Recent statistics: 

• Between July 2016 and July 2017 Kansas experienced a 34% decrease in the total juvenile out-of-home population, including reductions in placements in detention facilities, group homes, and secure state-run juvenile correctional facilities (Pew Trusts)
• Mediware Health Care based in Lenexa will be moving to a new location in Johnson County and is expected to grow the local workforce by 368 jobs within the next 10 years (Kansas City Star)
• Corporate tax receipts are $9.66 million below expectations for this fiscal year but are $14.92 million over this time last year (Department of Revenue)

Current Happenings 

MICROBREWERY CONTRACTING (HB 2470): House Bill 2470 allows Kansas microbreweries to contract with other microbreweries to sell and package beer and hard cider. The legislation regulates the amount of beer and hard cider that can be transported between facilities. This bill passed the Senate 39-0.  

CEREAL MALT BEVERAGE SALE REGULATIONS (HB 2502): House Bill 2502 allows cereal malt beverage (no more than 6.0 percent alcohol volume) licenses to be subject to state and local taxes instead of the state liquor tax. This bill passed the Senate 39-0.

CONVENTION OF STATES (SCR 1611): Senate Concurrent Resolution 1611 makes the application to the Congress of the United States to call a convention for the purpose of proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States that impose limits on the federal government. This bill failed 22-16 (I voted for the resolution.  It needed 27 votes or two-thirds in favor to pass).

SENATOR DOLL’S PARTY AFFILIATION CHANGE:
This week Senator John Doll (I- Garden City) changed his party affiliation from Republican to independent. Senator Doll changed his party affiliation to join Greg Orman’s independent ticket for governor.

In 2006, Doll ran as a Democrat for US Congress against Jerry Moran in District 1. From 2010-2011 Doll served as the mayor of Garden City and then served in the Kansas House of Representatives as a Republican from 2013 to 2016. Doll has been in the Kansas Senate since 2016.

Due to Sen. Doll’s affiliation change and in accordance to Senate Rule 22, the following Senators have replaced Sen. Doll in his committees:

• Education Committee: Senator Larry Alley – Vice Chair Senator Bruce Givens
• Ethics, Elections, & Local Government Committee: Senator Susan Wagle
• Transportation Committee: Senator Dan Goddard – Vice Chair Senator Ty Masterson

• Ways & Means Committee: Senator Susan Wagle

QUALIFICATIONS FOR CERTAIN STATEWIDE OFFICE:
On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Elections, and Local Government held a hearing on HB 2539 which deals with qualifications for candidates seeking certain statewide office. The bill would list a minimum age requirement to run for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state treasurer, and insurance commissioner.

Currently, there is not a minimum age requirement, therefore, any current resident of Kansas is eligible to run. There were two proponents of the bill at Wednesday’s hearing, the Kansas Secretary of State’s office and Kansas House Representative Blake Carpenter. Both noted that a “qualified elector” should be at least 18 years of age.

Upcoming Schedule 

WEDNESDAY–

• Hearing on: SB 362, exempting labor from depreciation in certain property and casualty insurance claims — [Senate Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee, March 14 at 9:30 am]
• Hearing on: HB 2465, designating Kansas commission on veteran’s affairs office employees as safety sensate positions subject to drug screening — [Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee, March 14 at 10:30 am]
• Hearing on: HB 2459, amending the Kansas standard asset seizure and forfeiture act and establishing the Kansas asset seizure and forfeiture repository — [Senate Judiciary Committee, March 14 at 10:30 am]
• Hearing on: HB 2419, state finances; transfers to and expenditures from the budget stabilization fund; transfers to the Kansas public employees retirement fund — [Senate Ways and Means Committee, March 14 at 10:30 am]
• Hearing on: HB 2602, creating the legislative task force on dyslexia — [Senate Education Committee, March 14 at 1:30 pm]

THURSDAY–

• Hearing on: Sub HB 2147, providing an income tax refund for certain Native American veterans — [Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee, March 15 at 9:30 am]
• Hearing on: HB 2505, cities; when the mayor is considered part of the governing body for voting purposes — [Senate Ethics, Elections and Local Government Committee, March 15 at 9:30 am]
• Hearing on: HB 2597, Sedgwick county designated an urban area — [Senate Ethics, Elections and Local Government Committee, March 15 at 9:30 am]
• Hearing on: HB 2481, updating the Kansas adoption and relinquishment act — [Senate Judiciary Committee, March 15 at 10:30 am]
• Hearing on: SB 424, establishing the office of education inspector general — [Senate Education Committee, March 15 at 1:30 pm]

FRIDAY–

• Hearing on: SB 435, permitting real estate brokers and salespersons to give clients or customers rebates if disclosed in the purchase contract or listing agreement — [Senate Commerce Committee, March 16 at 8:30 am]
• Hearing on: HB 2524, allowing petitions for a protection from abuse order to include a request for transfer of rights to a wireless telephone number –[Senate Utilities Committee, March 16 at 1:30 pm]
• Presentation on: Joint Senate Select Committee on Education Finance & House K-12 Education Budget Committee — [Senate Select Committee on Education and Finance, March 16 at 1 pm]