We currently are in our “Spring Break” and are required to be back to duty on April 28th. We will come back to Veto Session during the last days of April and early May. Our 90th day falls on Saturday, May 9th. By all indications we will not be there that long. We have some wrap-up legislation and conference committee reports to vote on and then we are finished for the regular session.
Should the governor decide to veto some of our good work we will try to muster the votes necessary to override her/his decision. We are sure there are some issues we could not agree upon, thus the veto session. On a brighter side we also schedule photo-ops for that legislation that is signed into law. I have a couple that I worked on and have scheduled to get a photograph taken during the signing ceremony with the governor and some other legislators that supported our efforts.
One of the issues I supported was the SB 160 “raise the minimum wage”. The past several years this issue was lightly debated although it did receive quite a bit of exposure this year. The short version is that we passed the legislation to raise the Kansas minimum wage to match the federal level. Currently the federal law is $6.55 an hour and will rise to $7.25 on January 1, 2010.
Evidently those receiving the state minimum were hard to impossible to find. On several occasions I asked the supporters of the bill to have those recipients of the state minimum wage to contact me. (I am still waiting) The U.S. Department of Labor estimated there were reportedly 17,000 to 20,000 workers that fell into this category. In the end; the issue was that our state had the lowest minimum wage in the U.S. If your company takes a check, credit card, ships products outside the state or receives shipments from outside the state, they must comply with the federal minimum wage law.
The only exception; is those that come under the Fair Labor Standards Act or the Child Labor Laws. Our change was a long time coming and. I think we did some really good work on this issue. The state wage level will not automatically change with the feds but is expected to bring more than $3.6 million into the state general fund due to increased withholding tax. I do not think this is a realistic number but I am hopeful we gain that much. The measure passed the house by a vote of 110-15.
SB 212 would amend he Liquor Control Act and the Club and Drinking Establishment Act. The bill would permit in-state and out-of-state wineries to directly ship wine to consumers in the State of Kansas upon obtaining a special order shipping license and payment of a $50.00 fee to the Department of Revenue. Relax; the special order shipper could not ship more than 12 cases a year to the same consumer or address.
Age verification is included, “bona fide farmer’s market” is included, farm wineries are excluded. The bill would allow a drinking establishment to store wine on the premise, which had been sold to a customer for future consumption. The bill would require the wine to be stored in its unopened condition and would prohibit the wine being removed from the location in its unopened condition. Believe me there was plenty to love and hate about this legislation. The final vote in the house was 88-37.
The wheels fell of the smoking ban bus again. The bill brought a lot of variables into play. We all agree that there is a health issue involved and many more see a local issue and local business decision at risk. The bill did include prohibition against smoking in any public place, but the state may someday own a casino, so many wanted exclusion for the state owned casinos. We also include exclusions for nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
We take the kids to eat at Applebee’s or Longhorn Steak House where we will not smoke, but we can visit the grandparents in a retirement center and go into a special smoking room to visit. We could not smoke within 10 feet of a restaurant entrance, but wait there are diners sitting outside that close to the door so they cannot smoke either. Is the sidewalk exempt?
The issues of individual rights as well as local control are in conflict here. The bill further designated where the display racks for tobacco products could be located. The good news came out; the Dept. of Revenue reported 87% compliance on the law that does not allow minors under 18 to purchase tobacco products. I really want to know what you all think on this issue, drop me a line or call. This issue is on hold right now.
SB 41 would amend the state law dealing with school district consolidation and disorganization. This balances out the state financial aid and would distribute the money in the same proportion before the reorganization. The State Board of Education would designate a period of time each year as a time to teach about disability history and awareness. The bill would further require the BOE to develop state curriculum standards for personal finance.
You would think the parents would teach about checking accounts, credit cards, pay-day loans, student loans, financing a house, buying a car, and basic personal finance, it is obvious this is not happening, so here comes the state to the rescue.
I consider it an honor and privilege to serve you in Topeka and I want to know what you think. Contact me at johng@carlisleinc.net, john.grange@house.ks.gov, www.johngrange.net, 1115 Rim Rock Road, El Dorado, Ks. 67042. Thanks, John
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