Vicki's Voice Newsletter- March 16, 2013

Senator Vicki Schmidt's Newsletter

March 16, 2013

Dear Friends:

Another great group of pages joined us this week! Thank you to Breonna Bellucci (Washburn Rural Middle School), Corbin Cool (French Middle School), Andrew Forgey (Indian Hills Elementary), Anikka Francis (Indian Hills Elementary), Grace Shore (Washburn Rural Middle School), and Brianna Wilson (Indian Hills Elementary). They did a terrific job! Please see their pictures on the right.

Congratulations to Pat and Jennifer Grogan, the owners of "Pat the Plumber." They were the recipients of the Kansas Small Business Development Center (KSBDC) Existing Business of the Year Award. It was a privilege to present their award at the event honoring KSBDC winners! Please see the picture on the right.

Mary Torrence, Revisor of Statutes, retired this week. The Senate honored her on Thursday for her 39 years of service to the State. She began her legal career in 1974 as an assistant revisor. In 2006 she was appointed to serve as the Revisor of Statutes. She is the first woman and first University of Kansas graduate to serve as Revisor in the history of the office. Mary is the daughter of Elon and Lois "Polly" Torrence. They attended the ceremony. On another happy note, Elon and Polly will celebrate their 68th wedding anniversary on Sunday, March 17th. Congratulations to ALL of them! Please see their pictures on the right!

EDUCATION AND PERSONAL ACTIVITIES

SEE TO LEARN

See to Learn is a preventive program designed to ensure that children entering school can see to learn and to educate parents and teachers about the warning signs of vision problems in all children. Through See to Learn, participating optometrists offer free vision assessments to three-year-olds in their community. These assessments are open to any three-year-old, regardless of income or insurance coverage, and they are offered throughout the year. If you need a referral for a vision assessment for your three-year-old or an examination for your kindergarten student, call the Eye Care Council at 1-800-960-EYES. You may also visit the See to Learn website!

*****************************************************************************
Congratulations to Marian Clinic and Karily Taylor, Executive Director, on a fabulous fundraiser last Saturday! Marian Clinic was founded by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth in 1988, and their mission is to provide healthcare, hope and healing to uninsured, low-income individuals and families of all faiths. During 2012, the Clinic provided service to 5,244 low income patients during 17,287 visits. Please see the picture at right.

*************************************************************

On Monday evening I was honored and privileged to attend the Boys and Girls Clubs Annual Youth of the year dinner. J'Shavon Hendricks was the nominee from the Topeka Boys and Girls Club and was a Kansas Youth of the Year finalist. This program celebrates youth who have overcome enormous odds and demonstrated exceptional character and accomplishments. These deserving young people are recognized for service to their Club and community, academic performance and contributions to their family. They are shining examples and living proof that great futures start at Boys and Girls Clubs. CONGRATS J'SHAVON HENDRICKS! Please see his picture on the right!

******************************************************************************************

The Senate recognized the week of March 11-17th as MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Awareness Week! On hand to celebrate were Mary Reed Spencer, Kari Rinker and Annie Lackey! Please see their picture on the right!

FLOOR ACTIVITIES

The Senate was on General Orders for two days this week.

HB 2019 is the bill that mirrors SCR 1601 with two exceptions. This piece of legislation is a bill and not a resolution. In addition, it only affect the Court of Appeals, not the Kansas Supreme Court.

Our current merit selection system has been in place since 1958, after adoption of an amendment to the Kansas Constitution. This was approved by more than 60% of the voters. We have had more than 50 years without a hint of scandal or substantive cause for change.

The Kansas Constitution provides for a nine member Supreme Court Nominating Commission which is selected as follows:

One attorney serves as chair, who is elected by all licensed attorneys residing in Kansas
Four attorneys, one elected from each of the state's four congressional districts by licensed attorneys residing in those districts
Four non-attorneys, one selected by the Governor from residents within each of the state's four congressional districts

The proposed change would allow for the Governor to appoint and the Senate to confirm the Kansas Court of Appeals judges. I believe the judicial branch must remain independent and retain the public's trust and confidence.
The leading criticism of our current system is that the majority of the commission members are attorneys selected by attorneys who are not effectively accountable to the public. As a result, at the urging of its membership, the Kansas Bar Association addressed judicial selection and adopted a resolution for amending the Kansas Nominating Commission. THE BILL PASSED THE SENATE 28-12. I VOTED NO. It is now on its way to the Governor for his signature.

HB 2059 - This is the "tax" bill of the session thus far. There were 12 amendments offered on the bill during the debate of the Senate. One of the amendments had 6 different votes associated with it as it divided the bill up into 6 separate sections for voting. In my 9 years I have never seen a bill divided like this in an amendment. The Rules committee had to meet to make sure the amendment was being handled correctly. I offered an amendment to not allow $6.2 million in wagering losses (gambling) and to use $34,000 to restore the tax credit deleted last year with regard to making a home accessible to individuals with a disability in addition to restoring 17% of the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. The amendment failed 17-22.

This bill retains the sales tax rate of 6.3% and removes the sunset that was to occur on July 1, 2013 for the tax rate to be at 5.7%. I promised my voters that I would allow the tax rate to decrease on July 1st. THE BILL PASSED THE SENATE 25.14. I VOTED NO.

Sen. Sub for HB 2022 - This bill is known as the paycheck protection act. The first part of the bill I agree with. It allows employers to deduct from employee wages if the employee owes them for items such as tools, uniforms or phones. The second part of the bill is HB 2023. This was inserted into Sen. Sub for HB 2022. It specifically pertains to public employees only. Dues may not be deducted from their paychecks. The employees permission has always been required. In the private sector, however, payroll deductions of corporate political action committees (PACs) will still be allowed. THE BILL PASSED THE SENATE 24-16. I VOTED NO.

COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES

TRANSPORTATION

HB 2176 received a hearing. This bill would allow an Eisenhower Foundation license plate. It creates the ability for the foundation to pursue. The bill was advanced to the full Senate and placed on the Consent Calendar.

HB 2011 would authorize special educational institution license plates for motorcycles. Current law makes these plates available for passenger vehicles and small trucks. The House amended the bill to allow transfer of a Kansas National Guard license plate from one vehicle to another under certain conditions. I offered an amendment to allow the transfer of any of the specialized license plates.

HB 2177 makes changes necessary after the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) legislation took effect on October 1, 2012. Prior to implementation of MAP-21, farm vehicles were exempt from the act within 150 air miles of any farm owned or leased by the registered owner of the farm vehicle. This bill would allow farm vehicles to travel anywhere within Kansas boundaries and up to 150 air miles outside Kansas, depending on the location of the farm. The bill was advanced to the full Senate and placed on the Consent Calendar.

HB 2202 - would allow for the temporary suspension of motor carrier registration and fuel tax permits enforced by the Department of Revenue when a motor carrier transports hay or other animal forage feedstuffs to an area that the Governor has declared to be in a state of drought. Currently the Governor may issue an executive order to do this. The participants must comply with flag, sign and lighting requirements for over-width vehicles and would not be allowed to drive during inclement weather conditions. The bill was advanced to the full Senate and placed on the Consent Calendar.

************************************************************************

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND INSURANCE

HB 2096 received a hearing. This bill would authorize the use of Insure Cash Sweep (ICS) demand option, which would enable local governments to place public funds into demand deposit accounts at multiple banks throughout the country in amounts that are less that the standard FDIC insurance maximum. It would make available through ICS demand a process for placement of funds into full insured demand deposit accounts that allow for unlimited withdrawals. The committee passed the bill out favorably and placed it on the consent calendar.

HB 2106 received a hearing. Currently an insurance company is prohibited from changing the terms and conditions of a portable electronics insurance policy more than once every six moths. This would remove the prohibition. The bill was advanced to the full Senate and placed on the Consent Calendar.

HB 2107 received a hearing. This bill would establish procedures for insurance consumers to receive insurance documents electronically. The consumer would have to "opt-in" to take advantage of this delivery method and would be able to "opt-out" at any time.

HB 2007 received a hearing. This bill would establish the Insurance Holding Company Act and amend the Insurance Code to modify existing provisions governing insurance holding companies. It authorizes the Commissioner of Insurance to participate in a supervisory college for any domestic insurer that is part of an insurance holding company with international operations in order to determine compliance by the insurer with Kansas laws. A lot of this bill is revisor clean-up. There were no opponents to the bill. The committee advanced the bill to the full Senate.

HB 2312 received a hearing. This bill will increase the lifetime limit from $3.0 million to $4.0 million for individuals covered by the Uninsurable Health Act.

************************************************************************

EDUCATION

HB 2261 received a hearing. The purpose of this bill is to make permanent the procedures that were established as one-time authorizations in the last two legislative sessions. It would grant school districts the authority to use carryover balances in a select group of funds for instructional and other educational purposes. There were no opponents to the bill.

SB 224 received a hearing. It would remove the following weightings from the school finance formula: virtual, non-proficient, bilingual and vocational. It would redistribute at-risk funding by giving more money to districts with low at-risk numbers at the expense of districts with high at-risk numbers. Interestingly, NO ONE came to appear is support of this bill. Yet SOMEONE introduced it. We heard from nine conferees that spoke against the bill. Even the school districts that stand to "gain" money from this bill spoke against it. As one educator stated, "The workforce of tomorrow sits in the classroom today." Here are a few examples of the differences districts would see as a result of this bill:

Johnson County - Blue Valley District +$14,856,937
Johnson County - Olathe District +$11,796,419
Johnson County - Shawnee Mission +$ 8,020,645
Sedgwick County - Wichita Public -$30,037,596
Wyandotte County - Kansas City -$16,522,439
Shawnee County - Topeka Public -$ 7,173,183
Ford County - Dodge City - $ 5,814,284

HB 2221 received a hearing. This bill would require all local boards of education to give equal access for all professional employees' associations to the employees' physical or electronic mailboxes and allow equal access for all professional employees' associations to attend new teacher or employee school orientations and other meetings.

HB 2349 received a hearing. This bill would require the Legislative Division of Post Audit to conduct three school district efficiency audits each fiscal year.

HB 2109 also received a hearing. This bill would authorize a second count of military students on February 20th to determine the number of students enrolled in a school district. The state currently does this, but it is set to expire at the end of this school year. This would allow it to continue through the 2017-2018 school year.

GPSchmidt

Attended the luncheon sponsored by the Kansas Optometrists
Attended a tour of Security Benefit with some members of the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee
Attended the Annual Youth of the Year Dinner by the Boys and Girls Club of Kansas
Met with Ryan Kriegshauser and Steve Wassom - Kansas Securities Commission
Thank you to the Massage Therapists for the Chair Massages they provided to legislators and staff this week! What a treat for everyone!
Attended the presentation by Michael Mazerov (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities) sponsored by the Kansas Center for Economic Growth
Presented to students at Topeka West High School - thank you to Jay Tunnell and Sunflower Bank! Jay played basketball for TWHS and I watched many of his games!

DISTRICT MAP

Click here to see a copy of Senate District 20.

THANK YOU!

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you! Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Vicki Schmidt
Senator, 20th District
vicki@vickischmidt.com
785-296-7374

Paid for by Schmidt for Senate, Brad Koehn, CPA, Treasurer