Governor signs bill to expand Manhattan air service
Bill supports Fort Riley expansion and efforts to secure NBAF in Kansas

Governor Kathleen Sebelius has signed a bill that will help Kansas in its efforts to become the future home of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) and support the growth around the Fort Riley area.

“Earlier this month, I joined members of the NBAF Task Force in Washington to express our state's overwhelming interest in bringing the NBAF to Kansas,” Sebelius said. “This bill continues that effort by expanding air passenger capabilities in the Manhattan area and is the latest of multiple steps we have taken to make Kansas the future home of the NBAF.”

SB 359 authorizes the Kansas Department of Transportation to participate in an air passenger service support agreement for two years with the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce. This bill also appropriates resources from the North Central Kansas Air Passenger Service Support Fund for air passenger service at the Manhattan Regional Airport.

“Our business, academic and government leaders stand together in working to bring this facility home to Kansas,” Sebelius said. “We truly believe that a safer American begins at home and we’re ready to do our part.”

Expanding the air passenger capabilities in the Manhattan are is a key component of maintaining Kansas’ candidacy for the placing of NBAF. Additionally, this past December it was announced that Ft. Riley would be gaining more than 1,300 soldiers as part of its ongoing expansion.

SB 359 goes into effect after its publication in the Kansas Register. 

The governor signed two additional bills today, bringing the total number of bills signed in the 2008 Legislative session to seven.

Remediation of polluted land

SB 447 amends the Agricultural and Specialty Chemical Remediation Act which encourages the remediation of pollution caused by agricultural chemical contamination. This bill limits the total reimbursement to $400,000 per site within 5 years of the property being sold or leased with both the buyer and seller responsible for remediation. This bill also imposes an annual fee of $1,000 to be paid by the party responsible for cleaning up the site to be paid to the Secretary of Agriculture. In order for a site to be eligible for reimbursement, all applicable environmental assessments must be paid. This bill goes into effect after its publication in the statute book.

Prohibiting the displaying of old or foreign license plates on the front of vehicles

HB 2622 prohibits a Kansas registered vehicle from affixing any registration plate of any year on the front of the vehicle. This bill goes into effect after its publication in the statute book.

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