February 1, 2022
TOPEKA
Foster Care in Kansas
On Wednesday, January 26, the Appropriations Committee heard that years of legislative oversight and targeted funding is beginning to make a difference in our foster care system. The funding support and collaboration between the Legislature, The Department of Children and Families (DCF), and the Federal Families First initiative is now producing positive results.
The number of children entering foster care has dropped from 4,212 in 2018 to 3,081 in 2021. We learned that the Families First Prevention Services program provides prevention services to keep children and youth from entering foster care. It also provides out-of-home placement through approved evidence-based programs, which provides mental health, substance abuse, parent skill building, along with kinship navigation.
This program was developed from the federal 2018 Family First Prevention Services Act, which gave states access to money for prevention. Kansas was one of the first states to start a Families First Program.
The 2021 Legislature also provided for a foster care report card. The bill requires the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and DCF collaborate to create an annual foster care report card. This report card would be submitted to the House and Senate committees on education by January 15 each year.
These improvements with the foster care system were addressed by the legislature over the past few years to reduce the number of children in the foster care system in the state of Kansas.
Redistricting and New Maps
On Tuesday, January 25, the Kansas House of Representatives debated Senate Bill 355. This bill is the first bill to be debated regarding redistricting and focused on the four Congressional districts in Kansas. Due to population shifts in the current Congressional districts, the First and Second Districts losing population and the Third gaining, adjustments must be made for each district to have a population of 734,470. This map has the First District shifting further east to increase the amount of population in the district so we are within the population deviations. As I mentioned prior, this is the first map that we have debated. There were numerous amendments on the House Floor, though all failed, the map passed out of the House Wednesday morning. I voted “yes.”
Bill Activity in the House
During the third week of the Legislative session, there were many more bills introduced in the House Chamber. Listed below are the details of those bills.
House Bills 2484 and 2487 had hearings this week in the House Taxation committee and both bills would provide for a zero percent sales tax rate on food. Both bills stipulate cities and counties would still be allowed to levy a sales tax rate. House Bill 2487 also allows for a sales tax exemption on items that were purchased at a Farmer’s Market.
There was also a hearing in the Water committee on House Bill 2480, which amends current statute with projects that are related to the diversion or transportation of water.
House Bill 2528 was introduced in the House Federal and State Affairs committee and would exempt inflatable devices owned or operated by nonprofit organizations from the requirements of the Kansas Amusement Ride Act.
A hearing was held on House Bill 2215 which would allow persons with a felony drug conviction to receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Contact Information
Anytime that one would like to participate and listen to the developments of committee hearings or discussion on the House floor, one can tune in by listening to the audio footage at www.kslegislature.org.
As always, if you have any concerns, feel free to contact me (785) 296-7672, follow on twitter at @waymaster4house, or email me at [email protected]. Please contact me regarding any issues and legislation that we are discussing during session.
It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Please contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions. I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.
Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, is the Kansas House Appropriations Chairman and 109th District state representative which includes:
* Osborne, Russell, and Smith Counties
* Barton County: Cities: Albert, Claflin, Galatia, Odin, Olmitz and Susank; Townships: Beaver, Cheyenne, Clarence, Cleveland, Fairview, Grant, Independent, Logan, Union, Walnut and Wheatland
* Jewell County: Cities:Burr Oak, Esbon and Mankato; Townships: Athens,Browns Creek, Burr Oak, Calvin, Center,Erving, Esbon, Harrison, Highland, Holmwood, Ionia, Limestone, Odessa,Walnut and White Mound
* Lincoln County: Cities: Lincoln Center(part) and Sylvan Grove; Townships: Battle Creek, Beaver(part), Cedron, Elkhorn(part), Golden Belt, Grant, Hanover, Highland, Indiana, Marion, Orange, Pleasant, Valley and Vesper
* Rush County: Cities: Bison, Otis, Rush Center and Timken; Townships: Banner,Center,Garfield, Illinois, Lone Star, Pioneer and Pleasantdale