Committees continue work; discontent felt

Everything in the Capitol seems to indicate business as usual, but under the surface there seems to be more discontent. Of course, our committees continue to work the bills, make slight changes and send the bills on to their particular chamber.

And as we have said in the past, many of the bills are of the cats and dogs variety. We did pass one bill through the Senate regarding one of the governor's bills to help make Kansas more competitive in attracting business to our state. This bill (SB 196) would provide a new state income tax deduction known as "expensing" for certain qualified investments; repeal or phase out a number of existing state income tax credits and sales tax exemption; repeal the Kansas Economic Opportunity Initiative Fund (KEOIF); and create a new fund, the Job Creation Program Fund (JCPF).

Recently, we passed out of the Senate the governor's Rural Opportunity Zones (ROZ), which is a bill to attract residents to many of our counties that have lost over 10 percent of their population.

The conference committee, working on the rescission bill, is still meeting, but having their problems getting together on a negotiated version of the two chambers' version of the FY 2011 revised budget.

The conference committee did meet three times March 4, but the meetings were very short and no agreements made. The sticking point continues to be the $21 million for special education in the Senate version, and where to find the cuts to pay for the Sp/Ed funding.

There is also disagreement on the ending balance for the Senate version.

Following are several of the bills passed out of the Senate this week:

* Senate Bill 182 amends Kansas statutes to disperse the amount of money given by the commissioner of insurance to the fire marshal fund. The bill calls for 20 percent of deposits by the commissioner of insurance to be given to the state general fund, and the remainder to be divided as follows: 64 percent to the fire marshal fund, 20 percent to the EMS board operating fund, and 16 percent to the fire service training program fund of the University of Kansas.

*Senate Bill 185 amends and repeals Kansas statutes to allow a trust company, as trustees, to make investments, obtain nominee names for insurance companies, or arrange for securities to be held in a clearing corporation.

*Senate Bill 213 amends and repeals sections of Kansas statutes by establishing definitions and regulations for "lightweight readable vehicles" and their operation on state highways.

A lightweight readable vehicle is defined as a vehicle that may be driven on public roadways and also is required to be registered with, and flown under the direction of, the Federal Aviation Administration.

The bill would exclude this type of vehicle from the definition of "aircraft" in the statute that exempts business aircraft from property taxes.

*Senate Bill 214 amends and repeals Kansas statutes by defining "eligible voter" as one who is "18 years of age or older" and redefining "person" for purposes of the statute as "an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, government; governmental subdivision, agency or instrumentality; public corporation or any other legal or commercial entity."

* Senate Bill 152 amends Kansas statutes to make them clear about allowing persons with appropriate permits to carry a concealed handgun and any lawful suppressive devices for a handgun while lawfully hunting, fishing, or fur harvesting.

* House Bill 2175 abolishes the Highway Advisory Committee.

* House Bill 2057 would add the Johnson County Sheriff's lab and the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center as admissible forensic examination centers. The bill would have no fiscal impact. The bill was passed out of committee.

Thank you for your letters, telephone calls and e-mails letting us know what your concerns are and the issues you want addressed. We appreciate your input.

Editor's Note: Sen. Bob Marshall, R-Fort Scott, represents the 13th District. He can be reached at Room 135 E State Capitol, Topeka, Kan., 66612-1588; (785) 296-7370; e-mail: Bob.Marshall@Senate.ks.gov.