Date
MINUTES OF THE SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Karin Brownlee at 9:00 A.M. on March 22, 2007 in Room 123-S of the Capitol.
All members were present.
Committee staff present:
Amy Deckard, Kansas Legislative Research Department
Jason Long, Revisor of Statutes
Jackie Lunn, Committee Assistant
Conferees appearing before the committee:
Others attending:
See attached list.
SB 363-Rural housing incentive district act; size of counties and cities eligible
HB 2005-Center for entrepreneurship statutes, technical cleanup
SB 148-KAN-ED act; department of corrections; department of health and environment
Chairperson Brownlee announced to the Committee there were a number of bills they would be taking action on in this meeting starting with SB 363.
A short discussion followed regarding SB 363.
Senator Barone made a motion to move the bill out favorably. Senator Schodorf seconded. Motion carried.
Chairperson Brownlee moved the Committee’s attention to HB 2005. Senator Jordan explained that the bill is a technical cleanup bill.
Discussion followed. It was decided to put SB 316 as it came off the Senate floor into the HB 2005 and add that only 50% of the total cost of a project could be used to calculate the amount of Star Bonds.
Senator Teichman made a motion to put the Senate version of SB 316 into HB 2005 and add that STAR Bond projects could only be used for 50% of the total cost of the project. Senator Jordan seconded.
Discussion followed regarding the 50%. It was noted during the discussion that the 50% would still retain the STAR Bond restrictions on qualified project costs.
Motion carried.
Chairperson Brownlee stated that HB 2504 had been put in the Committee from the House calendar. This bill is membership in the Joint Committee on Economic Development. She is going to let it sit unless someone wants a hearing. She will do more research on the bill.
Chairperson Brownlee called the Committee’s attention to SB 148 and called on Senator Barone, a member of the subcommittee on SB 148, to report on the subcommittee meetings. Senator Barone stated the meetings were very productive and he feels they are ready to move the bill out of the Committee.
Chairperson Brownlee called on Senator Emler, also a member of the subcommittee on SB 148. Senator Emler stated the subcommittee received valuable information and agrees the bill is ready to be moved out of the Committee.
Chairperson introduced Brad Williams, who is currently the Acting Director for Kan-Ed.
Chairperson Brownlee stated the conclusions of the subcommittee are:
• They need to go forward on merging the networks.
• They need a change in the statute that state owned facilities cannot be utilized to allow the facilities to be utilized.
• They need to have a specific Joint Kan-Ed Interim Committee; as things go forward with the merging of the networks and changes in Kan-Ed, they would report the progress to the committee. The Joint Interim Kan-Ed Committee would be for a period of one year.
• Accountability and other issues would be reported to the Joint Kan-Ed Interim Committee on a regular basis.
• Request for interactive distance leaning services must be made through KanWIN who would determine the best place for the services.
Discussion followed. It was decided that Kan-Ed would be housed in Appropriations as it is presently for the next year and consideration could be given to moving it to another agency. The House Appropriations Committee has placed the databases under the State Library. The size of the Joint Interim Kan-Ed Committee was discussed. It was decided that a small committee would be best. The discussion moved to the governing board of Kan-Ed which is the Board of Regents. The Committee would like to give the Acting Director of Kan-Ed, Brad Williams, a chance to rework the Advisory Board and for this board to be more involved in Kan-Ed. The discussion moved back the Joint Interim Kan-Ed Committee and it was decided that the committee should not exceed 10 members.
Senator Barone made a motion to move SB 148 conceptually as described. Senator Emler seconded. Motion carried.
Chairperson Browlee adjourned the meeting at 9:30 a.m. with the next scheduled meeting scheduled for March 23rd at 8:30 a.m. in room 123 S.