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January 21, 2005

The Sharp Record
ssharp@ink.org

Friends:

 

This should be a short and sweet Sharp Record this week, we’re still in the very early stages of the session, committees are hearing agency overviews and bill introductions (YAWN – but helpful for my new committees and the freshmen who are new to all of this!), so it will take some time to get those bills to full House consideration.

 

MAKE SURE TO READ FLOOR ACTIVITIES!  The Senate has been hard at work on the infamous “Used Car Sales Tax” bill…

 

Personal Activities and Education

One little known fact about the Supreme Court’s April 12 deadline is the March 22 deadline.  State statutes mandate a set amount of time for the governor to be able to consider legislation.  In order for everything to be in place for the governor to sign an education bill, it must have passed the legislature by March 22.  Not much time.

 

Floor Activities

The Kansas Senate on Thursday passed 40-0 a bill to right the wrongs of last session’s used car sales tax bill, AND provide refunds for overpayments.  It’s on its way to House Tax Committee, where our good friend Rep. David Huff (R-Lenexa) is the Vice Chairman!  Keep in mind, the bill can still change, so it’s not a done deal – yet.

 

Soon to be floor activity: You may have heard that last Friday afternoon, the Senate passed its version of the Marriage Amendment (SCR 1601) by a vote of 28-11.  The bill had no hearings in the Senate, and if it passes the House in its current form, we will see it on the April 5, 2005 ballot.  The bill was introduced to House Federal and State Affairs Thursday, January 20, 2005, and will most likely start hearings next week.

 

Commerce and Labor

Briefings on Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) salaries, Department of Labor on Job Vacancies and the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, and the Worker’s Compensation process and Ombudsman information.

 

Corrections and Juvenile Justice (aka Kids and Crime)

Lots of Department of Corrections and Kansas Sentencing Commission briefings.  This is fascinating stuff, especially for a non-lawyer – the grid that is used to match crime with number of offenses and level of punishment is complicated, but very interesting!

 

Higher Education

Briefing by Kan-Ed, the statewide technology consortium.  Kan-Ed provides network connectivity to schools, hospitals, universities, libraries and other public entities throughout the state.  By doing this, a heart specialist in Johnson County can look at patient files in Colby or Ark City.  A teacher in Sublette can connect to a course at Johnson County Community College.  Ever wonder what that “Universal Service Fund” charge is on your phone bill?  USF currently pays for Kan-Ed.  Hopefully, Kan-Ed will be funded from General Fund revenues in the near future so that this fund can be phased out, as originally intended.

 

Resources

 

Next week’s committee schedule:

Senate

House

 

LIVE!  House or Senate Chamber:

LIVE!  Paperless House Health and Human Services Committee (1:30 – 3:00 pm daily), Senate Utilities (9:30 – 10:30 am daily)

  • See and hear the committee in action, read agendas and testimony for the day.

Where’s Waldo (Rep. Sharp)?  Jan 11 – Jan 21, 2005

(Besides session and committee meetings 9am – 5 pm)

  • Law School for Legislators, sponsored by the Kansas Supreme Court
  • Lunches:
    • Taste of Kansas
    • 20/20 Leadership
    • Johnson County Delegation – I was re-elected Secretary/Treasurer
    • Kansas Wildlife and Parks – my first taste of BBQ Buffalo…
  • Dinners: 
    • Lenexa Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner – see you there!
  • Receptions:
    • Washburn University
    • Kansas Association of Realtors
    • Kansas Public Accountants Association
    • Kansas Health Care Association – hello to Rick Carlson at Shawnee Gardens!
    • Kansas County Appraisers

Question of the Week!

I’m hoping to encourage you to use the Resource page of the Sharp Record.  So, this week’s question can be found in one of those resources…

Question:  How many committees make up the committee structure of the Kansas House?

 

Thank you for the opportunity to serve the citizens of the 17th District, and indeed, all Kansans, in the Kansas House of Representatives.  Please do not hesitate to contact me about these or any other issues of interest to you and your family.  The only way to know what you think is if you tell me!

 

Stephanie Sharp

17th District, KS House

Serving Lenexa and Shawnee

www.stephaniesharp.com

913-894-1201