A Legislative Report for Fort! Hays State University 2017 Legislative Session: Week! One (January 9 - 13) ! Off to a Fast Start….The 2017 gaveled in at 2 p.m. on Monday with the first committee meeting of the session, House Tax, opening their committee with discussions just 90 minutes later. Initial conversation was focused on repealing the vastly unpopular tax exemption for LLC’s in Kansas, a key initiative of the Governor. ! Traditionally, it has taken several days…sometimes the entire first week… before committees were officially up and running, but that is certainly not the case this year. There is a definite mood of getting down to business and trying to solve both the looming budget shortfall this year, FY 2017, — currently projected at approximately $350 million — as well as preparing new, balanced budgets for FY 2018 and FY 2019. ! In his State of the State address Tuesday evening, the Governor called for the legislature to have a rescission bill for FY 2017 on his desk by the end of the month. With that charge, budget committees are already meeting to find extra dollars to fill the hole. Most legislators would tell you they are looking for long term dollars in budget reductions and new efficiencies rather than short term solutions which call for borrowing from established funds like the highway fund, selling assets in other funds like the Kansas Endowment for Youth which funds the Children’s Initiative Fund and delaying payment obligations to KPERS. Proposals from the Governor to tap into these options to get the state through 2017 were not well-received by legislative leaders who publicly shared their distaste for the Governor’s solution for the budget deficit. ! This year’s session begins a two-year legislative term for House members and the start of a four year term for Senators. With 56 new members of the legislature, all committees are tasked with bringing everyone up to speed while staying mindful of the work at hand and assuring a good product at the end of the 90…or possibly 100 day…legislative session. ! ! A Tuition Challenge….In his State of the State message Tuesday evening, Governor challenged the state’s colleges and universities “to provide a way to earn a bachelor’s degree for a total of $15,000 or less.” As a caveat, he said his budget would recommend funding for 50 student scholarships to the first institution meeting this goal. While the Board of Regents is researching this possibility, many feel that devaluing education with an inexpensive degree was neither prudent nor achievable. ! ! Tigers in the Legislature….We are fortunate to have a good representation of former students and/or Fort Hays State University graduates as elected members of the 2017 Kansas Legislature. Those known to-date include Senate Majority Leader as well as Senators , Bud Estes, Carolyn McGinn and . House members are Representatives Tory Arnberger, Leonard Mastroni, Eber Phelps, , Virgil Weigil and John Wheeler. Many were present Tuesday afternoon at a pre-State of the State speech reception in the Capitol hosted by the state’s public universities, community colleges and technical schools. ! ! !Bills to Watch…. SB 27: Appropriations revisions for FY 2017, FY 2018 and FY 2019 for various state !agencies (Ways and Means) HB 2005: Exempting members of the state board of regents retirement plan from certain KPERS working after retirement provisions (Financial Institutions and !Pensions) HB 2052: Appropriations revisions for FY 2017, FY 2018 and FY 2019 for various state !agencies (Appropriations) ! !Upcoming Meetings of Interest…. !Monday, January 16 ! State Holiday - Martin Luther King Day !Tuesday, January 17 9:00 a.m. Appropriations — 112 -N Consensus Revenue Estimates ! Performance Based Budgeting 10:30 a.m. Ways and Means — 548-S Continued discussion of the Governor’s budget

1:30 p.m. Senate Education — 144-S State of Higher Education - Blake Flanders, KBOR CEO

!Wednesday, January 18 9:00 a.m. Appropriations — 112-N ! Hearing on FY 2017 Supplemental Bill 10:30 a.m. Ways and Means — 548-S ! Discussion on Rescission Bill !Thursday, January 19 ! 9:00 a.m. Appropriations — 112-N 10:30 a.m. Ways and Means — 548-S

3:30 p.m. Higher Education Budget — 281-N ! Board of Regents ! Resource: Additional information about the Kansas Legislature and the 2017 legislative session see — !www.kslegislature.org For additional information, please contact Jennie Rose at [email protected]