Governor signs bill to help Kansas in its bid for the
National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility

To help Kansas in its bid to become the future home of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, Governor Kathleen Sebelius has signed legislation providing for the infrastructure improvements needed to secure this important project.

“This bill demonstrates that the NBAF continues to be our state’s top bioscience priority.  The efforts to be the home of this facility have always been strengthened by our existing resources and broad support of the NBAF Task Force,” Sebelius said. “We believe Kansas is the best home for the NBAF and this investment clearly demonstrates our commitment to this important homeland security issue.”

Kansas is one of six finalists in the nation for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF). The proposed site is on Kansas State University, immediately adjacent to the Biosecurity Research Institute. Senate Substitute for House Bill 2001 authorizes the issuance of revenue bonds for the purpose of supporting a capital improvement project relating to the NBAF.

The governor signed ten additional bills today, bringing the total number of bills signed in the 2008 legislative session to 37 with one having been vetoed.

Amends the Kansas Challenge to Secondary Pupils Act

SB 421 amends the definition of ‘concurrent enrollment pupil’ to add persons enrolled in 10th grade. These students are now eligible to concurrently enroll in high school and postsecondary education institutions. This bill goes into effect after its publication in the statute book.

Amends existing law for training & certification of athletic trainers

HB 2695 allows the Board of Healing Arts to issue a license to an applicant without an examination under the following conditions:

• Individual has been working as an athletic trainer in another jurisdiction, has passed an examination in athletic training that the Board finds is equivalent to the examination approved by the Board for Kansas, and is certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association or another national credentialing body.
• Individual has not been disciplined or does not have disciplinary action pending resulting from the practice of athletic training in another jurisdiction.
• Individual is licensed, registered, or certified in another jurisdiction with standards for examination and licensure, registration, or certification that are determined by the Board to be equivalent to Kansas’ standards.
• Individual pays the fees prescribed by the Board, not part of which can be returned.

It also amends temporary licensure provision to allow issuance to an athletic trainer who meets all licensure requirements, except examination. This bill lengthens the notification period the Board must provide to licensees regarding expiration of their licenses from 30 to 60 days. This bill deletes current requirement for 800 hours of clinical experience prior to licensure and deletes a licensing exemption provided for individuals who held a valid registration as an athletic trainer as of June 30, 2004. This bill goes into effect after its publication in the statute book.

Changes to the Dental Practices Act

HB 2702 allows dental hygienists who are licensed in other states to provide clinical education at meetings of the Kansas State Dental Association or other dental organization approved by the Kansas Dental Board. This bill also requires out-of-state applicants who seek licensure by credentials to meet the 24-month continuing education requirement applicable to Kansas licensees. This bill goes into effect after its publication in the statute book.

Amending the sunset date for the Abandoned Oil and Gas Well Fund transfers

HB 2735 amends existing sunset date from July 1, 2009 to July 1, 2016 for the Abandoned Oil and Gas Well Fund to receive quarterly transfers of $100,000 from each of the State General Fund, the State Water Plan Fund, and the Conservation Fee Fund. This bill goes into effect after its publication in the statute book.

Amends Kansas statutes for government hospitals

HB 2757 allows hospital boards to enter into employment contracts for an administrator or chief operating officer of the hospital, and allows such contracts to establish compensation as well as the terms of the agreement. Specifically, the bill provides that a hospital trustee would receive reimbursement for expenses incurred and that an itemized statement of all expenses and moneys paid would be made under oath and filed with the secretary of the hospital board. This bill goes into effect after its publication in the statute book.

Providing more dental practice opportunities in rural Kansas

HB 2781 amends existing law allowing dentists to own 2 satellite offices in addition to their primary location, if those offices meet the following conditions: Satellite offices are within a 125-mile radius of primary office and Satellite offices are located in counties with population of less than 10,000. This bill provides more dental practice opportunities in rural Kansas. This bill goes into effect after its publication in the statute book.

Amending the Railroad Leasing Act

HB 2824 defines ‘lease’ as an agreement between a railroad and a tenant, and the definition now includes track leases when the railroad is a Class II or Class III railroad as defined by federal regulations. This gives track lessees the same recourse that land lessees are currently afforded. This bill goes into effect after its publication in the statute book.

Amending contractor laws

HB 2847 provides for the use of standard examinations from the International Code Council, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, or Prometric, a subsidiary of Educational Testing Services, beginning July 1, 2008. This bill goes into effect after its publication in the statute book.

Examining insurance companies

HB 2686 allows the examination of the affairs and financial condition of insurance companies to give the Insurance Commissioner the discretion to make or direct to be made a market regulation examination of any insurance company doing business in Kansas. These financial examinations would occur every five years and the market regulation examination will not occur as often. This bill goes into effect after its publication in the statute book.

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