A Legislative Report for Fort Hays State University 2020 Legislative Session: Week One (January 13 - 17) No Procrastination at Start of 2020 Session….The Kansas Legislature has historically eased into the legislative session, but not this year. Even before the House and Senate gaveled in, Governor Laura Kelly and Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning announced a bi-partisan plan to bring Medicaid expansion to the state and already have a bill introduced and queued up for hearings beginning next Thursday and continuing into the following week. A second big issue, a proposed Constitutional amendment that would restore the Legislature’s authority to regulate abortion in the state, was introduced in both the House and Senate. The resolution is scheduled for a hearing next Tuesday with supporters hoping to speed the action through both chambers in order to get it on the fall election ballot. In addition to introductory meetings in many of the other committees, Laura Howard, Secretary of both the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) has been making the rounds briefing legislators on the work of her department and talking in support of the Governor’s proposal to combine the two agencies and as well as move Juvenile Justice from Corrections to a new, umbrella agency, the Department of Human Services with Howard as Secretary. Another Cabinet Secretary, David Toland, Department of Commerce, has met with several committees to respond to a recently released audit of the Economic Development Fund (EDIF) and discussion concerning the return on investment on Rural Opportunity Zones (ROZ). The effectiveness of both programs has come into question and will be closely scrutinized by legislators who share a concern about the state’s shrinking rural population and ability to bring new business to Kansas. While the 2020 Legislature is certainly getting down to business a bit earlier than usual, there are still some of the usual “fluff” bills surfacing — how do Kansans feel about making watermelon the official fruit of Kansas and polka the official dance?! Governor’s Budget Painted with a Broad Brush….On Wednesday, Jan 15, Governor Laura Kelly gave her second State of the State address. Her priorities include: • Medicaid expansion • No new taxes • New transportation plan • Tax relief on food and property • Criminal justice reform The speech was short on specifics, however, legislative budget committees were briefed on her proposed $7.85 billion budget first thing Thursday, Jan 16, by Budget Director Larry Campbell. A point of contention in the Governor’s proposal was - for the second year in a row - the reamortization of the school and state employee portions of the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System (KPERS). While this would provide about $131 million in savings over the next two years, it would push back repayment of actuarial shortfalls until 2044, an unpopular plan last year and likely to be the same this year. The proposed budget ending balance of about $628 million exceeds the 7.5 percent statutory requirement, a percentage rarely met in recent years. Budget committees will be reviewing the specifics of the budget and will begin their work of crafting their own budgets in the weeks ahead. What About Higher Education?….The Governor’s proposed budget for 2021 includes an $11,893,156 university operating grant as well as $5.0 million for need- based scholarships. The Kansas Board of Regents had proposed a considerably higher amount and are currently in discussion about the best way to present their case for additional dollars. The House and Senate Higher Education Budget Committees will be hearing presentations from university presidents in February and will have the opportunity to make their own recommendations for higher education funding at that time. This is just the beginning of the long, complicated budget process. Carry-Over Bills to Watch…. SB 11: Establishing the licensure for dental therapists (Public Health and Welfare) SB 23: Enacting the Kansas sports wagering act (Federal and State Affairs) SB 47: Creating the student opportunity scholarship program (Education) HB 2011: Sales tax exemption for required textbooks (Taxation) HB 2032: Creating the Kansas sports wagering act (Federal and State Affairs) Bills to Watch…. HB 2443: Concerning postsecondary educational institutions; resident tuition for certain Native American students (Higher Education Budget) Upcoming Meetings of Interest…. Monday, January 20 Martin Luther King Day State Holiday Tuesday, January 21 9:00 a.m. Appropriations - 112-N Legislative Budget Committee Recommendations 9:00 a.m. Rural Revitalization - 582-N Informational hearing - Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers 1:30 p.m. Higher Education Budget - 281-N Staff introductions, Midwest Higher Education Compact presentation Wednesday, January 22 11:30 a.m. Joint Meeting with Senate/House Commerce - 112-N Legislative Post Audit: EDIF, Job Creation Fund 3:30 p.m. Social Services Budget - 144-S Briefing on: Direct Care Workforce Initiative Thursday, January 23 9:00 a.m. Rural Revitalization - 582-N Informational hearing - Secretary of Commerce David Toland 10:30 a.m. Ways and Means - 548-S Legislative Post Audit: EDIF, Rural Opportunity Zones 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] .