May 04, 2006
Sebelius signs bill to promote job creation in Kansas
Governor also signs four bills into law
Kansas’ economy is growing and creating jobs, and incentives provided by the state are part of the reason. To maintain the state’s competitiveness, Governor Kathleen Sebelius today signed a bill that extends an initiative designed to recruit and retain employers.
“We’re seeing good job growth in Kansas, and one of the reasons for that is our aggressive moves to recruit and retain businesses,” said Sebelius. “By continuing this initiative, we can expect more business success stories, and more new jobs, in the years to come.”
HB 2856 extends until July 1, 2008 the ability of the Secretary of Commerce to offer incentives for major project investments under the Investment in Major Projects and Comprehensive Training program.
In the past year, the State of Kansas retained Applebee’s headquarters in Lenexa and assisted in the expansion of the Farmers Insurance customer service operation in Olathe using incentives provided by the Kansas Department of Commerce through this initiative.
The bill also adds the responsibility to promote and evaluate workforce development to the legislative economic development committees. It will take effect after publication in the statute book.
Governor Sebelius also signed into law three others bills. Each will take effect upon publication in the statute book.
The Governor has now signed 164 bills into law and vetoed two bills during the 2006 Legislative session.
Reducing racial, geographic and other biases in the juvenile justice system
SB 47 expands the responsibilities of the Kansas Advisory Group on Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention to include the study of the effectiveness of juvenile justice programs
in reducing racial, geographic and other biases that may exist in the juvenile justice
system. The bill also expands the authority of the Commissioner of Juvenile Justice to
make grants to qualified counties for the development, implementation, operation and improvement
of juvenile community correctional services to programs to reduce racial, geographic and
other biases that may exist in the juvenile justice system.
Establishing a statewide data collection system for emergency medical services
information
SB 546 directs the Board of Emergency Services to develop and maintain a statewide data
collection system to collect and analyze emergency medical services information that will
assist the Board in improving the quality of emergency medical services.
Allowing individuals convicted of drug-related crimes to receive assistance
upon release
SB 243 exercises the state’s option under federal law to allow individuals convicted a
drug felony to receive assistance upon release from prison if they are eligible for that
assistance and so long as they are either participating in a drug treatment program, have
successfully completed a treatment program or have a determination by a licensed substance
abuse treatment provider that they do not require treatment. The individual would be disqualified
if drug use is confirmed while the individual is on probation, parole, conditional release
or post-release supervision or during required substance abuse treatment. Federal law does
not place restrictions on public assistance for individuals convicted of non-drug felonies.
