Senate Substitute for HB 2923 makes some multiple changes to provisions having to do with active-duty military personnel and with veterans.
For the active-duty personnel there is an increase in the one-time activation payment of $1,000 to $1,500 made to those Kansas employees currently on or called to active duty. The bill raises the wage differential payment to $1,000 gross payment per pay period.
The bill allows full-time military service members who have been, or will be, deployed outside the United States to defer all or part of the real property tax owed for the person’s principal place of residence in Kansas for up to two years while serving on active duty.
Provides for eligibility for military persons currently on active duty eligible for distinctive vehicle license plates for their passenger vehicles, motorcycles, travel trailers and trucks with a gross weight of 20,000 pounds or less.
For the veterans, the bill appropriates $60,000 for the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs to fund a new position under the Administration Program. This position would be specifically for a person to educate veterans about available services and lay the groundwork for a future enhanced service delivery program.
The bill also allows the Kansas Lottery to sell Veterans Benefit Game Lottery tickets year round and requires 40 percent of the net profits be used for National Guard Scholarships and 30 percent to the Kansas Veterans Home, The Kansas Soldiers Home, and the Veterans Cemetery System.
The legislation provides for annual hunting and fishing license at no cost to honorably discharged veterans with certified service related disabilities of 30 percent or more and appropriates $75,392 during FY 09 to the Department of Wildlife and Parks to reimburse the Wildlife Fee Fund.
In 2007 five new positions were added to the Healthwave Call Center to help return the high volume of calls they receive, in addition eight new eligibility staff positions were added to help with the processing of the additional paperwork brought on by new eligibility requirements.
In FY 06 the Call Center received 248 calls per staff member, in FY 07 the calls increased to 446, and in FY 08 the calls increased to 708 per staff member. This information seems to show that even with the five additional customer-service positions added they were still handling nearly 50 percent more calls per staff member toward the end of FY 2008 than they were in FY 2006.
In late 1998 an estimated 60,000 children were uninsured in Kansas. The state needed a way to find these uninsured children and provide a program designed to promote a healthy life-style. Healthwave 21 was created for uninsured children, ages 0-19, living in a household with income levels at or below 200% of Federal poverty level. Within the first year, 15,500 of those children and teens were found eligible for Healthwave.
The 2008 poverty levels for example include; 4 person household $21,200, 8 members $35,600, Alaska and Hawaii are somewhat higher. Source http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/08Poverty.shtml.
Healthwave provides a one-page application allowing families with children the opportunity to apply and see which program they may qualify for; Healthwave 21 or Healthwave 19 (Medicaid). There is no cost to apply and the Customer Service Center can answer your questions and provide assistance with the application. The number is 1-800-792-4884, TTY: 1-800-792-4292. Or http:/www.kansashealthwave.org.
Good news for Butler County and the 75th District with the announcement of Barton Solvents relocating their facility to the Industrial Park at the west edge of town. This will be a great asset to our community and with the improved safety technology there should be no concern for worry. This relocation will no doubt lead to further improvements with highways, rail service as well as other economic development spin-off!
As we all are aware that El Dorado and Butler County has been in the petroleum business since 1915, fortunes have been made and spent here and tens of thousands of lives have been enhanced with our past oil industry investors. El Dorado and the surrounding communities should welcome this proven enterprise. Thanks to all of those that worked out front and behind the scenes to make this happen!
I participated in a group last week that was discussing proposed changes in the continuing education requirements for the mechanical trades statewide. Last year I asked this group of contractors, distributors, legislators and code officials to meet to discuss common concerns as we address the training requirements and license procedures. The notion of reciprocity between jurisdictions has been an issue we discussed at the legislature the past couple of years and I am pleased to see the level of cooperation being displayed by these professionals.
The outcome will be a reasonable change in state statutes that will benefit those in these various industries while at the same time improving public safety and public awareness. This group is preparing statute changes that will be used throughout the State of Kansas. My job will be to “run the traps” among my fellow legislators to get the measures into law. Industry regulation with proper oversight benefits all Kansas citizens.
Thanks to the Kansas Veterans Family Reunion for another outstanding weekend of activities. Special thanks to the American Legion Riders and the Patriot Guard for an awesome display of patriotism. The motorcycle parade that escorted the moving wall and war memorial and the parade on Saturday that ran through town to the reunion site at Lake El Dorado was very impressive; I hope you saw it.
I consider it an honor and privilege to be your Representative in Topeka, I enjoy the comments I receive about these updates, and yes I even appreciate the occasional negative comments as well. I really believe we all want the same things; we often take a little different path to get there. Contact me at home 1115 Rim Rock Road El Dorado 67042, 316-321-2087, johng@carlisleinc.net, or www.johngrange.net. Thanks, John.
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