14 July 2005

Governor Sebelius signs law providing $250,000 life insurance for members of the Kansas National Guard

Governor Kathleen Sebelius today signed into law Senate Bill 1, which provides life insurance reimbursements for members of the Kansas National Guard.

“Every day, men and women from Kansas place their lives on hold to serve on active duty, and then put their lives on the line to defend our nation and our freedom. Sadly, some of these patriots do not return home,” the Governor said.

“No amount of money can ever replace a loved one, but by providing Kansas National Guard soldiers on active duty with cost-free life insurance, we can give their families a measure of financial security,” Governor Sebelius said.

SB 1 requires the State of Kansas, through the Adjutant General’s Office, to reimburse life insurance premiums for $250,000 for members of the Kansas National Guard called to federal active duty in a combat zone. This repeals the death benefit payments of Senate Substitute for HB 2518 and establishes a system of reimbursed premium payments by the State beginning on September 1, 2005. The bill also transfers $390,000 from the State General Fund to the National Guard Life Insurance Premium Reimbursement Fund (established in SB4 to finance the provisions of this bill) for FY2006.

Finally, the bill makes available for Tax Year 2004 the vehicle registration tax exemptions allowed for military personnel who are in the full-time military service, are absent from the State on military orders on the date of application for registration and maintain their vehicles outside of Kansas, or are mobilized or deployed on the date of application for registration. The bill also provides a refund process through the County Treasurer’s Office for previously paid taxes, if the refund application is made no later than one year from the act’s effective date.

Governor Sebelius will have ceremonial signings of this bill with members of the Kansas National Guard on Monday, August 1. The signings will take place at 1 p.m. at the State Defense Building in Topeka and at 2:30 p.m., at Iola’s Kansas National Guard Armory with Senator Derek Schmidt.