Kansas Association of Community College Trustees

KACCT Newsletter
February 24, 2006

700 S. W. Jackson, Ste. 1000, Topeka, Kansas 66603 - (785)-357-5156

Step One in Budget Process Complete….The House Appropriations Committee approved the Education Budget Committee recommendation for community colleges at their meeting on Wednesday.  The subcommittee concurred with the Governor's recommendation which provides $5,086,081 for Community College Operating Grants and added $3.1 million to complete the final year of the out-district tuition buy-down for community colleges.  The only dissention of note among committee members came over a recommendation on the universities’ budgets to delete money for computers and reconsider at Omnibus.  The Budget Committee was concerned that state universities “may not be conforming to the requirement of Joint Committee on Information Technology review of projects over $250,000.”  Some committee members felt this was “micro-managing.”

School Finance Plan Revealed….After weeks of behind-the-scene effort, House leaders delivered their school finance proposal to the House Select Committee on School Finance on Thursday for their consideration.  The $500 million plan is spread over three years and calls for $175.4 million the first year, $165.6 million the second year and $159.8 million the third year.  Base State Aid Per Pupil would increase $50 in the first year and low enrollment weighting would be maintained.  The checks and balances approach in the plan lets school districts prioritize how the money will be spent, but notes that failure to meet Annual Yearly Progress goals for competency by pupils during these three years would mean having to reallocate funds in subsequent years to meet problem areas. The Select Committee on School Finance will hold two days of hearings on the plan, which will be addressed in several bills rather than just one.  Hearings are set for next Wednesday and Thursday with possible action on Friday.

Higher Education Caucus Meets….The Higher Education Caucus met for an hour over lunch on Wednesday to hear Reggie Robinson, President and CEO, Kansas Board of Regents, talk about deferred maintenance.  The caucus, led by Senators Janis Lee, D-Kensington, and Roger Reist, R-Manhattan, and Rep. Don Hill, R-Emporia, is using the group’s monthly meetings for legislators to learn more about legislative priorities of postsecondary institutions.  The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 16, with presentations from Sheila Frahm, KACCT, and a representative from the Kansas Association of Technical Schools and Colleges.

Whatever Happened To….Bills which have not moved from their house of origin or are not in exempt committees are considered “tabled” after Turnaround Day which is this Saturday, February 25.  Tabled can mean dead for this legislative session, put on hold for further study or kept in reserve to be later amended into another bill.  Here is an update on bills we have watched which fall into this category:

• HB 2684 (House Education) provides for a scholarship incentive for those graduating from high school in three years and moving on to a technical school or college  Status:  will be recommended for study during the interim
• HB 2656 (House Utilities) amends the KAN-ED Act to include certain criminal justice agencies  Status:  tabled in committee
• HB 2396 (House Health & Human Services) calls for meningitis vaccine for postsecondary students residing in on-campus housing  Status:  since a hearing was held last year, the committee plans to work the bill and is expected to amend their effort into another bill moving forward
• HB 2603 (House Higher Education) in-state tuition for military  Status:  tabled in committee
• HB 2775:  (House Higher Education) provides for a three-level tuition system at state postsecondary institutions  Status:  will be recommended for study during the interim

Bills that have passed out of their committee, but, as of this moment, don’t appear to be going anyplace include:

• SB 331:  (passed out of Senate Education) technical colleges; relating to their governing body and their powers and duties  Status:  will be passed over and recommended for study during the interim
• HB 2719:  (passed out of House Committee on Governmental Organization and Election) concerning open meetings, relating to executive sessions  Status:  has been passed over but retains a place on the calendar

Turnaround Merits a Day Off….All will be quiet in the Statehouse on Monday as legislators take the traditional day off that comes with Turnaround Day.  Tuesday will be a performa day for the House and very little is scheduled in the Senate.  Everyone will be back in full force on Wednesday as committees start to look at bills that have passed their house of origin.

The Week Ahead….Committee meetings of interest next week include:

Wednesday, March 1:  Federal and State Affairs   1:30 p.m., Rm. 234-N

Consideration of HB 2615:  Colleges and universities; fees and tuition; undocumented non-citizens

Wednesday, March 1:  House Higher Education   3:30 p.m., Rm. 231-N

            HB 2864:  Chester I. Lewis Scholarship Program

            SB 332:    Authorizing regents’ institutions to acquire insurance

Thursday, March 2:  House Health & Human Service  1:30 p.m., Rm. 526-S

Staff briefing on HB 2396, public postsecondary education institutions, on-campus housing, meningococcal disease vaccinations, affidavit, procedure   

Thursday, March 2:  Ways & Means Subcommittee on Higher Education

Upon adjournment, Rm. 235-N

Agency briefings on Washburn University, Kansas Association of Technical Schools and Colleges, Kansas Association of Independent Colleges, Fort Hays State University and committee deliberations and recommendations

Important Resources to gather legislative and budget information:
www.Kansas.gov
www.kslegislature.org Kansas Legislature
http//skyways.lib.ks.us/ksleg/KLRD/klrd.html Legislative Research Department