The original item was published from January 10, 2019 9:31 AM to January 10, 2019 9:40 AM
The 2019
Legislator Briefing Book has been published.
The State Library of Kansas has a copy on our Kansas Government
Information (KGI) Online Library:
http://cdm16884.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16884coll8/id/1024
Kansas
Legislative Research Department also has a copy of their website:
http://www.kslegresearch.org/KLRD-web/Publications/BriefingBook/2019_briefing_book.pdf
Older
volumes of the Briefing Book can be found online at the KGI Online Library at:
http://cdm16884.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/search/searchterm/Y7-12-01/mode/all/order/dated
Topics in this year’s edition include:
Industrial Hemp
This article summarizes the current state of industrial hemp
law in Kansas
State Water Plan
Fund, Kansas Water Authority, and State Water Plan
The State Water Plan Fund receives revenue from a variety of
fees and fines related to water use and pollution.
Unemployment
Insurance Trust Fund
Methods used to calculate employer contributions, employee
benefits, and the management of the Trust Fund are discussed in this article.
Mental Health
Intervention Team Pilot Program
The goal of the Mental Health Intervention Team Pilot Program
is to improve social-emotional wellness and outcomes for students by increasing
schools access to counselors, social workers, and psychologists statewide.
School Finance and Recent
Legislative Changes
This article provides an overview of school finance
legislation enacted during the 2016 Special Session of the Legislature, as well
as the Classroom Learning Assuring Student Success Act providing block grant
funding for each school district for 2015-2016 and 2016-2017, and the Kansas
School Equity and Enhancement Act, which was enacted during the 2017
Legislative Session.
School Safety and
Security
The 2018 Legislature enacted provisions for school safety and
security in the omnibus budget bill. These one-year provisions included grant
funding for school safety, statewide standards for securing schools, and
requiring school districts to adopt school safety plans.
Amusement Parks
This article summarizes the history and development of
Kansas amusement park regulation, including insurance requirements and
oversight of amusement rides.
Carrying of Firearms
The Legislature passed the Personal and Family Protection
Act in 2006, allowing licensed persons to carry concealed weapons on and after
January 2, 2007. In 2015, the Legislature voted to allow the concealed carrying
of a firearm without a concealed carry permit issued by the State, as long as
the individual is not prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal or
state law. Permits to carry concealed weapons will continue to be issued to
eligible applicants. The open carrying of firearms by persons 18 and older is
legal unless otherwise prohibited by law or signage.
Legalization of
Medical and Recreational Marijuana
The possession and use of medical marijuana is not legal in
Kansas; however, there have been several bills introduced over the past 14
years to change the law. A summary of those bills and an overview of the
medical and recreational marijuana laws in other states is provided.
Liquor Laws
This article summarizes liquor laws in Kansas, including
changes made to liquor laws during the last four legislative sessions.
Sports Wagering
This article provides a brief overview of recent U.S.
Supreme Court action, state action, and Kansas legislation related to sports
wagering.
The Opioid Crisis
This article provides an overview of efforts to address the
opioid crisis at the national and state level.
State Hospitals
This article provides an overview of current issues
concerning the state hospitals, a history of recent legislation affecting the
state hospitals, and a summary of state hospital financing.
Adoption
This article summarizes the law concerning adoption of a
minor, including recent legislation on this issue.
Death Penalty in
Kansas
This article reviews the death penalty as it exists in
Kansas, death penalty costs, notable court decisions, inmates in Kansas under
sentence of death, and the status of the death penalty in other states.
Juvenile Services
This article summarizes the function of Juvenile Services,
the history of juvenile justice reform in Kansas, and ongoing reform efforts.
Kansas Prison
Population, Capacity, and Related Facility Issues
The population and capacity are discussed in terms of
overall numbers as well as by gender and inmate classification. Issues
regarding operating overcapacity are also discussed.
Sex Offenders and
Sexually Violent Predators
This article reviews the Kansas Offender Registration Act,
residency restrictions, the commitment of sexually violent predators, and court
decisions regarding offender registration.
Election Security
This article examines the election vulnerabilities and
summarizes election security activities being undertaken at the federal and
state levels.
Post-election Audits
This article provides information on post-election audits
and identifies the different types of post-election audits used in all 50
states.
Voter Registration
and Identification
This article briefly summarizes the current status of law
concerning voter registration requirements, including both national
requirements and state requirements. The state practices of same day voter
registration, online registration, preregistration, and voter identification
requirements are discussed.
Kansas Laws to
Eliminate Deficit Spending
This article contains information on various state laws and
statutory sections that provide safeguards to prevent deficit financing.
Kansas Income Tax
Reform
Beginning in 2012, the Kansas Legislature passed legislation
enacting major changes to the Kansas individual income tax. Major legislation
was passed in 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2017, with additional legislation being
passed related to individual income tax reform in 2014.
Liquor Taxes
This article discusses the three tiers, or levels, of liquor
taxation in Kansas.
Selected Tax Rate
Comparisons
This article compares information used to calculate the tax
base and tax rates between Kansas and selected states for various taxes. States
compared include Kansas, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska,
Oklahoma, and Texas. Taxes compared include individual income tax, corporate
income tax, sales tax, motor fuel tax, and cigarette tax.
Distracted Driving:
State Laws
State responses to distracted driving include bans on using
electronic devices while driving. Researchers have found links between distraction
and driving errors and between device-use bans and reductions in the numbers of
crashes.
Toll or Tax?
This article includes information on the Kansas Turnpike
Authority, statutes governing its operation, and court decisions related to
turnpike tolls. Utilities and Energy
Broadband Expansion
This article provides information about the efforts made by
the federal government and state governments to deploy broadband across the
country. These efforts include enacting legislation and forming various
committees to study the issue and make recommendations to their respective
governing authority.
Electric Utility
Regulation and Ratemaking
This article discusses various regulations relating to
electric utilities in Kansas and outlines the electric ratemaking process.