March 1, 2021
SENATE HIGHLIGHTS
This week marked the seventh week of session with the first half of the legislative session almost behind us. As we approach “turn-around” which is March 5th; Friday, February 26th was the last day for committees to hear and work bills before the half-way point of the 2021 session.
ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT SIGNED INTO LAW-SB15
Small businesses throughout Kansas have felt a crushing impact of COVID-19, including government stay-at-home orders and mandated closures of “non-essential” businesses, as well as other restrictions. Three weeks ago, the Kansas Senate took action to assist these businesses by passing the Kansas Economic Recovery Loan Deposit Program, which updates the field of membership requirements of credit unions and allowing privilege tax deductions on agricultural real estate loans and single-family residence loans. The bill was supported by a wide coalition of stakeholders in Kansas, including bankers, the restaurant and hospitality industry, and those in agriculture, all who share a mutual interest in boosting our economy by giving low interest loans to Kansas businesses who have struggled during the pandemic. Following the Senate passage of SB15, the House passed the same bill, 122-1, which sent it directly to the governor, who signed it on Thursday.
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE – SB19 – US Highway 77 as the CPL Allen E Oatney and SP4 Gene A Myers Memorial Highway - Marshall County
On Wednesday, February 24th, the Senate Transportation Committee heard SB19 which is a carry-over bill from last year which passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee and full Senate (38-0) and due to our early departure due to the virus was left in the House Transportation Committee. SP4 Gene Myers was killed in action on June 9, 1969 and CPL Allen E. Oatney on June 22, 1970. The 5-mile stretch from Waterville and Blue Rapids will honor their memory. The signs will be placed by Kansas Department of Transportation later this year. A sign unveiling and celebration honoring these men will be held in conjunction with the sign placement. You can find testimony from Rep Lisa Mosher, Jerry and Janet Zayas, myself and David Blatt, a friend of SP4 Meyers who was with him on June 9th, 1969 during the battle which took his life. To view – go to http://www.kslegislature.org,; then Committees tab, Standing, Senate, Transportation (small tab 2), Committee Testimony, click on 2/24/2021, (then the 4th small tab) – here you will see all the testimony for SB19 – I encourage you to read them all especially Mr. Blatt who explains even after 50 years how important it is not to forget the ultimate sacrifice our young men made for their country.
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE - KANSAS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACT (KEMA)
In January, the legislature extended and strengthened the limitations on the governor’s powers that were originally created last June. The action also gave the legislature time to take a deeper dive into the Kansas Emergency Management Act and craft long-term solutions that would modernize our statutes, specifically as they related to statewide public health situations.
Senate Bill 273, which was passed out of committee late Thursday evening after several amendments were considered. It is a comprehensive bill meant to provide clarity to our statutes, provide important limitations on the governor’s power, and ensure that checks and balances are always in place. Early next week, the Senate will consider the bill. Although the March 31st deadline is still a month away, the House will have its own version, and the governor will need time to review the final bill that is adopted.
KANSAS INSURANCE DEPARTMENT – NEW WEBSITE
The Kansas Legislature established the Kansas Insurance Department in 1871. The first Superintendent of Insurance, later changed to Commissioner of Insurance in 1927, was William C. Webb. There have been twenty-seven Commissioners to lead The Kansas Insurance Department, including current Commissioner Vicki Schmidt. The longest-serving Commissioner was Frank Sullivan, who served from 1947-1971. In 2017, the Kansas Legislature enacted Senate Bill 23, which merged the Kansas Securities Commission with the Kansas Insurance Department. Prior to the 2017 Legislation, the Securities Commission was an executive branch agency that reported to the Governor. Established in 1911, Kansas became the first state to pass a law regulating the sale of investments. Following the great stock market crash of 1929, the federal government began to regulate investment activity with the passage of the Securities Act of 1933, and the creation of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in 1934. Insurance and securities have changed over the years but the responsibility of The Kansas Insurance Department to the people of Kansas remains unchanged. The Kansas Insurance Department’s new website is: https://insurance.kansas.gov and the staff can be reached at 785 296-3071.
WATCH AND LISTEN TO THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE
Kansas Legislature YouTube – Here you can follow the legislature live as it happens, or access archives of past sessions and committee meetings.
Kansas Legislature Audio – Here you can listen in on session or committees when they are in session, or access prior committee meetings, as well.
Kansas Legislature website – www.kslegislature.org - has extensive information on legislators, committees, bills, and past sessions
KANSAS STATE LIBRARY INFORMATION
Ferguson’s Career Guidance Center https://kslib.info/Fergusons is an online career exploration and planning resource provided by the State Library of Kansas. It provides detailed and up-to-date profiles of thousands of today’s most popular jobs. Included: an undergraduate and graduate school finder, databases for internships and apprenticeships, planning timelines that cover education to career, and a database of sample resumes and cover letters. New: workplace predictions for 2021, how to dress for video interviews, and how to deal with work from home stress.
VISIT THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF KANSAS - www.kansas.gov
You can find a wealth of information at this well-designed website which focuses on Kansas with topics of business, education, government, residents and services with links to agencies and staff to help answer any question you might have. Webfile will take you directly to the Department of Revenue to file your taxes; Form finder will take you to the Secretary of State’s office for all types of forms for businesses; Learning Quest will direct you to the State Treasurer’s Office; the three branches of Government; and Plan your Trip to Kansas will open to the Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.
NEW WEBSITE
An additional way to contact me is at my updated website – www.elainebowers.com. There is an updated newsletter each week plus photos added occasionally. Jeff Metzler, my 2020 Intern, has made links of committees and reports and photos when available. There is also an email link to me as an added way to reach me in addition to the Senate email.
Thank you for all of your calls, emails, and letters this week. It is easy to “get into the weed” on pieces of legislation that seem on the surface to have universal appeal, but for those who want to pursue a more in-depth analysis of the ones which did not have such agreement, go to www.kslegislature.org and pull up “Bills & Laws,” then “Senate Bills,” before scrolling to the desired number and hitting “SN” (Supplemental Notes) for a general explanation which is written by the Legislative research & reviser staff.
Thank you for the honor of serving you!
Senator Elaine Bowers
Kansas State Capitol Building
Room 223-E300
SW 10th St.
Topeka, KS 66612
[email protected]
785 296-7389
www.kslegislature.org
Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, is the 36th Kansas District senator. The 36th District includes Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Osborne, Ottawa, Republic, Rooks, Russell, Smith and Washington counties.