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K-State Today

February 7, 2017

Legislative Update

Submitted by Sue Peterson

This week the Legislature will continue hearings on multiple bills, focusing on the deadline to finish committee work on bills in the house of origin by Feb. 21.

The House Higher Education Budget Committee will begin receiving testimony on fiscal year 2018 and fiscal year 2019 this week. President Myers will appear before the Higher Education Budget Committee on Feb. 13.

The House Federal and State Affairs Committee may start deliberations on the bills the committee heard last week on concealed carry exemptions for multiple entities, including university campuses. The deliberations are currently scheduled for Wednesday.

Also this week the Senate Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee on Tuesday will hold hearing on SB 110. This legislation will assist J1 visa holders to acquire health insurance through their institutions. Approximately 55 employees are impacted at K-State. These employees are on J1 and J2 visas and their positions include professors, postdocs or in the research area. Amanda McDiffett, director of benefits in the Division of Human Capital Services, submitted testimony on behalf of Kansas State University in support of the bill.

In action last week the House Appropriations Committee held hearings on HB 2109. This legislation allows Kansas State University to sell three tracks of land: a small part of Marlatt Park on the east side of Seth Child Road; a small triangular piece of land in the University Research Park; and the site of the Pure Bred Beef Unit currently occupies.

Also last week the House Federal and State Affairs Committee held hearings on HB 2042 concealed carry licensure amendments under the personal and family protection act; and HB 2074 creating a permanent exemption for certain entities from the public buildings law under the personal and family protection act. This act includes the exemption until July 1, 2017, prohibiting certain weapons on campus.

Read more about any bills in this update online

Please see the weekly updates every Tuesday in K-State Today through the Final Adjournment of the 2017 Kansas Legislature. In addition, the Office of Government Relations will host Kansas Legislative Review Sessions Feb. 17 in the K-State Student Union's Big 12 Room; March 3, March 17 and 31 in Hale Library's Hemisphere Room; and April 14 and April 28 in 21 Bluemont Hall. These sessions are open to the public and feel free to bring a brownbag lunch.