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March 28, 2008

Floor action – “Drop Dead Day”

We have reached the so-called “drop dead day,” the day by which bills need to be passed by the second chamber. So today was all floor action.

In the House

Two controversial bills we reported on over in the House last night were up for final action votes this morning.

The elections bill, SB 169, to which Democrats attempted to add a variety of amendments that would provide incentives for higher voter turnout passed on a vote of 74 to 49. This bill requires a photo ID to vote. Republicans argued that it was important to battle voter fraud; Democrats argued that it would suppress the vote especially in poor areas.

The immigration reform bill, SB 329, which sponsor Lance Kinzer (R-Olathe) tried to advance with an adverse recommendation because e-verify and punishments for businesses that employ illegal aliens were no longer included, was passed on a vote of 96 to 27. Opponents argued that, without meaningful and enforceable punishments for businesses that knowingly hire illegal aliens or the requirement that they use e-verify to verify legal status of new employees, the bill was meaningless.

Virtual Schools bill advances with disaster amendment

The virtual schools bill, SB 669, was amended by Rep. Don Hill (R-Emporia) to include SB 426, the bill providing enrollment funding relief for Greensburg and southeast Kansas as well as one year of financial help for the Emporia schools in the event of a major reduction in students due to the Tyson plant closing. SB 426 had been passed by the Education Committee but was not put on the debate calendar. If Hill had not been successful, the bill would have had a very bleak chance of passing. The final action vote will take place on Monday.

Tax cut amendment fails

During a debate on a relatively minor tax bill, SB 444, Rep. Joe Patton (R-Topeka) tried to amend into it a provision that would essentially cap property tax increases for those over 65 years of age with an income of less than $60,000. The amendment would provide an income tax credit equivalent to a property tax increase. Patton noted that he had met some of the issues raised by KNEA in testimony – that it not eliminate all property taxes, that it have means testing, that schools and local units of government were not harmed by a state action. But in questioning, it was revealed that as the amendment was written, when combined with the Homestead Exemption, a senior could very well receive a check back from the state for more than he/she had actually paid in income tax. The amendment failed handily on a voice vote.

The House has adjourned until 9:00 am on Monday, March 31.

In the Senate

Not much to report from the upper house. It was not a big day for the Senate when it came to education.

One bill, Senate Substitute for HB 2097, was advanced to final action. This bill would require school districts to provide more information on vaccines and infectious diseases if they already give some information at the beginning of the school year. It would also call on the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to increase influenza immunization awareness and participation among parents of children aged six months to five years in child care facilities. The KDHE is also called upon to study the feasibility of a school based influenza vaccination program.

Debate on Senate bills is ongoing. It is possible that there will be a final action vote on HB 2097 and other bills debated before they go home tonight. But they probably won’t be too late – there’s a KU game tonight!

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