May 05, 2006

Governor signs bills to improve Kansas schools
Bills provide incentives for district consolidation, teacher scholarships

As the Legislature continues to debate how best to strengthen Kansas schools, Governor Kathleen Sebelius today signed into law several bills designed to improve education in Kansas, including a bill that encourages voluntary school district consolidation.

“Some school districts are consolidating their administrative offices in order to be able to devote more resources to students. We should encourage these moves to increase efficiency,” said Sebelius.

SB 481 provides financial incentives for school districts that consolidate, ensuring the districts do not receive less state aid when consolidated than they do when operating separately. For three years after consolidation, the new district will receive the greater of either the sum of the state aid the former districts received in the year preceding consolidation or the amount the new district would receive under provisions of the school finance act.

The bill also extends to three years the provision that allows the new district to receive local option budget matching funds equal to the larger proportion received by one of the two consolidating districts. It also allows that the capital outlay state aid percentage figure be the higher of the previous two as well. Finally, the bill splits the assessed valuation of property to be used as a gaming facility between USD 404, 493, 499 and 508, and shares the assessed valuation of property used to develop ethanol between USD 507 and 374.

This bill will take effect after publication in the statute book.

Governor Sebelius also signed three other bills into law, all of which will take effect after publication in the statute book. During the 2006 legislative session, the Governor has signed 168 bills and vetoed two.

Creating a special education teacher scholarship program
HB 2578 creates a special education teacher service scholarship program that would grant up to 50 scholarships each year, with $3,000 given per semester. Scholarship recipients would be required to teach special education for children with disabilities or gifted children for at least three years. Scholarships will be awarded based on scholastic ability, with preference given to students who are licensed teachers and are employed by a school district. The Board of Regents will administer the scholarship program.

The bill also creates the Teacher Education Scholarship Program within the Board of Regents, awarding scholarships to individuals who have been employed for at least four years at an accredited school and who are enrolled in a program leading to a master’s degree or who have an associate’s degree and are enrolled in a program leading to a bachelor’s degree. Students receiving the scholarship must teach in Kansas for one year for each 15 credit hours of assistance received.

Amending timeline for appeal and decision on suspension and expulsion of students
SB 485 amends current law regarding the timeline for the appeal and decision on suspension and expulsion of students. The bill provides that the local board of education must render its decision on suspension and expulsion of students who have appealed their ruling no later than the next regularly scheduled board meeting following the date of the appeal hearing’s conclusion. In addition, this bill allows the student to remain in school pending the board’s decision.

Amending and clarifying benefits for state educational institution members
SB 375 clarifies long-term disability benefits for the Board of Regents and the state universities, allows for some supplemental long-term disability benefits for members of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System, and clarifies vacation and discretionary leave for classified employees of state universities. The bill also amends statutes governing legislative membership of the Midwest Higher Education Commission, specifically allowing reappointment under certain circumstances. Finally, it clarifies state university admission requirements for residents of Kansas who attend a high school in another state, specifically granting them in-state tuition.

Governor Sebelius has signed 168 bills so far this session and vetoed two.