Friends:
As of 5:00 pm tomorrow, I am closing the 2007 survey.  Thank you for your participation.  I will have results soon!  This is the second email of the week and it consists primarily of floor action Wednesday and Thursday.  We finished our bills and made final votes after the debate on Thursday evening, giving us Friday through Tuesday off.  This is our only break during the session. 

Sharp Shadow
Floor Activities
Education and Personal Activities
An Eye on the Senate
Where's Waldo
Kansas Quiz
Resources

Sharp Shadow
It was a busy week for Sharp Shadows!  Steve Bachenberg, Joe Beveridge, and Mary Ca Ralstin spent Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday respectively as Sharp Shadows.  Mary Ca’s comments will be in next week’s Record.  Here are their comments:
Steve Bachenberg:
“I enjoyed the day I spent with Stephanie, and recommend the Sharp Shadow experience to anyone with an interest in our legislative process.  Stephanie was very patient and explained things before, during, and after the fact so that I not only experienced the events of the day, but understood what was happening.  It was a very fast-paced day, so only part of Stephanie’s explanations stuck between my ears.  The lasting impression I have from the day is the volume of information the Representatives are exposed to, and the need for “multi-tasking” to the extreme.  I am now even more impressed with Stephanie, and proud to have her representing me in Topeka.”

Joe Beveridge:
“I have been interested in politics all my life and have helped candidates during election season, but the Sharp Shadow Program was a truly unique experience.  Before the day began I thought I had a pretty solid understanding of what went on in the State Capitol.  But it’s one thing to talk with your state representative, walk neighborhoods with her, or read about the legislative process in the paper.  It’s another thing to see your state representative in action - working with colleagues and giving speeches on the House Floor.  I was also grateful that Stephanie took so much time during the busy day to answer questions I have about the legislative process and fill me in on what’s happening on the House Floor.
At the end of the day, I felt that I had a solid understanding of Kansas’ legislative process.  If you’re interested in politics, I highly recommend this program!”

Floor Activities
The following bills have passed the House and are headed to Senate committees for consideration.  These bills have not become law:
Sub HB 2042 (http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2008/2042.pdf) creates a 45-day grace period for students turning 21 years old to renew their driver’s licenses.  Current law requires licenses to expire upon a 21st birthday.  This was a problem with students studying out of state, on vacation, etc.
Passed the House 122-0.  I voted YES.

HB 2185 (http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2008/2185.pdf) allows students who graduated from Kansas high schools and who leave the state to work or attend college, to return within five years and still qualify for in-state tuition at our state schools.
Passed the House 123-0.  I voted YES.

HB 2191 (http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2008/2191.pdf) prohibits “relations” between inmates and volunteers at correctional institutions.  Think John Maynard.
Passed the House unanimously.

Remember when I sent out letters last year, alerting you to the Kansas unclaimed property website?  The link is also listed under “Resources,” but maybe I told you about it too soon!  HB 2246 (http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2008/2246.pdf) allows the State Treasurer’s office to pay claimants interest on unclaimed property.
Passed the House 74-48.  I voted YES.

HB 2314 (http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2008/2314.pdf) is the AP bill that changed CPA exam requirements to make Kansas in compliance with the Uniform Accounting Act, which also allows accountants to receive recognition across state lines.
Passed the House 107-14.  I voted NO.

Sub HB 2457 (http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2008/2457.pdf) is the taxpayer transparency bill we crafted in Government Efficiency & Technology Committee.
Passed the House 102-20.  I voted YES.

HB 2483 (http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2008/2483.pdf) is a step toward direct access for physical therapists.  As you know, you can call up a chiropractor, and a number of other specialists without getting a referral from you doctor.  Physical therapists have been seeking similar opportunities for years, and deserve it, in my opinion.  So, here’s to Kim Galbreath and Kevin Riordan for keeping the faith on this one!
Passed the House 122-0.  I voted YES.

SB 83 (http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2008/83.pdf) is the unemployment contribution reduction we heard and worked earlier in the week in Commerce Committee.  It appears it’s flying and we will be able to help folks this year!
Passed the House 122-0.  I voted YES.  The Senate will likely concur with technical amendments made in the House, and the bill will be sent to the governor for her signature.

Education and Personal Activities
Is your student interested in politics?  Does s/he want an extra $1,000 in scholarship money?  The Robert J. Dole Public Service Scholarships will be spread across Kansas by Congressional District.  128 scholarships will be awarded this year! 
Apply online at www.sms.scholarshipamerica.org/senatordolepublicservice
    Eligibility: 
1.    2007 graduation high school senior from accredited public or private high school in Kansas,
2.    3.0 minimum GPA on a 4.0 scale,
3.    involved in a significant amount of volunteer community service projects or public service activities,
4.    enrolling no later than fall 2007 in a full-time undergraduate course of study at a Kansas Regents’ University or Washburn University.
Applications due March 15th, 2007.

An Eye on the Senate
The Senate unanimously passed a Kansas presidential primary in February of next year.  What do you think about this one?  My gut feeling is to be opposed to spending $2 million on an election that doesn’t mean much in the greater picture, when we could use that money to benefit the greater good.  Kansas has 6 votes in the electoral college, do we really think candidates are going to spend a lot of money and time to come here, especially when a Kansas Senator is running and is likely a shoe-in to win his own state?

Where's Waldo?
•    Greater Kansas City Home Builders reception
 
Kansas Quiz
Last Week’s Question: In 1905 the Kansas oil fields produced faster than Standard Oil could refine.  At that time, heavy oil sold for $____ a barrel in Kansas and water sold for $0.42.

Answer:  Heavy oil sold for $0.17 a barrel in Kansas when water sold for $0.42.
Source:  Miner, Craig. Kansas: A History of the Sunflower State, 1854-2000. Lawrence, Kansas: University Press of Kansas, 2002.  Craig Miner is the Willard Garvey Distinguished Professor of Business History at Wichita State and the first recipient of the Public Humanities Award from the Kansas Committee for the Humanities.  He has written numerous books about Kansas.

Email my session assistant, Mary Koles at maryk@house.state.ks.us to answer the question.  The first correct answer received to that address will win a prize, and recognition with the correct answer in next week’s Sharp Record.

Question:  Name the Kansas-born celebrity who graces a commemorative stamp.  When and where did she wear the dress pictured on the stamp?  Why did she attend this event and where did she sit?  Mention this pioneer’s “last first.”

Resources
Johnson County Election Office - www.jocoelection.org
Keep Kansas Sharp Blog:  www.keepkansassharp.blogspot.com
Kansas Legislature:  http://www.kslegislature.org
KS Ethics Commission:  http://www.kansas.gov/ethics/
KS Legislative Research:  http://skyways.lib.ks.us/ksleg/KLRD/klrd.html

Next week’s committee schedule:  See anything of interest to you? 
House Agenda: http://www.kslegislature.org/agstat/2007/ha0222.pdf 
Senate Agenda: http://www.kslegislature.org/agstat/2007/sa0222.pdf

Please do not hesitate to contact me about these or any other issues of interest to you.  I appreciate the opportunity to represent you in Topeka.

Rep. Stephanie Sharp
17th District, Kansas House
Serving Lenexa and Shawnee
www.stephaniesharp.com
Home:  913-894-1201

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