Week of March 7 to March 11, 2022
Jim Karleskint
Another week and yet another snowstorm that caused legislation to slow down due to the weather. Due to the snow on Thursday many committee meeting hearings were conducted on zoom, delayed, or postponed till next week.
There was a significant thing that took place in both the House and the Senate that pertain to education and educators. On Wednesday both the House and Senate took action regarding KPERS funding. Early Wednesday afternoon the House voted to put nearly one billion dollars of the surplus that Kansas has in the bank to go toward paying down the unfunded liability of the state retirement program. It passed the House by a vote of 113 in favor and 5 against. Then Wednesday evening the Senate passed similar legislation that passed on a vote of 28 in favor and 12 against. The bills are not identical so a conference committee will probably bring the two pieces of legislation together. In both chambers there was an attempt to add on a cost of living adjustment for those that are currently receiving KPERS pensions, both failed to be added to the legislation.
Here are some other things that took place this past week regarding education.
On Tuesday there was a hearing on HB 2724, the House Tax Committee held a hearing on the bill which would exclude the 20-mill statewide property tax levy from notice and public hearing requirements of the revenue neutral rate which was passed last year in SB 13. I along with 3 Superintendents testified in favor of the bill. It is my understanding the bill be worked next week and sent to the full House for consideration. There was also a hearing in Senate Tax committee this week on SB 542, which would make changes in the revenue neutral rate, including establishing a complaint process.
House K-12 Budget Committee had a hearing on SB 362, which would require local boards to document and consider the school needs assessment and state assessment results in the budget process. The bill passed the Senate and has now gone to the House for consideration. The bill was improved by stakeholders working on a compromise of this bill.
Senate Education Committee voted to recommend SB 484 to the full Senate. This bill has to do with fairness in women’s sports act. The bill would require that student athletic teams only include members who are of the same biological sex unless designated as coed. The Senate has yet to take action on the bill. Action is expected next week.
A Parents Bill of Rights is being considered in each chamber. The House Bill is 2662 and the Senate Bill is 496. The bills would require extensive posting of materials and information on the
district website. Many legislators have heard from teachers and administrators in opposition to the bill.
I want to keep you posted on a couple of events of the past week which took place in committees which could be of concern. On Wednesday Senate Education Committee had a hearing on SB 455. This bill allows K-12 students to transfer to and attend any school district in the state. The committee chair asked several Senators to work with stakeholders on a compromise amendment. The committee is scheduled to work the bill next week. I have been involved in providing input in an attempt to improve the legislation.
On Thursday, Senate Ways & Means Committee voted to recommend SB 341 to the full Senate. SB 341 would remove federal impact aid from the determination of local foundation aid. Some will recall that SB 41 from last year was included in this bill when it was heard earlier in Senate Education. SB 41 would exclude USD 207, Fort Leavenworth from the capital improvements state aid determination. To a few districts removing federal impact aide from the determination of local foundation aide is good news. Many districts were also looking forward to removing Fort Leavenworth from the capital improvements state aide. The bill does remove Fort Leavenworth. However, there was a change made to the bill. The change would freeze school districts to where they are currently. This is concerning to many school districts as there was anticipation on how this could enhance your potential to pass needed school improvement bonds. The bill has not gone to the Senate for consideration by the full Senate. I will keep you up to date and suggest that you contact your senator on how this could impact your district. We are at the stage in the legislative session that many things will be taking place in both chambers. Please be ready to reach out to your Representative or Senator.
I know many of you are preparing for Spring Break. I hope you have an opportunity to take a break and rest up. Please let me know if you have questions. Until next week.
