During the 2009 Session, 746 bills were introduced: 339 in the Senate and 407 in the House. Of these 746 bills, 144 (19.3 percent) became law: 76 bills and 68 House bills. Further, of the 144 bills becoming law, 136 (94.4 percent) were introduced by committees and 8 (5.6 percent) were introduced by individual legislators.
The Governor vetoed six bills and 12 line items. All vetoes were sustained and a total of 567 bills will be carried over to the 2010 Session of the Legislature.
By comparison the 2008 Session saw 702 bills introduced, 357 were carried over from 2007. Of these 1200 bills, 184 (15.3 percent) became law, 184 (88.6 percent) bills were introduced by committees and 21 (11.4 percent) were introduced by individual legislators.
The Governor vetoed seven bills and five line items. All vetoes were sustained. No bills were carried over to the current session.
The major reason that so many bills are introduced by committee could be the individual(s) introducing a bill see a better chance of the legislation getting a committee hearing with a chance of it passing the first step in the process and gaining floor debate before the full chamber.
Non-controversial issues are usually introduced in this manner and it also is a benefit to our Revisor and Research staff, when they can deal with the entire committee rather than an individual legislator. By law the staff is not allowed to reveal that a legislator is introducing a bill, so two or more could be working on the same issue.
While this seems illogical, it actually protects the process and allows for more divergent ideals to be introduced through the amendments. I can always inform the staff that I welcome input from legislators that might be drafting similar legislation, all they can do is to suggest to others that they know of my willingness to co-sponsor.
They do keep identities confidential. This is a very good reason to communicate through the caucus process. We all know that bipartisan cooperation is required to get any legislation passed so we must talk regularly with our colleagues on the “other side of the aisle”. Actually we get along very well on a vast majority of issues.
HB 2171 creates, within the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs (KCVA), the Viet Nam Era Medallion Program and grants the agency the authority to develop any necessary rules and regulations to administer the program. Under the Medallion Program, eligible veterans may receive a medallion, medal and a certificate of appreciation.
To be eligible, the veteran must:
Served on active duty in the US Military at any time beginning Feb 28, 1961 and ending May 7, 1975;
Be a legal resident of Kansas or have been a resident of Kansas at the time they entered the service or was discharged, or at the time of their death.
In addition they must have been honorably discharged, still on active duty, or in active service at the time of their death.
HB 2188 establishes a dealer-hauler full privilege license plate to be used by a trailer manufacturer or trailer dealer instead of a regular trailer registration and license plate. Such a plate, like an automobile dealer’s full-privilege plates, can be moved from one trailer to another.
This plate can be used on a trailer used to haul non-highway equipment for demonstration purposes or delivery if the weight of the trailer and non-highway equipment does not exceed 85,000 pounds.
HB 2258 requires the surrender of a non-repairable vehicle certificate or title to the Division of Vehicles if a vehicle is crushed. The existing law requires surrender of a non-repairable vehicle certificate or title only when a vehicle has been dismantled, disassembled or recycled and sold to a scrap process for recycling.
Substitute for HB 2143 modifies the requirements for driving permits and driver’s licenses for drivers younger than 17 years old, for those who get a driver’s permit or license after January 1, 2010.
Instruction permit minimum age will continue to be 14, with a legally licensed adult at least 21 years old.
A farm permit will be available from age 14 until age 17 (changed from 16).
Under this bill, an applicant for a restricted license must have held an instruction permit for at least one year instead of the current six months.
The bill continues to ban non-sibling minor passenger if the holder of the restricted license or farm permit is younger than 16. It would allow a restricted driver at 16 years old to have one passenger younger than 18 and not a member of the driver’s immediate family.
HEADS-UP! The bill bans those with instruction permits, farm permits, and restricted licenses from operating wireless communication devices while driving except to report illegal activity or to summon emergency help. The bill defines “wireless communication device” as any wireless electronic device that provides for voice or data communication between two or more parties.
The bill lifts restrictions at age 16 1/2, such as limits on non-sibling passengers and time of day driving on holders of farm permits and restricted licenses who are at least 16 years old and who have not had any violations in the past six months.
Under the bill, a first time applicant for a full time license must be at least 17 years old; prior law was 16. The applicant for a full license who is younger than 18 must have completed at least 50 hours of supervised driving, with 10 of those at night. (Current Law).
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