Governor signs bill establishing the Commercial Industrial Hemp Program
Requires a plan to monitor and regulate hemp in Kansas
To further support Kansas’ agricultural economy and provide farmers with an option for diversification, Governor Laura Kelly signed the Senate Substitute for House Bill 2167 today, establishing the Commercial Industrial Hemp Program.
“The Commercial Industrial Hemp Program represents a significant step forward for our agricultural economy. It will provide another crop option for Kansas farmers in the coming years,” Governor Kelly said. “I’m proud that Kansas is moving forward with this program and I look forward to working with the Kansas Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture and others to encourage growth in this new industry.”
Senate Substitute for House Bill 2167 requires the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA), in consultation with the governor and attorney general, to submit a plan to the United States Department of Agriculture outlining how the state will monitor and regulate the commercial production of industrial hemp in Kansas, in accordance with federal law. The commercial growing program will replace the existing research program once it is finalized and approved by USDA.
“This is the first step toward Kansas developing a plan to allow for commercial hemp production, introducing an option for diversification for Kansas farmers,” Secretary Mike Beam said. “We support new and innovative opportunities for agriculture growth, and this legislation allows Kansas to seek approval from USDA for advancing industrial hemp in Kansas.”
This year is the first year that industrial hemp can be grown in Kansas, and at this time it is only allowed within research programs as allowed by the 2014 Farm Bill. The opportunity to expand cultivation of industrial hemp for commercial use was made possible as part of the 2018 Farm Bill. Signing the bill today allows Kansas to begin development of the regulations for commercial use of industrial hemp.
“In recent years, Kansas farmers have faced significant challenges – including weather and trade tensions,” Kelly said. “I’m committed to doing all I can to support them and provide opportunities for diversification. This program provides another tool in the toolbox for Kansas farmers.”
Additionally, the bill establishes prohibitions on the production and marketing of specific products and establishes waste disposal requirements for industrial hemp processors. This legislation will become effective upon its publication in the Kansas Register.
This brings the total number of bills signed in the 2019 Legislative Session to 36, with one being vetoed. By law, the Kansas governor has 10 calendar days to sign bills into law, veto bills or allow bills to become law without her signature.
Applauds coalition of local officials for spearheading the legislation
In an effort to expand and improve voting opportunities in Kansas, Governor Laura Kelly signed House Substitute for Senate Bill 130 yesterday afternoon, amending the law concerning advance ballots, signature requirements and polling places.
“Over the past decade, we have seen countless efforts aimed at making voting more difficult in this state,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I hope this will be the first of many laws that help ensure that every voice is heard in our democratic process and that every vote is counted.”
House Substitute for Senate Bill 130 will give county election officials the discretion to allow all registered voters to cast their ballot at any polling place in their county on election day. It also requires county election officers to attempt to contact each voter who submitted an advance voting ballot without a signature or with a signature that does not match the signature on file. The voter will be allowed to correct their signature before the commencement of the final tallying of votes in that county.
“This law is about local control and protecting every vote,” Kelly said. “I applaud all of the local and state officials who worked together to make this law a reality, especially those in Sedgwick County who were the driving force behind it.”
This brings the total number of bills signed in the 2019 Legislative Session to 37, with one being vetoed. By law, the Kansas governor has 10 calendar days to sign bills into law, veto bills or allow bills to become law without her signature.
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Lynette Jackson, a second-grade teacher at Winfield Scott Elementary School, is retiring after 31 years in education.
“I taught first grade for one year in Shawnee, Oklahoma and thirty years have been with USD 234 as a K-3 teacher and instructional coach,” Jackson said.
Born and raised in Fort Scott, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Education and Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Pittsburg State University.
Several factors influenced her to become a teacher.
“One was the relationships I had with my former teachers,” she said. “I have great memories of school because my teachers made school fun and exciting. They also made me feel very secure and important. Although I’ve enjoyed school throughout my lifetime, my elementary years are the most memorable to me. Therefore, I became an elementary teacher.
“In thinking about all the teachers I’ve had from elementary school through college, I must say that the great majority of them had some influence on me, one way or another. I’m reminded of how important it was to be assured at school that I had potential and skills, that I could use in life to be successful. It was very important and with gratitude, I will never forget what they did for me as I was growing up. All my educators impacted my desire to teach and I hope I have repaid the debt to my past teachers that invested in me.”
Jackson believes a teacher has a mission.
“Being a teacher means being a nurse, counselor, substitute mom or dad, cheerleader, and disciplinarian,” she said. “It is my hope that I have been all these roles for my students over the years. I am flattered when a child says to me, ‘I want to be a teacher just like you.’ Have I given that youngster the best example I could to pattern his or her life and career?”
Jackson has had the privilege to work with colleagues that were past students.
“There is no better honor than working with someone that you once taught,” she said. “To see these students, grow up and have a career in education, is overwhelming. It is my hope they enjoy their careers and have many years in education as much as I have.”
As with all professions, there have been challenges.
“Several challenges I have faced over the years have been balancing the different learning styles of students, technology in the classroom, budget constraints, office politics, and lack of time to collaborate or implement new resources,” she said. “I would urge the community to get behind our schools and become knowledgeable about the educational trends we use at USD234 and become involved with our local school board and legislation.”
Jackson said she is hoping to spend time with her family and “enjoy attending my son’s school events.”
K-State Southwind District presents:
Gardening at Noon
at Heritage Park, May 2nd & 9th!
Spring has sprung, and it’s time
to get gardening.
Bring your lunch, a drink, and
come learn something new!
K-State Southwind Extension District presents two special
“Gardening at Noon” classes
at Heritage Park, 102 E. 1st Street in Fort Scott:
May 2nd – All About Herbs
Herbs are easy to grow in beds or containers. Join us to learn planting tips and sample some tasty recipes utilizing herbs.
May 9th – Attracting Butterflies
We need more pollinators! Learn how to attract more butterflies to your garden by selecting the right plants, planting in the right location, and
providing a water source.
All participants will receive a 25% off coupon to use for any gardening book in the Hedgehog.INK! Bookstore, located at 16 S. Main St. in Fort Scott!
Call 620-244-3826
for more information.
(Rain cancels events)
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April 12, 2019
The legislature is on break. However, as a legislator I am continuing to work throughout the district and on unresolved issues. I have had the opportunity to visit businesses, schools, and with others. It helps me represent you in Topeka.
Education Funding – How much is Enough? It is a question that is impacting every Kansan, whether you’re an employee of a school, a taxpayer, a parent, a student, or a future student. Money being an indicator of priority, then Kansas has made education the number one priority for many years. According to Division of Budget Comparison Report in 2001, over 50% of State General Fund (SGF) went to education. In the 2019 Report, over 50% of the SGF goes for education.
The 2019 SGF budget for departments and agencies is $7.1 billion, over $3.5 billion of that money will be spent on K-12. That is only state aid. It does not include local and federal money spent on 286 school districts in Kansas. Total K-12 spending, state, federal, and local money is over $6 billion.
There have been attempts to require more of the K-12 funding to go to the classroom and teachers. However, there is never a majority of legislators who support this effort.
The Kansas Department of Education (KSDE) website has reports available to give you more of an indication how the money is being spent and other topics are included. Interestingly, one of the reports shows the pupil-teacher ratio as 15.4 for the 2017-2018 school year. The calculation used for ratio was the total enrollment divided by total PK-12 teachers. PK-12 teachers includes practical arts/vocational teachers, kindergarten teachers, pre-kindergarten teachers, reading specialists/teachers, and all other teachers, calculated at a full-tine equivalency. https://datacentral.ksde.org/default.aspx
One expenditure that isn’t talked about much is what schools spend to lobby for more money. Legislative Post Audit has a limited scope report asking, “How Much Money Do a Small Sample of Counties, Cities, and School Districts Report to Us They Spent on Lobbyist or Associations with Lobbyists in 2017?” The three largest school districts, Wichita, Shawnee Mission, and Olathe schools reported spending around $1.4 million on lobbying in 2017. Taxpayer money spent to get more taxpayer money. (http://www.kslpa.org/media/files/reports/l-18-011.pdf Appendix C, page 15).
We can all agree that education is important. Kansas has made education the number one priority of the State and has been putting money toward that priority for years. What is our Return On Investment (ROI)? It’s time for a paradigm shift because the pattern of adding more money, no matter what amount, is never enough to satisfy the lawyers and the KS Supreme Court. Our objective should be based on student outcomes and the amount of money should be determined by the 165 legislators elected to do that job – not the Supreme Court.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn
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Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Tuesdays starting at 9:00
Date: April 16th, 2019
1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________
3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Kendell Mason
9:00-9:45-Jim Harris
10:00-10:15-2019 Budget Amendment
11:00-12:00-Justin Meeks
12:00-1:30-Commissioners gone to lunch
Justifications for Executive Session:
Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel
Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship
Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency
Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships
Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property
Matters relating to the security of a public body or agency, public building or facility or the information system of a public body or agency, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize the security of such public body, agency, building, facility or information system
Mary Alice Wallace, age 92, a resident of Forsythe, Missouri, passed away Friday, April 12, 2019, in Forsythe.
She was born January 21, 1927, in Hartville, Missouri, the daughter of Efton Newton and Velma Gladys Fuge Newton.
She married William Arthur Wallace on December 14, 1945, in Springfield, Missouri.
Bill and Mary made their home in Wichita, Kansas for several years. Bill’s job with KG&E moved their family to Ft. Scott, Kansas in 1961. While in Ft. Scott, Mary worked for Rosebrough’s Shoes and later for Newman Young Clinic. She was a member of the Community Christian Church in Ft. Scott. Following Bill’s death on August 8, 1988, Mary moved to Wichita where she made her home for nearly thirty years. She recently moved to Forsythe.
Survivors include her son, Bill Wallace and wife, Cheryl, of Forsythe; and two daugthers, Jeanette Boggs, of Wichita and Janelle McCormack and husband, Eddie, of Hays, Kansas; five grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild due in September. Also surviving a sister-in-law, Marianna Newton, of Tulsa, Oklahoma and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Geneva Newton; a brother, J. C. Newton and a granddaughter.
Rev. Leon Weece will conduct funeral services at 1:00 P.M. Wednesday, April 17th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Private burial will take place in the U. S. National Cemetery in Ft. Scott, Kansas.
Memorials are suggested to Community Christian Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
