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February 28, 2003

The Halftime Report!

A few last bills get hearings before “Turn Around”

On the last couple of days before turn around, legislators tried to hear and act on a few last bills. February 28 was the last day for bills to be passed out of their house of origin in order to be considered in the other chamber.

Bills heard this week:

• HB 2339, would make kindergarten mandatory and lower the compulsory attendance age from 7 to 6,
• HB 2363, would allow schools to grant exceptions to the August 31 cut-off date for Kindergarten age,
• HB 2325 would make the 13th KPERS check permanent,
• HB 2127 would remove the earnings cap on retirees,
• HB 2239 which would repeal the sales tax exemptions that schools now enjoy on the purchase of materials for the construction, repair or remodeling of facilities, and
• Substitute for SB 83, a bill which will enact the recommendations of the task force on school district budgeting

Privilege for counselors, psychologists killed by Senate

Senate Bill 128, a bill which would have granted privilege protection to school counselors and school psychologists, was killed in the Senate on a vote of 18 in favor and 22 against. The bill, which had been introduced by Senator Vratil, was supported by KNEA, KASB, and a variety of organizations representing counselors and psychologists. A number of senators argued that the bill would undermine the authority of parents and destroy communications between parents and their children. Leading the opposition were Senators O’Connor, Wagle, and Harrington.

“School counselors and psychologists serve as listeners; as a kind and understanding adult to whom students can share their frustrations and stresses,” said KNEA president Christy Levings. “In killing this bill, we take away from our children a chance to share their concerns in a non-threatening setting.”

KNEA, KASB join in testimony before Senate Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education

KNEA appeared before the Senate Ways and Means Subcommittee on the Department of Education to express the needs of public schools.

KNEA Lobbyist Mark Desetti and KASB Lobbyist Mark Tallman worked to impress upon the senators the needs faced by public schools in light of increasing demands and shrinking resources.

“While the federal government continues to demand more and more of our schools, they continue to underfund those mandates,” said Desetti. Desetti and Tallman expressed the need for resources in carrying out public school work in five areas:

• Closing the achievement gap,
• Recruitment and retention of teachers,
• Increasing educational demands,
• Compliance with ESEA/NCLB, and
• Overcoming differences in local needs and resources.

The Subcommittee will prepare its report during deliberations next week and submit it to the full Ways and Means Committee on Thursday, March 6th.

Get out of town!

Both chambers have adjourned and will be back home for the next few days. The House returns on Tuesday for a pro forma session at 4:00. The Senate will reconvene on Tuesday at 2:30.

At that time, the action returns to the committee rooms as bills are taken up by the second chamber. KNEA will be following and testifying on many of the same issues that came up in the first half. In addition, a number of bills were “blessed” – referred to a committee exempt from time constraints – or are sitting now in an exempt committee.

KNEA daily web updates will not appear until Wednesday, March 5.

What’s passed? What’s gone?

Among the more important bills that have passed one chamber and will move to the second:

• SB 47 extending the moratorium on payments to the KPERS death and disability fund (KNEA opposes)
• SB 57 granting local boards powers of local control in business transactions (KNEA supports)
• SB 68, helping schools license plates (KNEA supports)
• SB 146, including dividend income not counting by the federal government for taxes in Kansas income tax (KNEA supports – failure would have cost the state $51 million in tax revenue)
• HB 2006, renaming the inservice education act, the professional development act (KNEA supports)
• HB 2179, repealing the prohibition on teachers from serving on the State Board of Education (KNEA supports)

Bills that were killed or did not advance include:

• SB 60, employment of certain teachers following retirement (KNEA supports with reservations)
• SB 78, removing TIF districts from the Assessed Valuation of a school district (KNEA supports)
• SB 89, creates a floating notice date for contract renewal (KNEA opposes)
• SB 128, privilege extended to school counselors and psychologists (KNEA supports)
• HB 2022, school conference and activity leave (KNEA supports)
• HB 2059, allowing school boards to void employment contracts without regard to due process, notice or PNA when funding is reduced (KNEA opposes)
• HB 2060, elimination of due process independent hearing officers (KNEA opposes)
• HB 2153, elimination of QPA, elimination of negotiations for salary, elimination of due process – among other provisions (KNEA opposes)

In addition to these, a number of other bills were followed by KNEA.

No consolidation bills were advanced although the House Education Committee will ask for an interim study of the issue. No bills to change the way out-of-state students attending Kansas schools will be counted were advanced although a subcommittee will continue to examine the issue.

KNEA Legislative Contacts

Blake West, President
Mark Desetti, Director, Legislative and Political Advocacy
Terry Forsyth, Director, Political Action

The KNEA Lobby Team consists of elected leaders and staff. The Lobby Team welcomes member feedback on issues before the Legislature and on this site.