Sebelius strengthens child support enforcement
Bill preventing $36 million loss in federal funds among nine signed today

Child support payments can be crucial to ensuring children’s well-being, which is why Governor Kathleen Sebelius has signed a bill designed to aid enforcement against delinquent child support debtors.

“A parent’s primary responsibility is to support his or her child, but unfortunately we’ve seen some who are failing to uphold that obligation and are not paying child support,” Sebelius said. “If they are not willing to meet this basic duty, they will face repercussions.”

According to the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, this new law will keep Kansas in compliance with the Federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, thus preventing the loss of approximately $36 million in federal child support enforcement funds each year.

The bill, HB 2393, implements requirements on medical support, as well as on the relationship between attorneys in Title IV-D cases and SRS.  Additionally, the bill requires the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks to not issue a license or permit to an applicant if the applicant is on the secretary’s list of delinquent support debtors.

This bill was among nine signed today by the governor. To date, Sebelius has signed 175 bills during the 2007 Legislative Session, while she has vetoed four bills and one budget item. Signed bills go into effect after their publication in the statute book unless otherwise noted.

Expanding protections against unlawful sexual relations

SB 324 amends the crime of unlawful sexual relations with a person not married to the offender by adding volunteers of the Department of Corrections and contractors of services within the Department of Corrections to the list of offenders who engage in illegal acts as described in the law.  The bill also clarifies that the definition of “teacher” now includes those listed as professional school employees of any grades K-12.  Additionally, this bill amends the provision of law regarding mistreatment of a dependent adult to make taking unfair advantage of a dependent adult’s financial resources in the amount of $100,000 or more a severity level six, person felony. If the amount involved is at least $25,000 but less than $100,000 the penalty will now be a severity level seven, person felony.

Expanding the jurisdiction of municipal courts

SB 31 amends the municipal courts subject matter jurisdiction on certain felonies, namely DUIs, theft, worthless checks, domestic battery and possession of marijuana. This bill authorizes the municipal court to enter into contracts for collection services for debts owed to municipal courts or for restitution.

Compensating counties for costs incurred in identifying sexually violent predators

SB 52 creates the Sexually Violent Predator Expense Fund and requires the Office of the Attorney General to pay counties for costs incurred in determining whether a person is a sexually violent predator. The bill clarifies that a county who initially pays for the procedure may seek reimbursement from this fund through the Attorney General’s Office. The Attorney General is then required to pay, subject to appropriation. If there is no appropriation, the county has the option to file a claim against the state.  Finally, this bill addresses the rights of sexually violent predators while committed to a treatment facility. The bill enumerates these rights and the conditions upon which they may be exercised.

Comprehensive crime bill; Alexa’s Law

HB 2062 amends the statute on criminal use of explosives, creates a special application in sentencing for a third or subsequent conviction of burglary, enacts Alexa’s Law and amends the statute on immunity from prosecution or liability for use of force. In addition, the bill enacts new criminal provisions regarding controlled substances and paraphernalia, authorizes creation of the Controlled Substances Monitoring Task Force, and expands the law regarding battery against a mental health employee.

Changing the calculation of nursing facility reimbursements

HB 2144 amends existing law to change the nursing facility reimbursement rate methodology from the three-year average of 2003, 2004 and 2005, directing that it be rebased at least once every seven years to the average of the three most recent calendar years starting in FY 2009.

Encouraging Kansans to return to the state to receive higher education

HB 2185 expands the amount of time an individual may be absent from Kansas and still receive in-state tuition from 12 months to 60 months. The bill also increases the stipend for the Medical Student Loan agreement program and implements the Nurse Education Service Scholarship Program Act.  Finally, it consolidates the four existing teacher service scholarship programs into one program.

Clarifying improvement district criteria

HB 2267 addresses benefit districts, regional library boards, Drainage District No. 2 of Finney County, and local government hospitals. The bill clarifies current law dealing with the assessment of benefit fees to property owners who benefit from “improvements” but who were not part of the original improvement district, referring to those “improvements” as “water, storm water or sanitary sewer” improvements. The bill adds similar language for the assessment of benefit fees to property owners benefiting from arterial street improvements, but who were not part of the original improvement district.

Exempting municipal gas utilities from certain regulations

HB 2597 exempts municipal natural gas and electric utilities from KCC regulation for those services provided more than three miles from the municipality’s boundary under certain circumstances.

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