The Kansas Legislature has reached the halfway point of the 2014 Legislative Session. Up to this point, the Kansas Senate has approved 59 bills and 12 appointments to State Boards, Commissions and the Governor’s Cabinet.
Senate Majority Leader Terry Bruce (R-Hutchinson) released the following statement regarding the accomplishment of the Kansas Senate. “The Kansas Senate had a productive first half of the 2014 Legislative Session. I am proud of what we have accomplished and the important issue we have addressed including Tort Reform, government transparency, and law and order proposals. I thank my colleagues for all the work they have done and look forward to the second half of the session.”
Below are some notable pieces of legislation passed this session. Most items were passed unanimously or with bipartisan support.
Tort Reform: Senate Bill 311 (SB 311) increases the caps for non-economic damages, and changes the standard for expert evidence from the Frye standard to the Daubert standard. SB 311 passed the Senate with a vote of 32-8.
-Public Funded Lobbying Disclosure: Substitute for Senate Bill 343 (Sub SB 343) requires that public funded lobbyists file a report with the Kansas Secretary of State’s Office. This information would be available to the public and would disclose the amount of tax payers dollars paid to them. Sub SB 343 passed the Senate with a vote of 28-10.
Adding Cell Phones to the KS No-Call Act: Senate Bill 308 (SB 308) would allow Kansans to add their cell phone numbers to the National Do Not Call Registry. The Attorney General would be able to enforce the Kansas law against telemarketers who call listed cell phone numbers. SB 308 passed out of the Senate with a vote of 38-0.
Kansas Open Records and Open Meetings Reform: Senate Bill 10 (SB 10) amends the Kansas Open Records and Open Meetings laws. SB 10 caps the cost of open records requests and requires minutes be published at all meetings that are subject to the Kansas Open Meetings Act. It passed the Senate with a vote of 33-7.
Victim Notification Act: Senate Bill 248 (SB 248) requires notification would be sent to a victim or their families 14 days prior to an inmate’s release, unless they are released due to court order, escape, or death. SB 248 passed with a vote of 39-0.
Amending the Kansas Medicaid Fraud Control Act: SB 271 clarifies the definition of Medicaid Fraud, by making it easier to prosecute those who have committed such crimes. This will give the state more power to prosecute and charge these criminals and save the state of Kansas and tax payer’s significant resources. SB 271 passed with a vote of 39-0.
Strengthening the Hard 50: S Sub HB 2387 builds upon changes made to the state’s “Hard 50” sentencing guidelines made during last September’s Special Legislative Session. It establishes a mandatory minimum sentence of 50 years when someone commits pre-mediated first degree murder.
During the next half of the session, the Senate will take a look at legislation passed by the House. These proposals include: HB 2430, which amends the Promoting Employment Across Kansas Act (PEAK); HB 2047, which stops unilateral tax increases; and HB 2456, which addresses the property classification issues of cement manufacturers.
Additionally, the Senate will continue to examine SB 211, which seeks to streamline our state’s election cycles and would likely increase voter participation.