Legislature Hits the Halfway Mark

The following is a column written by Representative Mike Burgess (R-Topeka).

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 23, 2009

Legislature Hits the Halfway Mark

By Rep. Mike Burgess

Saturday, February 21st marked the halfway point of the 2009 Legislative Session.  Known as "Turn Around Day", it is the day most bills must be passed out of the chamber in which they were introduced.  Unless the bill is exempt from the deadline, it "dies".  So far the Kansas House has debated and passed 67 bills onto the Senate for its consideration.
 
A few of the bills passed by the House:
 
Substitute for House Bill 2143: Graduated Driver's License
This bill requires every Kansas teen hold a learner's permit for 12 months before obtaining a restricted or a full license.  It also limits the number of non-sibling passengers and late-night driving during the first six months of full licensing.  It prohibits teens from using cell phones while they are driving unless it's to report an emergency. However, it makes no changes to the existing farm permit provisions or restricted license provisions.

House Bill 2165: Underage Drinking
This bill establishes "recklessness" as a standard when enforcing current law that prohibits adults from hosting or allowing minors to have parties in their home where alcohol is consumed by the minors. 
 
Law enforcement and prosecutors have found it difficult to enforce the law because the adult who provided the alcohol will say they were not aware that the minors were consuming alcohol. The bill eliminates that loop hole.
 
House Bill 2308: Conceal/Carry Licensing
This bill amends our state's conceal and carry law to allow activity military members assigned to Kansas who have met all of the required qualifications to receive a conceal and carry license.  This bill came about after the Department of Revenue refused to issue the licenses to members of the military because they weren't Kansas residents – even though they had gone through the training and background checks. 
 
House Bill 2126: Cell Phone Location
This bill requires wireless phone providers to quickly provide information about the location of users of their services to law enforcement in emergency circumstances.  The legislation was introduced in reaction to the Kelsey Smith kidnapping and murder in Overland Park.  It will provide an important tool for law enforcement when it comes to locating individuals in emergency situations, saving lives in the process.
 
Budget Stabilization Fund Bill
One bill the House will take up soon is House Bill 2320, a bill establishing a state budget stabilization fund.  As you know, I am a strong supporter of this legislation.
 
Remember last week's debate on how the state pays bills like income tax returns and employee paychecks?  It is a perfect example of why the State must put its financial house in order.
 
The state stopped issuing income tax returns because the cash flow problem the state is having.  A well-funded budget stabilization fund would give the state a savings account to lean on during the difficult times and prevent situations like this and the budget shortfall we are currently facing.
 
Right now, excess revenue just gets spent the following year – growing our state budget.  If this proposal had been in place since just 2003, the state would have nearly $300 million in the budget stabilization fund and a smaller budget. 
 
A couple of interesting notes: Kansas is one of only three states that do not have some form of a budget stabilization fund.  For example, in Alaska, they have $6.6 billion dollars in their fund – plenty of money to weather a financial downturn for two years without having to drastically cut funding to important programs
 
As always it is an honor to serve you and our neighbors in the 51st House District.  Please call or email me about your concerns and ideas.
 
Rep. Mike Burgess
51st House District
785/296-7632
Mike.Burgess@house.ks.gov
 

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Mike Burgess serves north and west Shawnee County and southern Wabaunsee County, including Alma, Eskridge, Harveyville, Rossville, Silver Lake, Willard and a little bit of Topeka.