Legislative Update #4
Dear Friends,
Reminder to Vote Today
Today (Tuesday, March 3) is the primary election day for the spring elections, so be sure to vote.
Turnaround
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.
Revised 2009 Budget becomes Law
Governor signed SB 23 into law last week but not before she exercised her line-item veto power.
She vetoed the Legislature’s recommendation to reduce K-12 Public Schools and Special Education as well as additional funding to train Kansas doctors. Despite these and a few other adjustments, the bill still makes about $300 million in cuts and accounting changes. That’s enough to address our budget shortfall in Fiscal Year 2009 (which ends June 30th) but leaves about $80 million in reserves.
The House Appropriations Committee has begun debating the 2010 budget. It is expected the Kansas Legislature will need to reduce some state agencies’ spending by 10%-15% because of our billion dollar shortfall in 2010.
Committee Approves Budget Stabilization Fund Bill
The House Government Efficiency and Fiscal Oversight Committee, which I am Vice-Chairman, approved House Bill 2320, a bill establishing a state budget stabilization fund.
We had a great discussion in committee about the state’s need for a budget stabilization fund. As you know, I feel it would give the state a savings account to lean on during the difficult times and prevent financial situations like we are currently experiencing.
Kansas is one of only three states that do not have some form of a budget stabilization fund. An interesting note: Alaska has $6.6 billion in their budget stabilization fund – enough to get them through the next few years with only minor cuts to state budgets.
Graduated Driver’s License
The House voted for Substitute for House Bill 2143 in an effort to prevent injury and death among teen drivers. The bill:
· Requires every teen must hold a learner’s permit for 12 months before obtaining a restricted or a full license.
· Limits teen drivers to no more than one non-sibling passenger under the age of 18 during the first 6 months of full licensing.
· Limits late-night driving to 9:00 p.m. during the first 6 months of full licensing unless driving to and from work or school.
· Prohibits teens from using cell phones while they are driving unless it is to report an emergency.
· Makes no changes to the existing farm permit provisions or restricted license provisions.
This bill will ensure that teen drivers have more experience behind the wheel
before they receive their full driver’s license. It will remove distractions from the new
driver’s vehicle allowing them to focus on the road. Additionally, it limits teen drivers from
exposure to difficult driving situations keeping them, and other drivers, safe
on Kansas roadways.
Other Bills Passed by the House:
HB 2165 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.
HB 2096 amends current law concerning electronic solicitation (think Internet chat rooms, etc). The bill would clarify that enticing a person whom the offender believes to be a child 14 or more years of age but less than 16 years of age for an unlawful sexual act would be a severity level 3 person felony.
HB 2308 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 requires wireless phone providers to quickly provide information about the location of users of their services to law enforcement in emergency circumstances.
This bill was introduced in reaction to the Kelsey Smith kidnapping 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.
Twittering at the Statehouse
I have started “Twittering” when I am working at the Statehouse.
No, I’m not whistling like a bird during committee meetings. “Twitter “is a social networking and micro-blogging service that sends brief messages to e-mail accounts and cell phones. The short updates I send are displayed on my website www.mikeburgess.org and my Facebook page and then delivered to those who have signed up to receive them.
Most of you that I represent are very busy with your families and jobs and don’t have much time to closely follow what is happening at the Statehouse. Twittering allows me to send out short updates on my legislative activities so you know what I’m doing on your behalf.
You can sign up to receive my tweets by going to www.twitter.com/mburgess.
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, March 4th: Sunrise Optimist/NOTOMA/Indian Creek Grange Legislative Forum at the Sunrise Optimist Complex, located at 720 NW 50th Street (directly north of Seaman High School parking lot).
- Soup Supper @ 6 pm
- Legislative Forum @ 7 pm
As always, it is an honor to serve you. Please do not hesitate to call or email me if I can be of any assistance.
Sincerely,
Mike
Rep. Mike Burgess
51st House District
785/296-7632
Mike.Burgess@house.ks.gov
P.S. As many people may not be aware of my email updates, please forward this on to anyone who may be interested and have them go to my website at www.mikeburgess.org to sign up.
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.