Kansas Association of Community College Trustees
700 SW Jackson, Suite 1000 • Topeka, KS 66603-3757 • 785-357-5156 • FAX 785-357-5157
• 19cc@kacct.org
Sheila Frahm, Executive Director
Policy
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700 S. W. Jackson, Ste. 1000, Topeka, Kansas 66603 - (785)-357-5156 |
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The Word of the Week
is Tuition….Tuition for
undocumented immigrants, tuition for Kansans in the military, a Legislative
Post Audit request to examine tuition rates at post secondary
institutions…the “T” word was definitely the word of the week.
In a well-attended hearing on Wednesday, the House Federal and State
Committee heard testimony concerning the proposal to rescind the law that
now allows undocumented students who have attended a Kansas high school for
three years and who are seeking citizenship to attend Kansas colleges and
universities at in-state rates. House
Higher Education heard from Rep. Bill Otto, R-LeRoy, who is advocating for
legislation to offer in-state tuition to military members who retire and
move to Kansas. Both bills
remain in committee. The post audit request comes from Rep. Joe McLeland,
R-Wichita, and Rep. Becky Hutchins, R-Holton, both members of the House
Appropriation Committee. The
audit asks to what extent and why are out-of-state university and college
students paying in-state tuition rates; what is the fiscal impact to the
State; and to what extent is tuition off-set by government-sponsored
educational grants and tax benefits. The
timing of the audit is not yet known. Perhaps
reflecting the mood of the Statehouse, John Edmonds, R-Great Bend, closed
the Federal and State Committee hearing on undocumented students with the
comment that it may be easier if there was just one tuition level for
everyone. KAN-ED Report and
Bill Calling for Expansion….KAN-ED,
created to expand broadband technology network capabilities among member
institutions (including higher education) through a private, statewide
internet network, presented its annual report to members of the Senate
Education Committee on Monday. The
presentation included testimony from Ben Smith, Neosho County Community
College, who reported on the collaborative effort underway in Neosho using
KAN-ED technology. A KAN-ED
bill has been introduced in the House, HB 2656, calling for the
inclusion of criminal justice agencies among the KAN-ED partners.
The bill is currently in House Utilities where a hearing was held,
but no action has been taken to date. To Tax or Not to
Tax….Governor Kathleen Sebelius’
tax proposal, to exempt all new business machinery and equipment purchased
after December 31, 2006, from personal property taxation, HB 2619, is
getting a lot of attention by the House Taxation Committee. They have held
an information session, hearings and days of debate over the implications of
this legislation with more discussion planned for their meeting on Monday. In addition to the exemption on machinery and equipment, the
Governor’s proposal calls for eliminating all personal property taxation
on any piece of business equipment valued at less than $1,000, up from the
current exemption of $400. Proponents
see the bill as a stimulant for economic growth; opponents believe it would
only shift the tax burden to other areas. Kansas Joins the
List Looking at “Academic Bill of Rights”….Rep.
Becky Hutchins, R-Holton, has introduced a House Concurrent Resolution
calling for an Academic Bill of Rights for Kansas higher education students.
The resolution calls “to secure the intellectual independence of
faculty members and students, protect the principles of academic freedom,
promote intellectual diversity, and support the pursuit of knowledge and
truth as a fundamental purpose of the university”.
Other states have adopted similar measures.
The resolution, HCR 5035, was assigned to the Higher Education
Committee. House Passes
Concurrent Enrollment Bill….HB 2575,
relating to the Kansas challenge to secondary school pupils act, sailed
through the House with a 122-0 vote yesterday.
The only question from the floor addressed the part of the bill which
would allow gifted students in 9th and 10th grade to
take concurrent classes, asking, “who defines gifted?”.
The answer to that is the Kansas Department of Education.
The bill was introduced in the Senate yesterday afternoon and
assigned to the Education Committee Early Graduation
Incentive Program….Rep. Anthony
Brown, R- Eudora, and Rep. Candy Ruff, D-Leavenworth, have introduced HB
2684, which calls for a one-year, one-time scholarship for up to $3000
for students who complete their high school requirements in three years.
As written, the scholarship is for technical college or vocational
educational school, however, both sponsors have agreed that community
colleges should be included and will support this amendment when the bill is
heard in committee. HB 2684
is scheduled for a hearing in House Education next Thursday, February 9, at
9 a.m. Income Tax Credits
for Contributors to Health Care Education….HB 2685
introduced by Rep. Pat George, R-Dodge City, and Rep. Bill Otto, R-LeRoy,
calls for an individual state income tax credit for anyone who contributes
to an institution of higher learning to further a course of study designed
to educate health care professionals. Areas
where this would apply include nursing programs, CNA programs, radiology
techs, laboratory techs and others. The
bill was referred to Taxation. The
Week Ahead….Committee
meetings of interest next week include: Monday,
February 6: House
Appropriations
Explanation and review
of baseline budget concept Monday,
February 6: House Higher Education
HB 2694: Residency determinations at regents universities
HB 2695: Kansas
comprehensive grant program Tuesday,
February 7: Economic
Development
Presentation by Kansas Board of Regents Wednesday,
February 8: Senate Education 1:30
p.m., Rm. 123-S
Staff overview of technical college governance and funding
Wednesday,
February 8: House
Higher Education HB 2722:
Postsecondary savings accounts; pilot program providing sate matching
of contributions by low-income participants SB 139:
Authorizing state board of regents to establish the Kansas academy of
mathematics and science Thursday,
February 9: House Education
HB 2684: Providing
for an early high school graduation incentive program Thursday,
February 9: Senate Education
1:30 p.m., Rm. 123-S
SB 331: Technical colleges; governing body, school district Important Resources to gather legislative and
budget information:
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