The original item was published from March 4, 2016 11:43 AM to March 4, 2016 11:49 AM
Each year the Kansas Legislative Research Department publishes a report (or reports) for the upcoming legislative session with summaries of the activities and recommendations of legislative standing committees, special committees, joint committees and other committees, commissions and task forces. These reports cover key issues for the session ahead.
The Committee Reports are prepared primarily for the use of the Legislature. Coordination of the reports and appointment of the special committees is done by the Legislative Coordinating Council. The reports are also known as Interim Reports as they are the outcome of work done during the "interim"... that time between legislative sessions... about May to December.
Though initially for the use of the Legislature the Committee Reports serve as an excellent "barometer" in gauging topics and issues important in the session to come. Older Reports can serve as an auxiliary tool in historical research on the activities of state government as well.
The State Library of Kansas' KGI Online Library has scanned many of the Committee Reports back to 1978 so far with the goal of providing these reports back to the 1930s.
You can view the reports online at the
KGI Online Library website and see current and past issues being worked through and presented to legislative sessions.... all from the comfort of your computer!
For more information on legislative committees check out the online booklet,
"Legislative Procedure in Kansas" (2006). Information on committees starts on page 20 of this booklet.