Friends:

Day Nine of veto session.  Ever the optimist, I only brought enough clothes to get me through Wednesday… 

Announcements
Education and Personal Activities

Floor Activity

Bills sent to the Governor

Resources

Announcements
After many questions from middle schoolers, high schoolers, and their parents, I want to give you an update on a bill that was proposed this year by Rep. Tom Burroughs (D-Kansas City) to increase the driving age in Kansas.  HB 2218 would move the Learner's Permit age from 14 to 15 and the unrestricted driving age from 16 to 18.  Farm permits would be issued only to students between 14 and 16 who actually live on a farm.  The bill would also "grandfather" those students who already hold licenses.

A hearing was held on January 31st, 2006, but no action has been taken since.  The bill is dead until next year when it could be reintroduced.

Bill:  http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2006/2218.pdf

Explanation:  http://www.kslegislature.org/fiscalnotes/2006/2218.pdf

Education and Personal Activities

With the Senate killing the House bill and the House killing the Senate bill, we are literally starting from scratch on education funding.  Seeing no end in sight, legislative leadership sent us home for the weekend and we returned this afternoon to consider many of the conference committee reports below.

Rumors abound surrounding plans with varying levels of Local Option Budget (LOB) authority and funding for large schools.  The Johnson County delegation is meeting on first recess today (we will probably have a dinner break around 5 pm) to discuss what is best for our districts.  During that meeting, we heard the Senate killed a plan that would provide $466 million plus 1% LOB.  It failed 16-22.  The Senate's next plan is to continue reducing the total dollar amount, but increasing the LOB percentage. 

Here's the conundrum:  LOB is great for our districts, but whatever the plan, we foot 1/3 of the total dollar amount.  So, if we can, it's best for us to get the highest dollar amount in general funding, and some LOB, instead of a bunch of LOB and little state funding.  We're footing the bill anyway, so we might as well get as much as we can, instead of a little, and then boosting our local dollars too.

Does that make sense?  At this point in the process, our brains start turning to mush and it gets harder to explain in a way that's understandable for the average person, not the policy wonk!

Floor Activity

SB 479 Private Prisons bill

First, I want to thank 17th District constituent Dave Solenberger, Kansas researcher Frank Smith, and my exceptional session secretary, Mary Koles for providing information on this issue.  Specifically, the Government Accounting Office (GAO) at the federal level conducted a cost and quality comparison studies of public versus private prisons in six states (TX, CA, TN, NM, LA, WA).  The report found that privatization did not necessarily save money, or affect the quality of service between public and private institutions.

Last week, I asked for information because I did not feel educated enough on the issue to make an appropriate decision, and no hearings were held in the House.  On face value, private prisons sound like a good idea - basic market economics, jobs, economic growth,

The most convincing argument to me was that the two largest for-profit corrections companies also have large lobbying operations.  What does this mean for you?  Like a hotel, the best money is made when beds are full.  So, these groups will lobby for stiffer penalties that don't necessarily fit the crime or the criminal history of the offender.  These bills are very difficult to vote against because they all sound good.  In effect, you have lobbyists supporting harsher prison terms in an effort to line their pockets.  That's where I saw the most obvious conflict of interest on this issue.

At this point in the session, bills are combined and change numbers, so the link for this bill number is not this bill… 

HR 6038 – Patriot Guard

Official recognition of the Patriot Guard for their activities on behalf of Kansas soldiers killed while protecting our freedoms.  Two Kansans were mentioned by name, though the resolution thanks the Patriot Guard for every funeral they protect.  I went to high school with one of the soldiers, SPC. Clinton Upchurch.

Bills sent to the Governor

HB 2576 Jessica's Law

If you remember, we sent the bill back to committee last week to have the conference committee separate Jessica's Law and private prisons.  Today we had the opportunity to vote on Jessica's Law as a stand-alone bill.

Conference Committee passed the House 122-0.  I voted YES.

Passed Senate 36-2.

SB 323 Eminent Domain

We did pass major changes to the eminent domain law under which a public entity can "take" your land.  These changes were mainly targeted at business development entities, which were severely curtailed in the bill.  In the case of land that will be turned over to a private entity, the project must be approved by the legislature and extra compensation must be considered to the level of 200 percent of the fair market value of the property.

Conference Committee Report passed the House 113-10.  I voted YES.

Passed the Senate 33-7.

Resources

Johnson County Statehouse Hotline - Call Topeka for free!  Dial 913.715.5000 and ask for your Representative or Senator.  If you don't know, simply give them your address and they'll head you in the right direction!

LIVE!!  House or Senate Chamber

Rep. Stephanie Sharp

17th District, Kansas House

Serving Lenexa and Shawnee

www.stephaniesharp.com
Home:  913-894-1201

Topeka phone: 785-296-7654 (Note: this is a change from last year.)