a vote of 40-0
Macke, Carroll– Member, State Civil Service Board
Confirmed on a vote of 40-0
Melugin, Raymond– Member, State Civil Service Board,
Confirmed on a vote of 40-0
Neuman, Jack– Member, University of Kansas Hospital Authority
Confirmed on a vote of 40-0
Schorn, Harold – Member, Kansas Human Rights Commission
Confirmed on a vote of 40-0
Waller Ryan– Member, Employment Security Board of Review
Confirmed on a vote of 40-0
Wright, Jerel– Administrator, Department of Credit Unions
Confirmed on a vote of 40-0
Wynn, Deryl– Member, University of Kansas Hospital Authority
Confirmed on a vote of 40-0
GOVERNOR KELLY’S INAUGURATION
On Monday, January 14th, Laura Kelly was sworn in as the 48th Governor of the State of Kansas. Governor Kelly enters the Governor’s office after serving 14 years in the Kansas Senate, representing Topeka.
The following state officials were also sworn into office on Monday:
Lynn Rogers, Lieutenant Governor
Derek Schmidt, Attorney General
Scott Schwab, Secretary of State
Vicki Schmidt, Insurance Commissioner
Jake LaTurner, State Treasurer
NEW SENATORS
The Kansas Senate had four new faces Monday. Kevin Braun (R-Kansas City) replaces Steve Fitzgerald after he resigned from the Senate in September. Vic Miller (D-Topeka) took Laura Kelly’s seat in the Senate. Eric Rucker (R-Topeka) took Vicki Schmidt’s seat in the Senate as she is now Insurance Commissioner. Mary Ware (D-Wichita) was chosen to replace Lynn Rogers in the Senate.
Richard Hilderbrand (R-Galena) was also sworn in after winning his special election in November.
STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
On Wednesday, Governor Laura Kelly delivered her first State of the State address. The governor laid out her agenda as she began her first term as governor. Some of her main agenda items include, more money to public education, increased funding to hire more social workers for DCF, and Medicaid expansion.
During her address, Kelly explained she would be proposing a one-year budget with a separate proposal for a two-year education plan.
GOVERNOR’S BUDGET PROPOSAL
Thursday morning, Governor Kelly presented her one-year budget proposal. The $18.4 billion spending plan would be the largest budget in Kansas history, with total spending rising $1.2 billion, or 7.2%.
Kelly’s proposal includes increased spending for areas such as K-12 education, DCF, and Medicaid expansion. Many lawmakers question the number Kelly presented for the cost of expanding Medicaid as many predict it to be well over the budget proposal’s estimate.
Below are some highlights from the governor’s budget proposal:
Kansas K-12 Education Finance
Governor Kelly recommended a $92 million inflation adjustment to state aid for K-12 public schools. This would be a phase in of $364 million over four years. With this increase, the state’s education funding would increase 5.5 percent during the next budget year, to nearly $4.4 billion.
Department for Children and Families
The budget proposed a 14 percent increase in spending on foster care programs. Governor Kelly’s agenda includes the hiring of 55 additional social workers. This would increase the department’s budget 8.7 percent, to $727 million.
Medicaid Expansion
Kelly’s budget included $14 million to initiate Medicaid expansion in Kansas. She explained that an expansion plan would be submitted to the Legislature by the end of the month.
State Employee Salary Increase
The budget provided $22 million for a 2.5 percent salary increase for state employees, excluding the judicial system and legislative branch. An additional $3 million was earmarked to increase wages for officers of the Kansas Department of Corrections.
Kansas Board of Regents
The budget proposal would complete restoration of a 4 percent, or $30 million, cut in 2017 from the Board of Regents. Most of the money was previously restored to universities, but Kelly offered the final $8.9 million to be recovered. This restoration does not include previous cuts from 2008.
Re-amortization of KPERS
Kelly’s budget was built around the re-amortization of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System which essentially refinances the remaining $8.9 billion debt over 30 years. This is meant to provide $160 million in “short-term savings” but will extend the system’s debt until the year 2049. Larry Campbell, Governor Kelly’s budget director, said the debt would become an additional cost of about $7 billion.
Senate Leadership including, President Wagle, Vice President Longbine, Majority Leader Denning, Assistant Majority Leader Petersen, and Majority Whip Bowers, issued the following statement in response:
“Governor Kelly’s budget is simply taking a different path that inevitably spends us right back into the red. She is willing to fund her irresponsible spending agenda at the expense of our Kansas retirees while placing an additional $7 billion burden on our future generations.”
Transfers of Kansas Department of Transportation
$238 million would continue to be drawn annually from KDOT to finance basic government.
NEXT WEEK
Monday –
- The Legislature will be closed on Monday, January 21st to observe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Tuesday –
- Hearing on: SB 9, authorizing the transfer of $115,000,000 from the state general fund to the Kansas public employees retirement fund during fiscal year 2019 – [Senate Ways and Means Committee; January 22 at 10:30 am]
Wednesday –
- Presentation on: Kansas Department of Revenue, David N. Harper, Director – [Senate Transportation Committee; January 23rd at 8:30 am]
- Briefing on: Mental Health Task Force Report and Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities – [Senate Ways and Means Committee; January 23rd at 10:30 am]
- Presentation on: Cost of Special Education Funding, LPA – [Senate Education Committee; January 23rd at 1:30 pm]
- Response to KCC Rate Study, Chuck Caisley, SVP, Marketing and Public Affairs for Evergy – [Senate Utilities Committee; January 23rd at 1:30 pm]
Thursday –
- Presentation on: Kansas State University programs by Interim Dean/Director Ernie Milton – [Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee; January 24th at 8:30 am]
- Presentation on: Kansas Highway Patrol, Colonel Mark Bruce, Superintendent – [Senate Transportation Committee; January 24th at 8:30 am]
- Informational briefing: Local Impact of Federal Farm Bill, Department of Agriculture – [Senate Ways and Means Committee; January 24th at 10:30 am]
- Presentation on: Mental Health Awareness: KS School Counselor Association, KS School Psychologist Association, KS School Social Worker Association – [Senate Education Committee; January 24th at 1:30 pm]
2019 SESSION DATES AND DEADLINES
Please be aware of the following dates and deadlines for the 2019 legislative session. As always, each is subject to modification and leadership will keep you updated on any changes which might occur.
| Monday, January 21 | Martin Luther King Day – No Session |
| Monday, February 4 | Last day for members to request bill drafts |
| Monday, February 11 | Last day for non-exempt committees to request bill drafts |
| Wednesday, February 13 | Last day for bill introductions by members |
| Friday, February 15 | Last day for non-exempt committee bill introduction |
| Monday, February 25 | Last day for AM/PM committees to meet |
| Tuesday, February 26 | On floor all day |
| Wednesday, February 27 | On floor all day |
| Thursday, February 28 | Turnaround Day, last day for non-exempt bills in house of origin |
| March 1-5 | No session |
| Friday, March 22 | Last day for non-exempt committee consideration |
| March 25-26 | On floor all day |
| Wednesday, March 27 | On floor all day; Last day to consider non-exempt bills not in originating chamber |
| March 28-31 | No Session |
| Friday, April 5 | Drop dead day; first adjournment |
| Wednesday, May 1 | Veto Session begins |
| Friday, May 17 | Day 90 |
Thank You for Engaging
Thank you for all your calls, emails, and letters regarding your thoughts and concerns about happenings in Kansas. Constituent correspondence helps inform my decision-making process and is taken into great consideration when I cast my vote in the Kansas Senate. I hope you’ll continue to engage with me on the issues that matter most to you, your family, and our community. If you are on Twitter or Facebook, I encourage you to follow along with the #ksleg hashtag for real-time updates on legislative happenings in Topeka.
Please know that I am fully committed to addressing the current issues in our state, and I am proud to be your voice in the Kansas Senate.