Governor signs bill creating the De Soto/Johnson County Riverfront Authority

To bring more capital investments to the state, Governor Kathleen Sebelius has signed a bill to create the De Soto/Johnson County Riverfront Authority.

“The Kansas economy continues to be strong despite troubling national trends,” Sebelius said. “We’ve managed to keep moving forward by capitalizing on our natural resources throughout the state. The Riverfront is a place where many communities have seen opportunities for growth and this effort is another example of a business friendly Kansas.”

SB 518 creates the De Soto/Johnson County Riverfront Authority to encourage private capital investment by fostering the creation of recreational, retail, entertainment, economic development and housing within the riverfront. This bill requires the Authority to engage in planning and design for the first three years and prohibits the Authority from taking property by eminent domain.

This bill establishes a six-member board as the governing and administrative body of the Authority, and sets parameters and requirements for the board’s operation.

The governor signed nine other bills today, bringing the total number of signed bills in the 2008 Legislative Session to 91. One bill has been vetoed.

Regulated scrap metal to include stainless steel

HB 2692 amends the statute that defines “scrap metal” to include stainless steel as a regulated scrap metal.

Regulating motor boat noise

HB 2657 changes the amount of permitted exhaust noise from motorboats to 92 decibels. This bill also allows an officer who is authorized to enforce the noise standard and who has cause to suspect a motorboat is not in compliance to direct the operator to submit the boat to an on-site test. The owner of a motorboat that is in violation of the noise standard would have 60 days from the date of the violation to bring the vessel into compliance.

Concerning non-fuel flammable/combustible liquid aboveground storage tanks

HB 2634 allows the State Fire Marshal to conduct an on-site inspection of any non-fuel flammable/combustible liquid aboveground storage tank facility in existence on the effective date of the bill to determine compliance with standards contained in a specified National Fire Association pamphlet and rules and regulations adopted by the State Fire Marshal. If the facility is in compliance, a re-inspection would be required at least once every three years. If a facility is not in compliance, any necessary changes would be required to be made as soon as practicable, but no later than July 1, 2012.

Relating to the seal or redact of court records or closing of a court proceeding

HB 2825 requires that, in a civil or criminal case, the court upon the court’s own motion may hold a hearing or any party may request a hearing to seal or redact the court records or to close a court proceeding. This bill does not apply to the Kansas Code for Care of Children, the revised Kansas Juvenile Justice Code, the Kansas Adoption and Relinquishment Act, or to Supreme Court Rules, which allow motions, briefs, opinions, and orders of the Court to identify parties by initials or by familial relationship. A court in these matters would be allowed to issue a protective order.

‘In God We Trust’ license plates

HB 2704 provides that on and after January 1, 2009, any owner or lessee of one or more passenger vehicles, trucks of a gross weight of 20,000 pounds or less, or motorcycles or travel trailers, may apply for and be issued one In God We Trust distinctive license plate for such vehicles.

Concerning food service establishments and lodging facilities

SB 584 creates new statutes transferring all responsibility for the inspection and licensing of food service establishments and lodging facilities from the Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to the Secretary of Agriculture effective October 1, 2008.

Pertaining to irrigation district elections

SB 558 allows the district board of directors to adopt a procedure providing for the election of board of directors members by mail ballot. The procedure would require the board to mail ballots to all persons entitled to vote, receive and tabulate ballots, canvass the elections, and certify the results to the county election officer. The irrigation district would be responsible for the direct expenses of the election. The ballot mailing would have to contain a declaration indicating that the person signing is a qualified owner of irrigable land in the district. The bill also would clarify the law by replacing the word “absentee” with “advance.”

Deposit of Inmate Services Fees

SB 524 allows for fees which used to be deposited in the Crime Victims Compensation Fund in the Attorney General’s office to be deposited in a newly created fund, the Department of Corrections Victim Assistance Fund.

Amends provisions in the Assumption Reinsurance Agreement Act

SB 464 permits the Insurance Commissioner, at his or her discretion, to waive certain reinsurance requirements. Specifically, the Commissioner would be allowed to waive any requirement of the act when the transfer of obligation or risks, or both, results from the discontinuance of business by the transferring insurer. The bill also would authorize the Insurance Commissioner to adopt rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of the Act.

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