Veto session, day care regulations and budget

The legislature was off for a few weeks and started back this week with veto session. Veto session is supposed to be when bills that have been vetoed are worked. Instead, it has become a time when bills that didn't make it through regular session are worked.

The Joint Rules and Regulations Committee heard testimony from Kansas Health and Environment (KDHE) this week on day-care regulations. Several legislators expressed concern on the regulations being proposed as a result of Lexie's Law, signed into law July 1, 2010. The legislature does not control these regulations. The agency writes the regulations and presents them to the Committee. The Committee comments and the agency usually will accept the comments but is not required. The agency then holds a public hearing for comments and may change the regulations based on the comments gathered. The KDHE hearing on day care regulations will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 17, in the Memorial Hall Auditorium, 120 S.W. 10th Ave., second floor, Topeka.

A few examples of the proposed regulations are: an online information system that a day care must opt out from (I asked that it be an opt-in option instead); describes water, sewer, and refrigerator storage requirements; requires and describes contents of a supervision plan; describes mandatory training and describes specific sleeping conditions for children. The KDHE phone number for child care is (785) 296-1270. The KDHE website is http://www.kdheks.gov/bcclr/lexies_law.htm.

The process for Rules and Regulations is difficult and time consuming for a majority of Kansans to comment on a change. There should at least be a state website or a phone message of scheduled hearings. If you have any other suggestions on changing the Rules and Regulations process, please let me know.

The budget conference committee meetings have the most attention at this point. When the legislature left after regular session, the House budget had an $80 million ending balance, the Senate had a $2 million ending balance. The budget conference committee is working to resolve the difference on a 2012 budget.

Kansas cannot continue to spend money that it does not have.

One way the state can stop the bleeding is to stop allowing fraudulent tax credits and dedications. SB 193 would require a Social Security Number (SSN) for each dependent declared and for certain tax credits claimed on a state tax return. The estimated savings is between $15 and $34 million. Research couldn't be more specific as they cannot estimate fraud. There is an initial cost to the bill because the Revenue Department will have to update their system to handle the additional SSNs and add cross checks with SSNs on federal income tax returns. The tax conference committee is working the bill because the initial bill only had a requirement for SSN on the food sales tax credit and the House added the rest of the SSN requirements.

Legislation that is referred to as, "No Pay, No Play" is also in a conference committee. Uninsured drivers would no longer be able to sue for pain and suffering. They would be limited to recovering only the car repairs, medical expenses and lost wages.

Laine Raitinger, a KSU student from Parker studying political science, worked as my intern this session. Working as an intern is hands-on experience that a person cannot get from a book.

Laine was able to attend committee meetings, help with research and help track information on the bills, such as the repeal of in-state tuition for illegal immigrant bill. Laine did a great job and was a pleasure to work with.

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as our 4th District State Representative.

Editor's Note:

Caryn Tyson can be reached at (785) 296-6838, or by e-mail at Caryn.Tyson@house.ks.gov.