2007 LEGISLATIVE BULLETIN

Kansas Association of Counties              Issue 2:  January 18, 2007

 

Bills of interest:

 

SB 43:  This bill repeals statutory language allows municipalities to impose civil penalties against manufacturers, sellers or distributors of imitation firearms.  Senate Judiciary

 

SB 56:  A bill increasing the amount that counties could charge for use of county law libraries.  Senate Judiciary.

 

HB 2044:  This is the “fix” to last year’s Machinery and Equipment tax exemption “slider” designed to keep counties whole fiscally.  There were some flaws in the original bill that are rectified by this bill.  Hearing was today in House Taxation, 9:00 am, Rm. 519-S.  The KAC gave written testimony on this bill.  This bill appears likely to pass out of committee with possible amendments for ease of application.

 

HB 2045:  Property tax exemption bill for certain fraternal groups.  House Taxation.

 

HB 2048:  This bill would allow conservation districts to make a special request to each county to each conservation district of up to $25,000…up from $10,000.  House Agriculture and Natural Resources.  A hearing was held Tuesday of this week.  I

 

HB 2054:  This golden oldie calls for the taping of executive sessions, has a new twist on the attorney-client relationship if an attorney is present in the executive session.  House, Elections and Local Government

 

HB 2055:  This would expand gambling in certain locations and share revenues with municipalities in certain instances.  House, Federal and State Affairs.

 

HB 2058:  This would expand “county code courts” to all counties choosing to do so.  House, Elections and Local Government.

 

Hearings next week:

 

Monday, January 22

 

9:00 a.m. – S, Com – Room 123-S – Presentation by Kathie Sparks of Legislative Research about STAR Bond Reports.

 

3:30 p.m. – H, EDT – Room 519-S – HB 2004 – Possible final action – Rural business development tax credit program extended through 2012.

 

Tuesday, January 23

 

8:30 a.m. – S, Com – Room 123-S – Hearing – STAR Bond/TIF Bill – This hearing continues on Wednesday, January 24 at same time and place.

 

9:30 a.m. – S, Ju- Room 123-S – SB 52 – Hearing – Regulating traffic; speed limit violations, open record.

 

10:30 a.m. – S, AT – Room 519-S – SB 34 – Final action –Additional projects that qualify pursuant to the transportation development district.

 

10:30 a.m. – S, FSA – Room 231-N – SB 66 – Hearing – Lottery; repeal of sunset; contract renewals; retailer requirements.

 

3:30 p.m. – H, Ju – Room 313-S – HB 2074 – Hearing – Fingerprints and photos of juveniles in custody.

 

 

Wednesday, January 24

 

9:00 a.m. – H, EU – Room 241-N – HB 2066 – Hearing – Extension of electric transmission lines; exemption from siting requirements – language in this bill makes it applicable to outside municipal city limits.

 

9:30 a.m. – S, Ju – Room 123-S – SB 56 – Hearing – Increasing fees for county law libraries.

 

9:30 a.m. – S, Ju – Room 123-S – SB 17 – Final action – Docket fees; eliminating certain funds from receiving part of docket fees – a part of which currently funds the juvenile detention facilities fund – may have a negative impact on counties because reduced funding for JJA may eliminate approximately $250,000 of grants to local detention centers for operation – this fund also is used to pay the per diem for state custody youth in detention.

 

10:30 a.m. – S, FSA – Room 231-N – SB 67 – Hearing – Libraries; creating the state library board and related entities.

 

3:30 p.m. – H, EDT – Room 519-S – Kansas tourism initiative: Sen. Nick Jordan and Dick Carter, Jr., Executive Director, Travel Industry Association of Kansas (TIAK).

 

Thursday, January 25

 

8:30 a.m. – S, Com – Room 123-S – Presentation by Dick Carter for Tourism Initiative.

 

9:30 a.m. – S, Ju – Room 123-S – SB 40 – Hearing – Creating the crime of ATM robbery and aggravated ATM robbery.

 

9:30 a.m. – S, Ut – Room 526-S – SB 49 – Hearing – Kansas universal service fund, VoIP providers.

3:30 p.m. – H, Ju – Room 313-S – HB 2073 – Hearing – Fee increase authority for Sedgwick and Johnson County law libraries.

 

If you intend to testify at any of these hearings, please let us know.  Also make sure to notify the committee secretary if you intend to testify.

 

 

Don’t forget County Government Day!

 

County Government Day will be held Tuesday, Feb. 13 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel, 1717 SW Topeka Blvd. beginning at 8:15 am and ending at 11:30 am.  Governor Kathleen Sebelius will be speaking at the event.  There is no need for pre-registration.  Check the line-up of speakers on the KAC later this month on the KAC website, www.kansascounties.org.  A room block for county officials is being held at the Capitol Plaza for the evening of February 12.

 

If you would like to testify or plan to testify on any bills, it would be helpful if you contact the KAC office so we could coordinate testimony.  This legislative bulletin was prepared by Randall Allen, Executive Director, Kansas Association of Counties and Judy Moler, Legislative Services Director.  If someone wishes to receive this email bulletin who is not on our current list, please ask them to go to the KAC website to sign up for the bulletin.