Kansas Legislator Briefing Book Prepared for the 2021 Kansas Legislature Providing objective research and fiscal analysis for the Kansas Legislature Kansas Legislative Research Department Room 68-W, Statehouse 300 SW 10th Avenue Topeka, KS 66612 Phone: (785) 296-3181 kslegislature.org/klrd/ This page intentionally left blank. Kansas Legislator Briefing Book Prepared for the 2021 Kansas Legislature Kansas Legislators are called upon to make decisions on many issues that come before the Legislature. In addition, members of the Legislature are frequently asked by constituent groups to discuss public policy issues in a community forum in their districts. The purpose of the Kansas Legislator Briefing Book is to assist members in making informed policy decisions and to provide information in a condensed form that is usable for discussions with constituents—whether in their offices in Topeka or in their districts. This publication contains several reports on new topics plus reports from the prior version. Most of the reports from the prior version have been updated with new information. Additionally, a special section on the COVID-19 pandemic features an overview of select State of Kansas responses to the public health emergency. It includes a list of articles containing further information related to COVID-19, which are marked throughout the publication with . Kansas Legislative Research Department 300 SW 10th Ave. Room 68-West, Statehouse Topeka, KS 66612-1504 Phone: 785-296-3181 kslegislature.org/klrd This page intentionally left blank. TABLE OF CONTENTS Special Section The COVID-19 Pandemic in Kansas ....................................................................................... 00 This summary describes select actions taken by the State of Kansas in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Agriculture and Natural Resources State Water Plan Fund, Kansas Water Authority, and State Water Plan ................................. A-1 This article details the State Water Plan Fund, including revenue consisting of fees and receipts, transfers into the State Water Plan Fund, and expenditures. Also included is information on the responsibilities and members of the Kansas Water Authority. Alternative Meat Products ....................................................................................................... A-2 Alternative meat products have existed for decades; however, in recent years, some alternative meat product manufacturers have begun incorporating the name “meat” into their products or marketing of the product, which has led to legislation in Kansas and other states to address perceived confusion about what is meat and what is not. Raw Milk .................................................................................................................................. A-3 This article examines current raw milk laws and regulations in Kansas, at the federal level, and in other Council of State Government Midwest States. Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development Statewide STAR Bond Authority .............................................................................................. B-1 Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bonds are a form of tax increment financing (TIF) that may be used to finance certain economic development projects in the state. Bonds issued by a city government are repaid using all of the incremental revenues received by the city or county from any local sales and use taxes and transient guest taxes, along with all or a portion of state sales and use taxes collected in the STAR Bond district. The authority to permit new STAR Bond districts is scheduled to sunset July 1, 2021. 2021 Briefing Book v Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund ..................................................................................... B-2 The Kansas Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund was created in 1937 as the State’s counterpart to the Federal Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. The State’s Fund provides income stability for Kansans during times of economic difficulty while stimulating economic activity. Methods used to calculate employer contributions, employee benefits, the management of the Trust Fund, and changes made to address the COVID-19 pandemic are discussed in this article. Department of Commerce – COVID-19 Assistance ................................................................ B-3 The Department of Commerce is the cabinet agency concerned with economic and business development. This article summarizes programs in the Department of Commerce to assist economic recovery efforts in Kansas from COVID-19 with a focus on those programs which received federal CARES Act Funding. Education Career Technical Education in Kansas .................................................................................... C-1 The Career Technical Education Initiative (SB 155) was launched in 2012. Kansas high school students can qualify for free college tuition in approved technical courses offered at Kansas technical and community colleges. School districts also receive a monetary incentive for each student who graduates with an industry recognized credential in a high-need occupation. Participation has increased every year, and the program has received national recognition. Mental Health Intervention Team Pilot Program ...................................................................... C-2 This article provides an overview of the Mental Health Intervention Team Pilot Program created by the 2018 Legislature, including fiscal information through FY 2020 and school district participation through school year 2020-21. School Finance—Recent Legislative Changes ....................................................................... C-3 This article provides an overview of major changes to school finance by the 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 Legislatures. The 2015 Legislature created the Classroom Learning Assuring Student Success Act that provided school funding via block grants for FY 2016 and FY 2017 and was amended by the 2016 Legislature. The 2017 Legislature enacted the Kansas School Equity and Enrollment Act that reinstituted a weighted enrollment formula, which was modified in 2018, 2019, and 2020. vi 2021 Briefing Book Elections and Ethics Election Security...................................................................................................................... D-1 This article includes general information on election security at both the federal level and in Kansas and provides information specific to elections during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kansas Open Meetings Act ..................................................................................................... D-2 This article reviews provisions and definitions found in the Kansas Open Meetings Act, the public bodies that are covered, and penalties for violating the law. Kansas Open Records Act ...................................................................................................... D-3 This article summarizes provisions of the Kansas Open Records Act and expeditions to it. Responsibilities of public agencies are listed, as well as the rights of persons who request public records. Penalties for violations of the Act are described. Voter Registration and Identification........................................................................................ D-4 This article briefly summarizes the current status of laws concerning voter registration requirements, including both national and state requirements. The state practices of same day voter registration, online registration, preregistration, and voter identification requirements are discussed. Federal and State Affairs Carrying of Firearms ................................................................................................................ E-1 This article provides an overview of the legislative history of firearms policy in the state as well as summarizes current law. Legalization of Medical and Recreational Marijuana and Industrial Hemp ............................. E-2 The possession and use of medical marijuana is not legal in Kansas; however, there have been several bills introduced over the past 16 years to change the law. A summary of those bills and an overview of the medical and recreational marijuana laws in other states is provided, as well as recent enactments that have affected changes in penalties and decriminalization of marijuana in Kansas and other states. The article also summarizes the current state of industrial hemp law in Kansas. 2021 Briefing Book vii Liquor Laws ............................................................................................................................. E-3 This article summarizes liquor laws in Kansas, including changes made to liquor laws during the last three legislative sessions. Lottery, State-owned Casinos, Parimutuel Wagering, and Tribal Casinos .............................. E-4 Kansas voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1986 for the establishment of a State-owned lottery and the operation of parimutuel racing. In 2007, SB 66, commonly known as the Kansas Expanded Lottery Act (KELA), authorized a lottery involving electronic gaming and racetrack gaming facilities. Included in this article is an explanation of the constitutionality of lottery operations and an overview of the distribution of revenues from traditional lottery sales, expanded gaming, and parimutuel racing. Provisions of KELA, such as the requirements, approval, and regulation of gaming facility contracts, is also detailed.