A Legislative Report for Fort Hays State University

2019 Legislative Session: Week One (January 14 - 18)

New Beginnings….Banners, bands, choirs and icy weather marked the inauguration of ’ 48th governor, , on the south steps of the Statehouse Monday morning. In her inaugural address, Kelly called for bipartisan cooperation in addressing what she deems the states most pressing needs: educating our children, the importance of health care and restoring a spirit of service and cooperation.

These priorities were then expanded when the new governor presented her “State of the State” message to the Wednesday evening. Kelly said it was time to end the continuing litigation and properly fund K-12 education in Kansas. She talked about rural revitalization and suggested that a first step would be expanding Medicaid since rural hospitals need this to survive. Another critical challenge, she noted, is the state’s foster care system. The Child Welfare Task Force was an important first step, but it must be supported by adding qualified social workers and reducing caseloads. She briefly touched on other issues including roads and public safety and has called for an audit of all state agencies. She closed by repeating her campaign promise, no new taxes, and said we must restore the state’s fiscal health as we move forward.

The First Step….On Thursday, the Governor’s Budget Director, Larry Campbell, presented Kelly’s budget before a combined meeting of House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means committee members. This budget for FY 2020 differs from those of the Brownback era in that it is just for one year to allow for assessment as we move forward. It also excludes K-12 funding which will be addressed separately. It provides for ending balances for both FY 2019 and FY 2020 and pays off a loan to the state general fund from the Pooled Money Investment Board (PMIB). One area of the budget that has already drawn criticism is a proposal to reamortize money owed to the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS), repaying $6.6 billion over the next 30 years.

Higher education was included in Kelly’s budget proposal. She proposes restoring $8.9 million to higher education which brings funding levels back to where they were in 2008. That amounts to an additional $378,913 for FY 2020 for Fort Hays State University. While considerably less than the Regents’ funding proposal, it is shows that the Governor is aware of the urgent need to shore up funding for the state’s universities, community colleges and technical schools and certainly is a good first step. Money was also allotted to fully fund National Guard member scholarships. Governor Kelly’s budget calls for a 2.5 percent state employee pay increase.

Both budget committees now will begin digesting the budget and making their own adjustments and recommendations. Full details of the budget are available at: http://budget.kansas.gov It will be interesting to see if Kelly’s call for bipartisanship cooperation and compromise prevail.

Budget committee members are:

Senate: Senators Carolyn McGinn, R-Sedgwick, Chair; , R-Goodland, Vice Chair; , D-Manhattan, Ranking Minority; , R-Winfield; Ed Berger, R-Hutchinson; Kevin Braun, R-Kansas City; Jim Denning, R-Overland Park; Dan Goddard, R-Parsons; Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka; , R-Garden Plain ; , D-Kansas City ; John Skubal, R-Overland Park; and , R- Wichita.

House: Representatives Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, Chair; Kyle Hoffman, R- Coldwater, Vice Chair; Kathy Wolfe Moore, D-Kansas City, Ranking Minority; John Alcala, D-Topeka; Barbara Ballard, D-Lawrence; Tom Burroughs, D-Kansas City; Sydney Carlin, D-Manhattan; Will Carpenter, R-El Dorado; J.R. Claeys, R-Salina; Susan Concannon, R-Beloit; Willie Dove, R-Bonner Springs; Shannon Francis, R-Liberal; Henry Helgerson, D-Wichita; Steven Johnson, R-Assaria; Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita; Stephen Owens, R-Hesston; Brett Parker, D-Overland Park; Richard Proehl, R-Parsons; Ken Rahjes, R-Agra; Bradley Ralph, R-Dodge City; William Sutton, R-Gardner; Sean Tarwater, R-Stilwell; and Kristey Williams, R-Augusta.

Higher Education Day at the Statehouse….Legislators, staff and visitors to the statehouse had a chance to learn about all the higher education institutions in the state at Thursday’s “Higher Education Day”. Displays filled the second floor rotunda and representatives from each of the schools were present to answer questions and distribute marketing materials from the schools. FHSU focused on its college of education and virtual college. Starting the day at a breakfast, legislators had the opportunity to talk with school presidents and Board of Regents’ members.

Bills to Watch….

SB 11: Establishing the licensure for dental therapists (Public Health and Welfare) HB 2011: Sales tax exemption for required textbooks (Taxation)

Upcoming Meetings of Interest….

Monday, January 21 Martin Luther King Day State Holiday - No Session

Tuesday, January 22 9:00 a.m. Rural Revitalization — 582-N Informational meeting: Rural Demographics Ron Wilson, Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

1:30 p.m. Senate Education — 144-S Overview of the higher education system - Dr. Blake Flanders, President, Kansas Board of Regents

Wednesday, January 23

9:00 a.m. Rural Revitalization — 582-N Informational briefing: Rural Development and Challenges Clare Gustin, Sunflower Electric Power Corp. Heather Morgan, Economic Development Director Advanced Manufacturing Institute, Kanas State University

Thursday, January 24

9:00 a.m. Rural Revitalization — 582-N Informational briefing: Rural Tourism Development

1:30 p.m. Higher Education Budget — 281-N Budget Overview: Higher Education

Resource: Additional information about the Kansas Legislature and the 2019 legislative session see — www.kslegislature.org

Kansas Legislative Hotline: 1-800-432-3924 (in-state); 1-785-296-2149 (out of state)

For additional information, please contact Jennie Rose at [email protected]