Neighbor News Updates
Changes To Proposed Graduated Driver's Licensure Process
The House Transportation Committee met recently to discuss Senate Bill 294, proposing to modify the process for granting driver’s licenses to teenagers in Kansas.
This legislation developed to increase the amount of supervised training time teenage drivers in Kansas receive before they are allowed to drive on their own. Under current law, a teenager may receive an instruction permit at age 14 and a restricted license at age 15. After turning 16, a teenager may apply for an unrestricted driver’s license at any time, but only after completing a driver’s education course or a driver’s test administered by the license bureau.
The new bill proposes to increase the age requirement for an instruction permit to 15 and the age for a restricted license to 16. This proposal allows a teenager to receive full licensure at age 16 ½ after the teenager spends at least six months driving under a restricted license. The restricted license would limit its holder’s driving privileges, with driving only allowed between the hours of 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. The only exceptions unless driving with a supervising adult, driving between home and work or to a school-sponsored event. Operating a cell phone while driving will be strictly prohibited under the new law and the driver may only have one passage in the car at a time (unless a supervising adult is present).
The issue remains “in progress.” Legislators are exploring opportunities to guarantee appropriate driving practice before full licensure without raising age requirements.
Bill Would Recycle Prescription Drugs
Millions of dollars worth of medicine that might be flushed or sent to the trash bin could be made useful to low-income or uninsured Kansans under a bill heard recently by Senate Ways and Means Committee.
HB2578, which passed the House last year at 122-0, would create a prescription drug recycling program similar to programs operating in Oklahoma and at least a dozen other states. Kansas Health Policy Authority endorsed the measure, along with several other organizations.
Proponents testified that prescription medications represent thousands of dollars of waste each year. Proponents argue this bill is another small step Kansas lawmakers can take to eliminate waste and cut costs in the state’s health care industry. With wide support, the bill has not faced significant opposition.
Currently, the bill would only allow adult care homes to donate most types of unsealed medications for use by the state’s 33 safety-net clinics. The bill’s drafters indicated they will add language to the measure to also include mail-order pharmacies to the list of approved “vendors.” The bill does not allow recycling of controlled substances.
February Marks 2008 Black History Month
February marks Black History Month, a time to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of the African American community for their leadership, courage and contributions to society. We must never forget the sacrifice and struggle of those who pioneers the fight for equality in the United States, while also celebrating African American contributions to art, music, medicine, technology and American culture.
District Court Concludes Law Is Constitutional
In 2007, the state legislature passed SB 66 to enact the Kansas Expanded Lottery Act (KELA). KELA authorized a state-owned and operated lottery, involving lottery and racetrack gaming facilities. The law contained a provision that any action challenging the constitutionality of SB 66 shall be brought in the Shawnee County District Court. Last year the Attorney General’s office filed a challenge to the new law with the intent of clarifying the constitutionality of the bill (State ex rel. Paul Morrison v. Kansas Lottery and Ed Van Petten, Case No. 07-C-1312.
Proponents of gaming expansion wanted court approval of KELA as a means of assuring investors that gaming would remain legal in Kansas for the long-term. The Attorney General argued that the law only allows the state to regulate casinos, not operate them, since the state will contract with private businesses to operate the casinos. Last week, Kansas District Court Judge Charles Andrews ruled that KELA, as enacted by the 2007 Kansas Legislature, is constitutional.
Lifeline Bill Expands Telephone Services To Low Income Seniors
This week at the Statehouse, House Bill 2637, approved, and aims to expand a service known as Lifeline offers significantly reduced telecommunications service for eligible seniors. Nationally, telecommunications companies have offered the service for quite some time. However, there have been significant changes in generating an interest in Kansas proportional to the number eligible.
Through HB 2637m the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services agreed to partner in efforts to expand the service. Based on lists of consumers participating in current low-income programs through the agency (ex: National School Lunch Program, Food Stamps, Supplemental Security Income, etc.), SRS will distribute the list to the telecommunications companies who will automatically enroll those customers into the Lifeline program. The telecommunications companies must sign a confidentiality statement not to share any names or phone numbers so all information is totally confidential. Customers may opt out of the program, but it will allow for savings to the eligible customer of approximately $200 per year.
Kansas/Missouri Border Tax War Begins
Last August, the Missouri Attorney General passed a bill prohibiting any nonresident from deducting property taxes against Missouri income tax liability. The bill dismantled a long standing, reciprocal agreement between Kansas and Missouri to offer this tax benefit to Kansas residents who work in Missouri. Approximately 50,000 Kansans will directly suffer from the law.
The Missouri law will lower Kansas’ tax receipts due to credit available to Kansans for taxes paid in Missouri. It is estimated that Kansas’ state general fund revenue will decrease by $5 million per year.
Last week, the Kansas House approved a bill to retain the tax break for residents of other states working in Kansas, but only if the in-home state of those working in Kansas took reciprocal action in Missouri, voting in favor of Kansas HB 2641 to revoke Kansas’ friendly tax treatment for Missouri residents who work in Kansas unless Missouri repeals their new law.
Energy Bill Update
This week in the House Energy and Utilities Committee, we heard two days of proponents and two days of opponents on the Holcomb Energy bill (HB 2711). This bill would allow two coal fired plants to be built in Kansas. On Friday, we found out the Speaker of the House had ordered the chairman not to work the bill.
The energy issue deserves serious discussion. I continue to support the advancement of renewable energy development in our state and I will consider all opportunities to meet baseload energy needs of Kansans. It has been helpful to review in-depth testimony from both sides of the issue.
Throughout this week, it has become clear that this bill will require additional review and debate. As this process gets underway, the Kansas House of Representatives has a responsibility to treat other pieces of legislation with the same sense of urgency as HB 2711. We cannot lose focus of the other issues that are deeply important to you and your family in 2008, including: expanded health care, quality education for your children and affordable housing.
Keep In Touch
It is a special honor to serve as your state representative. I value and need your input on the various issues facing state government. Please feel free to contact me with your comments and questions. My office address is Room 132-N, Statehouse, Topeka, KS 66612. You can reach me at 785.296.7687. Additionally, you can e-mail me at neighbor@house.state.ks.us. You can also follow the legislative session online at www.kslegislature.org.