Senate Sub. For HB 2360 enacts a sales tax increase, expands the food sales tax rebate program, expands the state earned income tax credit (EITC) program, and amends the Kansas Taxpayers Transparency Act.
The state sales and compensating use tax rate is increased from 5.3 to 6.3 percent, effective July 1, 2010. A grandfather clause provides that if contractors had entered into written binding contracts prior to May 1st, 2010, for the original construction, reconstruction, restoration, remodeling, renovation, repair or replacement of a building or facility, residential structure, bridge or highway, the 5.3 % will remain applicable.
The rate subsequently is reduced to 5.7 percent on July 1, 2013. Disposition of revenue provisions generally are adjusted to provide the State Highway Fund (SHF) with an estimated $20.427 million of additional revenue in FY 2011, $21 million in 2012 and 2013; and all of the additional revenue above 5.3% once the rate returns to the 5.7 percent level.
The balance of the additional receipts are to be deposited into the State General Fund (SGF), except for a small portion attributable to utility purchases with an Intermodel facility district. Such receipts will be distributed temporarily to the SHF, but then may be transferred by the Secretary of Transportation to a new rail service improvement fund.
The food sales tax rebate program, which is administered through the income tax as a credit, is expanded such that the income eligibility ceiling is increased from $31,900 to $35,000 beginning in tax year 2010; the per capita refund amounts are increased from $41 to $45 in the upper-income tier of the program, and from $84 to $90 in the lower income tier.
The Kansas Taxpayer Transparency Act is amended to require the Secretary of Administration to include tax expenditure information provided by the Department of Revenue in addition to other information currently required to be provided on a searchable website pursuant to KSA 2009 Sup. 74-72, 123.
This means the information has to be readily accessible to the common taxpayer public, through the use of a computer and in a format that is searchable from the Internet.
In 2011 the sales tax increase is expected to generate an additional $314,063, in 2012, an additional $373,078, in 2013 $385,877, in 2014, the first year of the decrease back to 5.7 percent an additional $188.361, and in FY 2015 an additional $175,739. This is a 5 year total of projected additional income of $1,437,116.
HB 2482 makes several changes related to drivers license which includes, the Division of Vehicles to renew without examination the expiring driver’s license of the spouse or dependent child living with a person on active military duty outside the state of Kansas.
The bill allows the Division to renew by mail one time the driver’s license of a person on active duty outside the US or that person’s spouse or dependent child living with the person on active duty, if the Division has a photograph or digital image of the license on file;
The bill removes requirements for a driver renewing his or her license to take a written examination on highway signs and knowledge of traffic laws;
The bill allows the Division to reference an agency website and make available on that website information on a person’s right to make an anatomical gift and the organ donor registry program, in lieu of mailing that information to the person renewing a driver’s license or a non-driver’s identification card.
We made several efforts to reduce paperwork and the need for hard copy and mailings by referencing the Internet in a lot of legislation. There is really an awful lot of knowledge just a couple of mouse clicks away and this is an effort to notice up that availability. Don’t forget to back-up your data!
The bill allows a 16-year-old holder of a farm permit or restricted license to drive directly to or from any religious worship service by a religious organization. The bill defines “religious organization”.
The bill also allows an adult who has held a valid class M driver’s license for at least a year, ride as a passenger on a motorcycle operated by the holder of an instruction permit or restricted class M driver’s license, in addition to riding a motorcycle in proximity to the novice rider. Gotta learn somehow I guess!
Just a cautious reminder about use your seatbelts, do not text while driving and get your children in the proper child restraint seats. Law enforcement has asked for years for these type of laws, now that they are on the books we can expect enforcement.
As of March 2010 there have been 27,022 concealed permits issued in the State of Kansas. In 2010 there were 6,053 males and 1,192 females in the 50-60 year old group that applied for the concealed carry permit. Interestingly there were 299 men and 9 women over the age of 80 that applied too.
In 2009, the Attorney General issued 7,545 license for concealed carry of a handgun. We recognize the license from with 22 other states, 20 states recognize our license and 20 do not recognize our license. It is the individual’s responsibility to know the law, so check before you travel. www.ksag.org.
I consider it an honor and privilege to be your Representative in Topeka, if I can be of assistance please contact me at home 316-321-2087, 1115 Rim Rock Road, El Dorado 67042, or johng@carlisleinc.net, www.johngrange.net.
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