January 31, 2020 ∙ Week Three

HARD FACTS

Medicaid Expansion

·      Expanding Medicaid would cause approximately 55,000 Kansans who currently purchase their own insurance through the private market to be automatically shifted to Medicaid according to the Kansas Health Institute.

·      Total net costs to the state for FY2021 are estimated (by the Kansas Health Institute) to be $15.3 million for newly eligible adults, $14.1 million for currently eligible, newly enrolled adults, and $34.4 million for newly enrolled children.

Property Tax Facts:

·      According to the Kansas Department of Revenue property taxes in Kansas increased 164% from 1997 to 2018. The rate of inflation during that time period was only 49.5%.

·       Property tax collections have risen by more than $1 billion over the past decade. Kansans now pay more than $5 billion in property taxes each year, according to a 2019 analysis by WalletHub.

Getting ready to apply for college?

Improving your test scores just got easier with LearningExpress Library, available from the State Library of Kansas. LearningExpress Library is an online resource that includes practice tests and tutorials for PSAT, ACT and SAT as well as AP and essay writing help. There is no charge to use LearningExpress and no limit to the number of times you can take the practice tests. Becoming familiar with and comfortable with the testing format and the types of questions helps to improve test scores. Go to https://kslib.info/LearningExpress click on College Preparation Center.

Easy registration and self-supplied password is necessary and helps you save your practice tests and tutorials. If the page above asks for a Kansas Library eCard number, you may get one at any library in Kansas. Most people will be automatically recognized as being in Kansas and will not need this step.  Questions: [email protected] or 785-296-3296.

FLOOR ACTION

(SCR 1613) With a vote of 28-12(I voted in favor of this bill), the Kansas Senate Passed the Value Them Both Amendment to reverse the Supreme Court ruling that threatened to destroy all abortion regulation in Kansas.

After four hours of debate and multiple proposed amendments, the Senate approval now leaves the matter to the Kansas House to consider. Debate in the House should take place next week with Representatives Susan Humphries and Susan Concannon carrying the resolution.

The Value Them Both Constitutional Amendment is needed to protect current Kansas abortion regulations such as parental consent, informed consent, the late-term abortion ban, and clinic regulations.

While this constitutional amendment protects life and the safety of Kansas women, it should be argued it also does more. It is about preserving three separate branches of government. The legislative branch was designed to create laws. Legislators are held accountable and elected by voters.  Effectively removing laws voters already approved is an overreach of the judicial branch of government.

A “yes” vote on the ballot for the Value Them Both Constitutional Amendment keeps regulations and laws already in place and approved by voters, on the books. Abortion regulation allows us to value both the mother and the child and regulate a health care industry in the same way all other industries are regulated for public safety.

I had the opportunity to show Allyson Wells and her family around the Senate Chamber after she was recognized for being a first place winner in the Kansas Historical Societies Photo Contest.

COMING UP NEXT WEEK

Monday, February 3 (Last day for individual bill requests)

Ø Hearing: SB 284 — Providing motor vehicle disability placards for school districts and interlocal cooperatives. (1:30, Education, 144-S)

Ø Hearing: SB 277 — Clarifying the authority of healing arts school clinics to provide healing arts services.(1:30, Education, 144-S)

Tuesday, February 4

Ø Hearing: SB 251 — Allow businesses to elect to file certain business reports with the secretary of state annually, biennially or triennially.(8:30, Commerce, 548-S)

Ø Hearing: SB 288 — Designating a portion of United States highway 77 as the Cpl. Allen E. Oatney and SP4 Gene A. Myers memorial highway.(8:30, Transportation, 546-S)

Ø Hearing: SB 248 — Extraterritorial zoning, subdivision regulations; mailed notice to landowners of record. (9:30, Ethics, Elections and Local Government, 142-S)

Ø Hearing: SB 312 — Imposing a civil fine for operating a childcare facility without a license.(9:30, Public Health and Welfare, 118-N)

Ø Hearing: SB 220 — Licensure of professional occupations allowing certain persons with criminal or civil records that would otherwise disqualify such persons from licensure to receive a license; add state board of education to exempt agencies.

Ø (10:30, Federal and State Affairs, 144-S)

Ø Hearing: SB 319 — Clarifying that bond agents are required to return certain people released on bond to the court in the county where the bond was issued. (10:30, Judiciary, 346-S)

Ø Hearing: SB 331 — Authorizing department of corrections employees and local correctional or detention officers to have identifying information restricted from public access on public websites that identify home addresses or home ownership. (10:30, Judiciary, 346-S)

Ø Hearing: SB 332 — Changing requirements for court orders directing a child to remain in a present or future placement issued for children in need of care.(10:30, Judiciary, 346-S)

Ø Hearing: SB 271 — Repealing the sunset provision for the high-density at-risk weighting. (1:30, Education, 144-S)

Wednesday, February 5

Ø Hearing: SB 285 — Extending the existence of the UST redevelopment fund and compensation advisory board to 2032. (8:30, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 159-S)

Ø Hearing: SB 286 — Amending the Kansas storage tank act by increasing the maximum liability of and extending the sunset of the aboveground fund and the underground fund. (8:30, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 159-S)

Ø Hearing: SB 287 — Amending the Kansas storage tank act by extending the expiration of certain reimbursement provisions to 2030 and increasing the underground storage tank replacement reimbursement maximum. (8:30, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 159-S)

Ø Hearing: SB 267 — Clarifying that a violation of the statute requiring secured vehicle loads is a traffic infraction. (8:30, Transportation, 546-S)

Ø Hearing: SB 305 — Increasing the bond amount required for a vehicle dealer license. (8:30, Transportation, 546-S)

Ø Hearing: SB 294 — Establishing notice and public hearing requirements prior to approval by a governing body to exceed its certified tax rate for property tax purposes. (9:30, Assessment and Taxation, 548-S)

Ø Hearing: SB 299 — Expand the campaign finance act to cover unified school districts having 5,000 or more students and community colleges. (9:30, Ethics, Elections and Local Government, 142-S)

Ø Hearing: SB 290 — Updating how the securities commissioner may be appointed and removed.(9:30, Financial Institutions and Insurance, 546-S)

Ø Hearing: SB 291 — Authorizing subpoena and investigative powers for the commissioner of insurance and certain law enforcement powers for insurance investigators in pursuance of insurance fraud violations.(9:30, Financial Institutions and Insurance, 546-S)

Ø Discussion and Action on SB 252 — Expanding medical assistance eligibility and implementing a health insurance plan reinsurance program. (9:30, Public Health and Welfare, 118-N)

Ø Hearing: SB 333 — Modifying criminal procedures relating to a defendant’s competency or incompetency to stand trial.(10:30, Judiciary, 346-S)

Ø Hearing: SB 334 — Modifying certain rules of evidence in the code of civil procedure related to authentication of records and documents.(10:30, Judiciary, 346-S)

Ø Hearing: SB 321 — Amortizing the state and school KPERS unfunded actuarial liability over a 25-year period and authorizing the transfer of $268,412,000 from the state general fund to the KPERS fund during fiscal year 2020 and eliminating certain level-dollar employer contribution payments.(10:30, Ways and Means, 548-S)

Thursday, February 6

Ø Hearing: SB 300 — Prohibiting the sale of unpasteurized milk for human consumption. (8:30, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 159-S)

Ø Hearing: SB 302 — Granting the secretary of revenue the authority to set letters and numerals for license plates and removing the requirement that plates be shipped to the county treasurer.(8:30, Transportation, 546-S)

Ø Hearing: SB 306 — Exempting motor vehicle odometer reading recording requirements when such recording requirements are exempted by federal law.(8:30, Transportation, 546-S)

Ø Hearing: SB 295 — Prohibiting property tax valuation increase solely as the result of normal repair, replacement or maintenance of existing structure.(9:30, Assessment and Taxation, 548-S)

Ø Hearing continuation: SB 291 — Authorizing subpoena and investigative powers for the commissioner of insurance and certain law enforcement powers for insurance investigators in pursuance of insurance fraud violations.(9:30, Financial Institutions and Insurance, 546-S)

Ø Hearing: SB 303 — Providing for the fingerprinting of certain employees and contractors of the insurance department who have access to confidential information. (9:30, Financial Institutions and Insurance, 546-S)

Ø Discussion and Action on SB 252 — Expanding medical assistance eligibility and implementing a health insurance plan reinsurance program. (9:30, Public Health and Welfare, 118-N)

Ø Hearing: SB 254 — Concerning requirements of publication of certain documents by the secretary of state; relating to session laws, the Kansas register, proposed amendments to the constitution of the state of Kansas, and Kansas administrative rules and regulations and guidance documents.(10:30, Federal and State Affairs, 144-S)

Friday, February 7 (Pro Forma)

Ø There are no bill hearings scheduled for Friday. Many committees will meet on call of the chair.