The Senate was called to order by President Dick Bond.
The roll was called with forty senators present.
President Bond introduced guest chaplain, Pastor Shawn Winters, Grace Community
Church, Great Bend, Kansas, who delivered the invocation:
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for the faithfulness of your character which
extends through history. You are the same yesterday and today. You are faithful and
true and do not change like shifting shadows. Who we are, does not affect who you
are; for that we praise you and lift your name above all names in our homes, in our
communities and in our government. We honor you as God.
Please continue to show your mercy to us. We ask your forgiveness for the sins of
our nation, and for the sins we ourselves have committed. We plead for your con-
tinued patience when we lack faith. Keep us from willful deceit, from arrogance, and
from self justification by your strength,
Lord, you have blessed us so richly. Thank-you for . . .
Blessing each woman and man present with abilities, intelligence and authority
I pray for the keen ability to use those gifts wisely.
And for blessing each family, and I ask for their safety and comfort in a parent's
absence.
Lord, I pray for the members of this Senate, that today you will reveal yourself to
them in powerful ways.
I pray for wisdom as they lead today.
I pray for peace in the decisions to be made as they shoulder this responsibility.
I pray for comfort to those individuals who need comfort, for we are all human
and in need.
Show us your love and kindness, for ``It is Your kindness that leads us to repentance,
O Lord.'' Amen.
REFERENCE OF BILLS AND CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS
The following bills were referred to Committees as indicated:
Public Health and Welfare: SB 693; HB 2969.
Transportation and Tourism: HB 3014.
Ways and Means: HB 2603, 3007.
CHANGE OF REFERENCE
The President withdrew HB 2312, 2422, 2860 from the Committee on Ways and Means,
and rereferred the bills to the Committee on Judiciary.
The President withdrew Sub. for Sub. HB 2649 from the Committee on Ways and
Means, and rereferred the bill to the Committee on Commerce.
The President withdrew HB 2531, 2654 from the Committee on Ways and Means, and
returned the bills to the calendar under the heading of General Orders.
The President withdrew HB 2925 from the Committee on Ways and Means, and rere-
ferred the bill to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
INTRODUCTION OF ORIGINAL MOTIONS AND SENATE RESOLUTIONS
Senators Jones and Gooch introduced the following Senate resolution, which was read:
SENATE RESOLUTION No. 1844--
A RESOLUTION congratulating and commending Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
WHEREAS, Representatives of four collegiate and five alumnae chapters of Delta Sigma
Theta Sorority will participate in its organizational event of ``Delta Days at the State Capitol''
by visiting the legislature on March 30, 1998; and
WHEREAS, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded January 13, 1913, at Howard Uni-
versity by 22 undergraduate women to promote academic excellence and to provide assis-
tance to persons in need. Today it is a nonprofit organization with a membership of over
190,000 predominately African-American college-educated women and with over 870 chap-
ters throughout the world; and
WHEREAS, The major programs of the sorority are contained in its Five-Point Program
Thrust of economic development, educational development, international awareness and
involvement, physical and mental health, and political awareness and involvement. Currently
it has two major national initiatives: Health and healing addressing clinical depression, an
illness that afflicts African-American women at a rate two times greater than all men; and
the Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy, featuring an educational program for at-risk African-
American girls between the ages of 11 and 14: Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Kansas: That we congratulate and commend
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority for its commitment to service in our society; and
Be it further resolved: That the Secretary of the Senate be directed to send an enrolled
copy of this resolution to Cynthia