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Dec. 15, 2019
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Minutes for HB2364 - Committee on Appropriations

Short Title

Appropriations for FY 2018, FY 2019, FY 2020 and FY 2021 for various state agencies.

Minutes Content for Tue, Mar 28, 2017

Chairman Waymaster opened continued discussion on the bill.

Representative Davis made a motion for a proviso regarding the Board of Regents (with the exception of the University of Kansas) conduct an efficiency study and report back to the legislature prior to the FY 2018 session.  Representative Hoffman seconded the motion.

Discussion followed by committee members regarding the proviso in regards to the time frame and cost for the study.  It was noted that the University of Kansas conducted their own study at a cost of $2.7 million and has benefited from this effort. Kansas State University tailored a study based on the criteria the University of Kansas used. 

Representative Davis renewed the motion. Motion passed.

Representative Wolfe Moore reviewed the Parents as Teachers program.

Representative Wolf made a motion to transfer $7.2 million from the Key Fund to the CIF for the Parents as Teachers program.  Representative Ballard seconded the motion.

Discussion followed by committee members regrading the motion regarding participant qualifications. A review of the TANF criteria from the Department of Education followed.  Concerns were expressed regarding restrictions for participants based on income or eligibility guide lines and waiting lists.  Amy Deckard, Legislative Research Department, responded to questions from committee members and reviewed federal guide lines for TANF funding.

Representative Wolfe Moore renewed the motion.  Motion passed.

Representative Campbell noted that a proviso regarding procurement and health care will be presented in the K-12 Education Budget Committee.

Representative Campbell made a motion for an amendment to add $49,452 for the School for the Blind and $64,721 for FY 2018 and FY 2019. Representative Helgerson seconded the motion.  Motion passed.

Meeting recessed at:  9:52 a.m.

The meeting reconvened at:  1:07 p.m.

Representative Proehl made a motion to approve the minutes from March 22, March 23 and March 24, 2017.  Representative Sutton seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

Representative Alaca made a motion for an amendment  to add approximately $55.7 million including $22.5 million from SGF for a 2 percent salary increase for state employees for FY 2018, and add approximately $58.2 million (2 percent) for salary increases for state employees in FY 2019 (with the exception of the non-judicial branch, legislature, Kansas Highway Patrol, School for the Blind, and School for the Deaf, as salary increases have previously been approved).  Representative Burroughs seconded the motion.

Discussion followed by committee members regarding the motion and the fiscal impact on the budget shortfall and the revenue package that has yet passed either chamber.  Chairman Waymaster stated that currently the budget reflects a negative ending balance of $248 million for FY 2018 and a negative $296 million for FY 2019.  He expressed concern for development of a revenue package that will pass in the House, Senate and signed by the Governor. He emphasized the need to build a financial foundation that will ensure stability in future years.

Representative Alcala renewed the motion.  Motion failed.

The following committee members have requested their vote, in opposition of the motion, be recorded in the minutes: Representative Alaca, Representative Ballard, Representative Burroughs, Representative Carlin, Representative Phelps and Representative Wolfe Moore.

Representative Alcala reviewed a proviso regarding a workplace bullying policy (Attachment 1).  The proviso creates a policies and procedures for all state agencies to address this issue.

Representative Alcala made a motion for a proviso related to workplace bullying policy.  Representative Burroughs seconded the motion.

Discussion followed by committee members regarding the motion.  It was noted that the proviso should go through a bill process, with the concern that a proviso would not extend this past FY 2019. The concern was expressed that the proviso was a policy, not budget related issue.  Jill Wolters, Office of the Revisor of Statues, that this is an example of asking an agency to do something within existing resources when changing substantive law with a proviso.

Representative Claeys made a substitute motion that would limit the workplace bullying policy proviso to the Kansas Department on Aging and Disability Services as a pilot program prior to implementing statewide.  Representative Sutton seconded the motion.

Discussion followed by committee members regarding the substitute motion. Concerns were expressed that the policy change was too substantial for a budget bill and legal liability issues.

Representative Johnson called for question on the amendment.  Motion failed.

Representative Carlin discussed a substitute motion requesting an interim study on the issue. Chairman Waymaster stated that this request would be in the form of a letter to the Legislative Coordinating Committee, which is not normally as part of the budget.

Representative Johnson called for question on the amendment.  Motion failed.

Representative Concannon introduced four Kansas State University Veterinarian students who are in the Capitol today, one of whom was her son.

Meeting adjourned at:  1:56 p.m.