Veto Session Work Reflects Bi-Partisan Spirit and Shared Sacrifice
Press Release
Veto session work reflects bi-partisan spirit and shared sacrifice
Following the adjournment of the 2009 Legislative Session, Governor Mark Parkinson reflected on the progress Kansas made despite a national recession.
"We have proven that we can put politics aside and accomplish a great deal when we work together. In just the past ten days, together we have taken action to put our state on the road to economic recovery. We have approved legislation that helps many struggling Kansas workers. We took a giant step toward a renewable energy future for our state. And finally, we created a bi-partisan solution to our budget situation that protects vital services, but still reflects a shared sacrifice for everyone - all without raising taxes."
Highlights of the 2009 Legislative Veto Session include:
Put Kansas on the road to economic recovery
Passed a bi-partisan, balanced budget
While the dollar amounts may change with the rise and fall of revenue, the priorities in the budget speak to the things that Kansans value: public schools, job creation and maintaining critical services. This budget doesn't raise taxes; reflects the shared sacrifice of all parties and was crafted in a bi-partisan fashion.
What was described as a seemingly insurmountable task of passing a budget, we accomplished by working together and putting politics aside.
Approved additional Recovery Act funds to help unemployed workers
Kansas will receive $69 million in American Recovery Act funds under HB2374 to help unemployed workers throughout the state. The bill adds a second formula to existing law for calculating if a person has worked long enough to qualify for jobs benefits. It also will provide an additional 26 weeks of benefits for qualified people enrolled in a state-approved job training program.
Built the foundation for Kansas' renewable energy future
Passed a comprehensive energy plan
S Sub for HB 2369 is a comprehensive energy plan that will create jobs and put Kansas at the forefront of renewable energy efforts. This legislation lets Kansans put up their own small turbines or solar panels to lower their utility costs. It also codifies our goal to have 15 percent renewable power by 2016, and 20 percent by 2020.
Increased public safety
Passed a bill to add stricter penalties for certain crimes
HB 2060 enhances penalties for various crimes including battery against a law enforcement officer, fleeing and eluding police, cockfighting, dog fighting and some drug crimes.
Other highlights of the 2009 Legislative Session include:
Put Kansas on the road to economic recovery
Brought renewable energy jobs to Kansas
SB 108 revised the Economic Revitalization and Reinvestment Act to provide certain economic incentives to eligible wind or solar energy projects. As a result, Siemens Energy has selected Hutchinson as the site of a new wind turbine equipment production facility. The operation will create an estimated 400 green-collar jobs and will be the first large-scale wind turbine equipment factory in Kansas.
Promoted Employment Across Kansas (PEAK) Act
SB 97 enacted the Promoting Employment Across Kansas (PEAK) Act. This Act authorizes a diversion of employee withholding taxes to certain companies or third parties which create jobs in Kansas. Qualified companies generally include those which have closed down an existing business entity outside the state and have relocated the entity in Kansas and have made available to full-time employees adequate health insurance for which the companies would pay at least 50 percent of the premiums.
Increased Kansas' Minimum Wage
SB 160 increased the Kansas' minimum wage law from $2.65 an hour to $7.25 an hour. This wage increase takes effect on January 1, 2010. This legislation also exempts employees and employers covered under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.
Extended health coverage for the unemployed
HB 2052 amended the state continuation of coverage law (Kansas COBRA) to incorporate provisions and requirements of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The Recovery Act requires employers of eligible terminated employees to provide additional notice of the right to elect COBRA coverage. The Recovery Act includes a sixty-five percent premium subsidies for COBRA coverage.
Increased public safety
Refined the graduated driver's license system
To make our roads and highways safer, we passed legislation refining Kansas' graduated driver's license system for drivers younger than 17 years old.
Strengthened Kansas' Rape Shield Law
HB 2098 strengthened Kansas' "Rape Shield" law by better protecting victims of aggravated trafficking and electronic solicitation. This legislation also toughened penalties on offenders who solicit children younger than 14 years old.
Cracked down on underage drinking
HB 2165 expanded the crime of unlawfully hosting minors consuming alcohol to include recklessly permitting a person's land, building, structure or room owned, occupied or procured by such person to be used in such a manner that results in the possession or consumption of alcohol by a minor.
Enacted the Kelsey Smith Act
Senate Sub. for HB 2126 enacted the Kelsey Smith Act, which requires wireless telecommunications carriers to provide information about the location of the telecommunications device of a user of the carriers' services, if requested by a law enforcement agency in order to respond to a call for emergency services or to respond in an emergency situation that involves risk of death or serious physical harm.
Prevented Fraud Against the State
SB 44 created a civil cause of action for perpetrating a specified fraudulent claim on the state government or affected political subdivision under the newly created Kansas False Claims Act.
Source