Last week marked the sixth week of session with the first half of the legislative session almost behind us.
As we approach “turn-around” the Senate held floor debate on Tuesday and Wednesday and worked bills which were sent out of committees to the full Senate. The bills voted on by the full Senate now cross over to the House of Representatives where the process starts over. Conference committees will meet to iron out the differences between the Senate and House versions before the 2020 session ends in May.
FLOOR ACTION – 14 BILLS PASSED OFF SENATE FLOOR
SB 277-Clarifying the authority of healing arts school clinics to provide healing arts services
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
SB 304-Establishing a process by which a reciprocal may convert to into a mutual insurance company
SB 326-Increasing the age for eligibility to renew drivers' licenses online to 65
SB 288-Designating a portion of United States highway 77 as the Cpl. Allen E. Oatney and SP4 Gene A. Myers Memorial Highway
SB 315-Providing for the Love, Chloe foundation license plate
SB 285-Extending the existence of the UST redevelopment fund and compensation advisory board to 2032
SB 306-This bill would exempt motor vehicle odometer reading recording requirements for vehicles 20 model years and older and for trucks with a gross vehicle weight of more than 16,000 pounds
SB 270-This bill would expand the opportunity for the establishment of multi-year flex accounts (MYFAs) for groundwater water rights
SB 342-This bill would allow drivers' license renewal notices to be sent electronically
SB 305-This bill would increase the bond required for licensure as a dealer of used or new vehicles from $30,000 to $50,000
SB 287-This bill would amend the Kansas Storage Tank Act by extending the time for petroleum storage tank owners and operators to apply for reimbursement for the replacement of single-wall underground storage tanks from June 1, 2020 to June 30, 2030
SB 286-This bill would amend the Kansas Storage Tank Act by increasing limitations on the liability from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 for the Underground Petroleum Storage Tank Release Trust and the Aboveground Petroleum Storage Tank Release Trust Fund
SB 58- This bill would amend law related to grand jury proceedings summoned by petition as “citizen-initiated,” and would state the person who filed a citizen-initiated petition will be immune from civil liability for any good faith conduct and also will be the first witness called to give testimony
MARSHALL COUNTY – MEMORIAL HIGHWAYS - FRANKFORT BOYS
S.B. 288 passed through the Senate Transportation Committee and off the Senate Floor. This bill, once passed by the House and signed by the Governor yet this year, will name Hwy 77 between Blue Rapids and Waterville The Cpl. Allen E. Oatney and SP4 Gene A. Myers Memorial Highway. Another memorial highway can be found in Marshall County which honors the young men of Frankfort who lost their lives in WWII - The Frankfort Boys World War II Memorial Highway. The Frankfort area saw the greatest number of World War II casualties for a town of that size in the United States, with over 30 young men losing their lives.
KANSAS – A MILITARY FRIENDLY STATE
Kansas is a state that is friendly to service members, veterans and families. Every county in the state has residents that are currently serving on active duty, in the National Guard or Reserve forces in addition to many discharged and retired veterans—along with their families. Veterans and service members are nearly 9% of the total Kansas population, and nearly 23% of the population aged 18-64. These include active duty, Kansas Army and Air National Guard (KSNG, reserve organizations (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard, retirees and those who have served any length of time in the military. Veterans, families and procurement contracts to Kansas companies have an economic impact of $7.7 billion. This included $50 million to city revenues, $73.5 million to county revenues and $270.2 million to state revenues.
Kansas Military Demographic Data - State residents include:
* 22,270 active-duty service members 11,766 active-duty spouses
* 10,761 National Guard and reserve members 5,399 National Guard and reserve spouses
* 10,849 National Guard and reserve children 20,199 active-duty children
UNCLAIMED PROPERTY IN KANSAS
The State of Kansas has over $350 million dollars in unclaimed property waiting for the rightful owner to find and claim.
Unclaimed property stats from July 1, 2018 to February 20, 2020 include 1,950,227 searches, $42,334,916.65 returned with the average claim paid at $233.47.
These holdings at the Treasurer’s office include bank accounts, cash, stocks, bonds, refunds (utilities, royalties, insurance proceeds and even safe deposit boxes contents. To search for your name, visit www.kansasastatetreasurer.com and enter your name or business name to see if your name is on this list. Senate District #36 has over 4000 entries in the thirteen counties it covers. If you would like more personal assistance, call 800-432-0386 or 785-296-4165.
TOUR THE STATE CAPITOL FROM HOME
Take an online tour of the magnificent Kansas State Capitol, floor by floor at https://www.kshs.org/p/kansas-state-capitol-online-tour/15843. The classically inspired building is an impressive public monument as well as the working offices for the governor and legislators. The building holds a dramatic array of art, architecture, and colorful Kansas history. The building hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday, and now open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
VISITORS FROM SENATE DISTRICT #36
The sixth week of session was another busy week with visitors to the Kansas legislature. Three hundred plus 4-Hers from across Kansas held their mock Legislative session in the Senate and House Chambers on Sunday evening and then met us for lunch on Monday in the Capitol. Mental Health Centers, Kansas Pork Producers, Kansas Livestock Association and Electric Cooperative members were in the Capitol for their annual visit and receptions. The city of Stockton delegation made their annual trip along with the Junior class from Rock Hills sponsored by Farm Bureau.
I always encourage you to stay informed of the issues under consideration by the Kansas Legislature. Committee schedules, bills, and other helpful information can be easily accessed through the legislature’s website at www.kslegislature.org. You are also able to ‘listen in live’ at this website. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions. An email is the best at this point in the session.
Thank you for the honor of serving you!
Senator Elaine Bowers
Kansas State Capitol Building
Room 223-E
300 SW 10th St.
Topeka, KS 66612
785 296-7389