29 March 2006
Governor signs seven bills into law
Today, Governor Kathleen Sebelius signed seven bills into law. The Governor has now signed 57 bills and vetoed two during the 2006 Legislative Session.
panding investment options for communities
SB 264 allows local units to invest their active and idle funds in branches of an out-of-state bank or savings and loan if they have a branch in the taxing district of the government unit investing those funds. It allows for the depositing of public funds with banks, savings and loan associations or savings banks which have main or branch offices in an adjoining county to the county in which all or part of the municipal or quasi-municipal corporation is located if the institutions have been designated as official depositories and the corporation can obtain satisfactory security thereafter. This bill will take effect after publication in the statute book.
Removal of a statutory limitation on length of time with Learning Quest Postsecondary Education Savings Program
SB 330 removes the statutory limitation on the length of time after opening an account with the Learning Quest Postsecondary Education Savings Program that an account holder can make a qualified withdrawal. The bill also requires the State Treasurer's Office to submit an annual report to the Senate Education Committee and the House Higher Education Committee concerning the number of contributions and withdrawals in the program each year. This bill will take effect upon publication in the statute book.
Amending probate statute regarding notice to a surviving spouse
SB 40 amends probate statute regarding notice to a surviving spouse regarding the spouse’s elective share rights, to require the notice be given by the administrator, executor, petitioner or attorney, rather than by the court. When the surviving spouse is the administrator, executor, petitioner or applicant, the surviving spouse may acknowledge by pleading or affidavit that he or she is aware of the elective share rights and would not have to mail notice to themselves. This bill will take effect after publication in the statute book.
Classifying “Industrial facility” as a new category of solid waste disposal area
SB 362 creates a new category of solid waste disposal area defined as an “industrial facility,” to include all operations, processes, and structures involved in the manufacture or production of goods, commodities, materials or other products located on or adjacent to an industrial site. The bill clarifies existing law with respect to requirement for financial assurances for closure and post-closure which must be in place as a condition of the granting of a permit from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, with new provisions providing more restrictive financial assurance requirements if the permittee does not own the land where the solid waste processing facility or disposal area is located. This bill provides that if the applicant does not own the land, then the applicant would be required to have a daily recorded easement to the landfill property and to have the authority to conduct certain landfill activities. This bill will take effect after publication in the Kansas register.
Amending the Kansas Uniform Commercial Drivers’ License Act
SB 371 amends various sections of the Kansas Uniform Commercial Drivers’ License Act to bring it in compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act. The bill provides civil penalties for drivers and employers who are convicted of violating the Kansas Uniform Commercial Drivers’ License Act and includes provisions amending the notification of a conviction and the disqualification actions for commercially licensed drivers. The bill takes effect after publication in the statute book.
Changing State Rules and Regulation Board meeting date
SB 394 changes the State Rules and Regulation Board meeting date from December 15 to after January 1 of each year. The meeting is held to determine which rules and regulations filed during the calendar year are to be published in the KAR volumes or supplements. The bill will take effect upon publication in the statute book.
Clarifying appeals under Chapter 59 of Kansas Statutes Annotated
SB 355 clarifies statutes dealing with appeals under Chapter 59 of Kansas Statutes Annotated, including appeals from district magistrate judges to district judges and appeals from district court to appellate courts. This bill will take effect upon publication in the statute book.
