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Session of 1999
          HOUSE BILL No. 2281           By Select Committee on Information Management           2-5          

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  9             AN  ACT concerning the Kansas tort claims act; relating to the year 2000
10             date change in computers.
11      
12       Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
13             Section  1. As used in this section:
14             (1) "Governmental entity" and "employee" shall have the meaning
15       ascribed to such terms under K.S.A. 75-6102, and amendments thereto.
16             (2) "Electronic computing device" means any computer hardware,
17       software, computer chip, embedded chip, process control equipment or
18       other information system used to capture, store, manipulate or process
19       data, or that controls, monitors or assists in the operation of physical
20       apparatus that is not primarily used as a computer, but that relies on
21       automation or digital technology to function. "Electronic computing de-
22       vice" may include, but not be limited to, vehicles, vessels, buildings, struc-
23       tures, facilities, elevators, medical equipment, traffic signals, factory ma-
24       chinery and the like.
25             (3) "Indirect or consequential damages" means any harm, loss, dam-
26       age or physical or mental injury of any nature whatsoever other than
27       goods, entitlements, services or compensation that governmental entities
28       are obligated to provide by contract, statute or rules and regulations.
29             (b)  (1) Except as provided in paragraph (b)(2), no action may be
30       brought against a governmental entity or its employees for indirect or
31       consequential damages caused in whole or in part by computational or
32       interpretive errors generated by an electronic computing device, owned,
33       controlled or operated by a governmental entity, and arising out of or in
34       connection with the year 2000 date change. Neither a governmental entity
35       nor its employees may be held liable in any other action whether based
36       in tort, contract or otherwise for such damages.
37             (2) The sole remedy for indirect or consequential damages described
38       in paragraph (b)(1) involving state agencies shall be the right to file a
39       claim on the disputed damages with the joint committee on special claims
40       against the state pursuant to K.S.A. 46-907 et seq., and amendments
41       thereto.
42             (c) Nothing in this section may be interpreted to interfere with con-
43       tractual rights, obligations, duties or warranties of private vendors sup-
44       plying electronic computing devices to governmental entities. If a gov-
45       ernmental entity or contractor fails to perform contractual obligations due
46       to computational or interpretive errors associated with the year 2000 date
47       change, the remedies available to the parties shall be as set forth in the
48       written contract.
49             (d) Nothing in this section may be interpreted to interfere with any
50       person's rights to receive statutorily mandated services, entitlements or
51       compensation from governmental entities. If a governmental entity fails
52       to deliver such services, entitlements or compensation due to computa-
53       tional or interpretive errors associated with the year 2000 date change,
54       the remedies available to such person shall be the existing administrative
55       procedures or remedies provided by law, except as expressly limited by
56       this section.
57             (e) This section shall be part of and supplemental to the Kansas tort
58       claims act.
59        Sec.  2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
60       publication in the Kansas register.