9 May 2005

Governor, military personnel celebrate passage of Kansas Military Bill of Rights

FORBES FIELD, Topeka, Kan. – As part of her continuing commitment to Kansans in uniform, Governor Kathleen Sebelius and Lt Governor John Moore today joined Adjutant General Tod Bunting, Col. Gregg Burden, members of the Kansas Air National Guard’s 190th Air Refueling Wing and the Kansas Army National Guard’s 108th Army Aviation Unit for a ceremonial signing of a bill to ensure the well-being of military families.

The Governor announced the Kansas Military Bill of Rights at the State of the State message in January. It is designed to provide financial assistance to military personnel and their families during this time of increased overseas deployments for active duty, reserve and National Guard units.

“Our servicemen and women all volunteered to serve on behalf of our nation. They make sacrifices every day to help protect us here at home. If they make the ultimate sacrifice, we have a duty to care of their families. One way to do that is to make sure their spouses and children have an opportunity to get a good education,” Governor Sebelius said.

The bill recognized today, HB 2072, grants tuition waivers to dependents of those who die in military service or are declared POW/MIA. These waivers can be used at any public university, community college, or vo-tech school in Kansas.

“Anything our state and communities do to assist our servicemen and women is something to be proud of,” said Major General Tod Bunting, Adjutant General of the Kansas National Guard. “We very much appreciate the Governor and Lt. Governor’s efforts.”

Governor Sebelius said, “The tuition waivers are part of a package of financial assistance for our armed service personnel and their families.” As part of the Kansas Military Bill of Rights, the Governor signed an Executive Directive in January that will have the state make up the difference in salary for any state employee who is called up to active duty at a lower salary. The Governor also authorized an activation payment of $1,000 for state employees activated by the Guard or Reserves. These steps are designed to reward military service and to encourage Kansas businesses to follow suit.

The measure also includes a refund or credit for tuition when a member of the armed forces who is a student in a Kansas Regents institution is activated and must leave school.

The Governor has also signed measures granting a $125,000 benefit to the family of a Kansan who was killed in the line of duty while serving in the National Guard, as well as state income tax exemptions for members of the armed forces for bonuses received for recruitment and student loan repayments.

Additionally under the Military Bill of Rights, Kansas Guard Members will receive hunting and fishing licenses without charge in State Fiscal Year 2006.