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Newsletter from State Senator Hilderbrand

State senator Richard Hilderbrand 13th district

communications from the state capitol

January 18, 2019∙ Week One

HARD FACTS:

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 –

Tuesday –

Wednesday –

Thursday –

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.

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