Approved: February 03, 2021

MINUTES OF THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Troy Waymaster at 9:00 am on Tuesday, January 26, 2021, in room 112-N of the Capitol.

All members were present

Committee staff present: Amy Deckard, Legislative Research Department David Wiese, Office of Revisor of Statutes Gabrielle Hull, Legislative Research Department Jill Wolters, Office of Revisor of Statutes Kathy Holscher, Committee Assistant Shirley Morrow, Legislative Research Department Zach Fridell, Office of Revisor of Statutes Jeffrey House, Administrative Assistant

Conferees appearing before the Committee: Chief Justice Marla Luckert, Kansas Supreme Court

Others in attendance: No list available

Opening Remarks Chairman Waymaster called the meeting to order.

Representative Helgerson made a motion to approve the minutes from the January 13, January 14, and January 19, 2021 Committee meetings. Representative Rahjes seconded the motion. The motion passed.

Informational briefing: Chief Justice Marla Luckert Chief Justice Marla Luckert, Kansas Supreme Court, presented a briefing on the Judicial Branch and Covid-19's impact on Judicial Branch Fee Funding (Attachment 1). Background information was provided regarding the FY 2020 budget of the Judicial Branch. It was noted that 91 percent of the budget provides personnel wages, and 19 percent of the expenditures were paid by the docket fee fund. The base budget for FY 2020 was $150 million, of which $111 million was funding by State General Fund (SGF), she noted. The impact of Covid-19 resulted in restrictions for courts to provide essential functions, and required implementation of cost savings measures, which resulted in a $4.7 million reduction in docket fee revenue to date. It was noted a supplemental budget appropriation would enable the Judicial Branch to lift a hiring freeze and fill vacant employee positions to address pending caseloads and jury trials.

Unless specifically noted, the individual remarks recorded herein have not been transcribed verbatim. Individual remarks as reported herein have not been submitted to the individuals appearing before the committee for editing or corrections. Page 1 CONTINUATION SHEET MINUTES of the Committee on Appropriations at 9:00 am on Tuesday, January 26, 2021, in room 112- N of the Capitol.

Judge Marla Luckert and Stephanie Bunton, Chief Financial Officer, responded to questions from Committee Members regarding backlog in court cases and staffing issues.

Discussion followed by Committee Members. Chairman Waymaster reviewed the role and responsibilities of the SPARK committee and State Finance Council, and fund distribution requirements related to the CARES Act and federal relief funds. Agency budgets should be reviewed in detail and reflect federal dollars received since the pandemic, identify one-time funding or on-going expenses, and utilization of such funds, all of which could have an impact on the state budget, Chairman Waymaster stated. Representative Helgerson.and Chairman Waymaster jointly agreed on the importance of the inclusion of this information in the upcoming budget presentations. Jill Wolters, Office of the Revisor of Statutes, reviewed Section 4 of the Budget Bill, that was passed last session, This section states specifically that during a fiscal year 2021 any other federal law that appropriates money that went to the state for Corona Virus relief that this money could not be expended from any grant fund or any other federal receipt fund until reviewed and approved by the State Financial Council or Budget Committee. Representative Carpenter reviewed the Governor's Budget and discussed money that was back-filled by federal dollars in the Social Services budget. Additional information will be forthcoming upon review of this budget, he noted. Chairman Waymaster noted there are federal dollars distributed directly to agencies and departments.

Discussion & action on: HB2022 — Updating the state corporation commission's authority to regulate and determine responsibility for abandoned oil and gas wells and abolishing the well plugging assurance fund and transferring all assets and liabilities to the abandoned oil and gas well fund. Chairman Waymaster opened discussion on the bill.

Representative Johnson made a motion for favorable passage of HB 2022 . The motion was seconded by Representative Hoffman.

Discussion followed by committee members regarding the omission in the bill related to pollution. Nick Myers, Office of the Revisor of Statutes, reviewed the language in the bill. It was noted this omission was recommended as it is repetitive and is already included in the bill. A review of the bill continued as related to well plugging issues.

Representative Johnson renewed the motion. Motion passed.

Meeting adjourned at: 10:12 a.m.

Unless specifically noted, the individual remarks recorded herein have not been transcribed verbatim. Individual remarks as reported herein have not been submitted to the individuals appearing before the committee for editing or corrections. Page 2