Bills passed by the House and sent to the Senate last week:

HR 6004: the rules that the House will operate under for the 2009-2010 biennium.  Passed 118-4.  I voted yes.

HCR 5007: allowing a joint session of the Senate and House to hear a message from the Supreme Court.  It has been nearly two decades since this was done.  This joint address is scheduled for Tuesday, February 10th at 11:30.  Passed 118 -4, I voted yes.

SCR 1606: requesting that Guantanamo Bay detainees not be relocated in Ft. Leavenworth or other Kansas location.  Passed 122-0, I voted yes.

HB 2026: allowing a 1% countywide retailer’s sales tax in Lyons and Rawlins county.  Passed 118-6, I voted yes.

HB 2052:  raising the dollar amount of annuity benefits that the Guaranty Association is liable for when there is an impaired or insolvent insurer from $100,000 to $250,000. Nineteen other states are at or above the $250,000 level.  Passed 124-0, I voted yes.

House Sub for Sub SB 23:  appropriations/rescissions for 2009 budget.  Passed 74-48, I voted yes.  See notes below.

House 2009 Recession Bill Passes

It is no secret that our state is in an economic downturn.  It has impacted every community across the state – thousands of Kansans have lost their jobs and their homes.  When your family faces a revenue downturn, you set priorities and make cuts in your spending so you can live within your means.  State government must do the same.  As you know the State faces a billion dollar revenue shortfall for 2010 and therefore, we must reduce spending.

These decisions are not easy.   As Rep. Don Hill, Emporia said on the House Floor on Wednesday, “We are in an extraordinarily difficult situation and it could get worse.  We don't have any good options - we only have the best of bad options.   We don't want to be in a position where we are putting important programs in pain.  We can't deal with this budget problem without dealing with k-12 because it is more than half of the budget.”  Not one single legislator likes the idea that we must make these cuts.  They will impact every single government agency and program – education, social services, public safety, and transportation to name a few.

House Substitute for Substitute SB 23 passed the House Thursday.   Here are some of the specifics:

• Schools: Cut by 1% which translates to a cut in Base State Aid Per Pupil of $66 ($22 by the governor and $44 by the House) for a total of $48.4M

• Disability waivers: Pay $16.4M to end the physical disability waiting list and reduce the developmental disability waiver waiting list

• Local government: Pay $50M through the Machinery and Equipment Local Government Slider (cut by 4% but paid out on February 15) and the city/county highway fund; delay the Highway Fund loan Repayment until 2011 (rather than rescind)

• Corrections: Cut by 1%

• Other agencies: Cut by 1% on top of the 3% recommended by the Governor on all programs except K-12 and social service caseloads.

• Biosciences: Cut by $6.1M instead of $12M

• K-TEC:  Cut by 1%

• Legislative Branch:  Cut an additional 1% on top of the Governor’s cut; treated like other agencies

• KAMS (KS Academy of Math and Science):  funded fully at $.3M

I am very pro education.  I agree with Kathy Cook, executive director of Kansas Families for Education, that every Kansas child deserves a proper education.   I have fought hard to properly fund our public schools over the years.  That is why I voted to reduce the cut to public schools from 1.5% to 1% - restoring about $17 million to schools.

I will continue to work to protect as much funding as possible for our schools.   The deficit for Fiscal Year 2010 is expected to be even larger, as much as $1B.  Without tax increases, some believe as much as 16-17% cuts will be proposed.

The bill is now in conference committee where the Senate Ways and Means Committee and the House Appropriations Committee leadership will negotiate a final bill.

Bleeding Kansas Biography

Alfred Gray   December 1830 – January 23 1880

Born at Evans, Erie County, N. Y., December 5, 1830, Alfred Gray worked as a boy on a farm, and later as a sailor on Lake Erie.  After rising to rank of first mate, he came ashore, turned his mind to study and books, and became a practicing lawyer in Buffalo, N. Y.  He abandoned excellent professional prospects to become a farmer in Wyandotte County, Kansas Territory in 1866.  There he took part in politics and war.  He was chief clerk of the last Territorial Legislature, a member of the first state legislature, and a regimental Quarter-Master in the Union Army during the Civil War.  In 1866 Alfred Gray was elected a director of the State Agricultural Society, which grew into the State Board of Agriculture.  As its secretary, Mr. Gray established the system of biennial reports which he prepared for years, and which have always been regarded as the authority on Kansas agriculture, industries, and resources, throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. Mr. Gray's services to Kansas in connection with the Centennial Exhibition of 1876 were invaluable. 

Jill’s Activities

Johnson County Public Policy Reception for Legislators held before the Kansas Chamber Dinner.

Kansas Chamber Annual Dinner, guest of Mike Boehm, Vice President of Business Banking, Commerce Bank.  Tucker Carlson, Senior Political Correspondent for MSNBC, was the keynote speaker.

Kansas Hospital Association and Kansas Medical Society Dinner for the members of the Health and Human Services Committee.

Meeting with Malinda Bryan-Smith, Regional Director of the Kansas Small Business Development Center in Johnson County Community College, to talk about their workforce program.  For assistance with starting a new business or revitalizing your current business, call 913-469-3878.

Meeting with Carolyn Madison, Clinical Director of Mercy and Truth, who dropped in my office for a quick chat, as part of the Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved Legislative Day at the Capitol.

Higher Education Caucus Luncheon with a budget presentation by Reginald Robinson, President and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents.

Johnson County Delegation Luncheon sponsored by the City of Overland Park and the Overland Park Chamber shortened by the six-hour budget debate on the floor of the House.

Judy Tuckness, Chairperson of the Lenexa Arts Council, delivered a wonderful painting by Mary Ellen Green to my office for display during the 2009 session.  Thanks!

Wear Red for the American Heart Association

Kansas Health Institute Luncheon briefing, “Who are the Uninsured.”

Kansas Telecommunications Industry Association Legislative Dinner offered a time to visit with representatives from small telephone companies from across Kansas.

Committee Activity:

Commerce and Labor
Presentation by Dr. Blake Flanders, VP of Workforce Development, Kansas Board of Regents.  This program is striving to drive technical education with data and input from business as to the skills required in the workplace.

Secretary Jim Garner, Department of Labor, returned to the committee to report on their progress in expediting unemployment claims.  Key points included:

• Experienced employees were pulled to a special processing unit that only handles the two new extended unemployment benefit plans.  The previous 7400 case backlog is down to less than 300 and should be zero by the end of the week.

• Website changes that now allow users to change their address on-line have resulted in 1200 address changes in the last two weeks.  Password changes are being tested and should be implemented in a few days.  The website is functional from 7am to 7pm Monday through Saturday; this can not be expanded to 24 hour availability.

• Beginning February 9th, call center hours will be expanded by four hours Monday through Friday (7am to 7pm) and nine hours on Saturday (8am to 5pm). 

• Twenty temporary staff hired last week are being trained this week and former employees have been recruited back.  Mandatory overtime is being required until these workers are fully trained.

• Three new options have been added to the phone tree:  debit card assistance, 1099 form questions, and the extended benefit programs.

• They are trying to be pro-active by reaching out to businesses that are announcing lay-offs. A new liaison for public affairs, Megan Ingmire, has been announced.

If any of you, my constituents, are still having trouble filing your unemployment claim, please let me hear from you.


The committee began working on HB 2067 (a technical correction removing the Secretary of State as the custodian of records for the newly created home inspector’s board) and on HB 2068 (which expands the list of those protected from harassment by realtors, adds deactivation language to the statute, and clarifies the definition of office).  HB 2068 was passed out of committee.

If you would like more information on the following bills, go to www.kslegislature.org and put in the bill number in the space for House bills.  Upcoming Commerce & Labor Committee bills include:
2141—eligibility of motor vehicle drivers employed directly by a school district unemployment benefits
2142—continuing ed for plumbers, electricians, and others. Hearing 2/10
2218—healthy workplace act, abusive environments
2238—construction contracts, amending the fairness in private and public construction contracts regarding retainage.  Hearing 2/11.
2257—labor & employment, compensatory time off, family leave
2260—home inspectors competence & financial responsibility

Health and Human Services

Presentation on Health Savings Accounts by Beverly Gossage, HSA Benefits Consulting, and Deborah Needleman, First Source Solution USA, Incorporated.

Presentation on the Kansas Rural Health Options Project by Dr. John Leatherman, KSU.  Funded by a federal grant, the project helps community residents evaluate their healthcare system and identify ways to enhance it.

Presentation on VasoGenix by its President and CEO, Dr. Lee Southard.  This Lenexa business is developing a new heart failure drug with a new injectable, time-release delivery system.  They have been aided both by KTEC and the BioScience Authority.  This is part of the new National Drug Development Accelerator initiative by the BioScience Authority.

Again, if you would like more information on the following bills, go to www.kslegislature.org and put in the bill number in the space for House bills. Upcoming Health & Human Services Committee bills include:
2010—medical record storage, Board of Healing Arts
2011—reporting requirements for abortions by KDHE
2019--eligibility requirements for medicaid; allowing a collateral assignment of the proceeds of life insurance policies
2118—continuing ed for social workers regarding personal safety
2161—fees charged by the Board of Healing Arts
2162—marriage & family therapists ed requirements, psychologist application fees. Hearing 2/9
2163—duties of registered nurse anesthetists
2198—health insurance plans for small employers, cafeteria and high deductible.  Hearing 2/10
2220—child care, in certain licensed and registered facilities
2221—child care, disclosure of certain information
2223—child care, family day care homes
2229—visitation in medical care facilities & adult care homes
2230—establish an advisory council on pain and symptom management
2231—insurance, mental health parity
2243—state board of cosmetology
2259—duties of the Kansas Health Policy Authority
2262—health care, insurance & reimbursement
2275—random drug screen for public assistance applicants & recipients

Transportation & Public Safety Budget

The committee heard testimony from the Sentencing Commission, the Parole Board, the State Fire Marshall, the Board of Emergency Medical Services, and the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers regarding their budget needs for 2010.


I appreciate hearing from you,

Jill Quigley
Representative, 17th District
Office:  785-296-7682
Legislative Hotline:  1-800-432-3924