Week of April 28-30 2010  Issue 13

 It has been a month since my last newsletter because my mother was terminally ill and I decided to visit her at the start of the break.  Ten days later she died and I returned to Rhode Island to be with family and friends.   I sincerely appreciate the messages of support I have received during this time.

Health & Human Services Committee

A hearing on S sub for HB2356 (Licensure and inspection requirements for child care facilities) was held on April 27 and 28.  The key issues are: (1) converting facilities that are currently registered to licensed; (2) inspecting all facilities that seek licensure; (3) frequency of inspections during transition interval; funding of needed personnel in order to resume annual safety inspections.   When the Committee began working the bill, I challenged the need for three years to inspect 2500 registered homes because the annual inspections are currently done on 4100 licensed facilities.  I argued for completion in one year.

To accommodate the increased number (6600) in year 2, I supported extending the interval to 15 months.  In the meantime, a fee fund needs to be created to support the hiring of more inspectors.

Yet to be addressed: Qualifications/training of providers as well as inspectors.

In the HOUSE

Conference Committee Reports (CCR), Senate bills yet to be passed by the House and bills vetoed by the Governor were on the Agenda.

HB2528: Court Procedure for forfeiture of an appearance bond

                Passed 112-10.  I voted YES

HB2656: Amending Kansas Code of Civil Procedure         

                Passed 122-0.  I voted YES

HB2668: Amending Kansas Code of Criminal Procedure

                Passed 122-0.  I voted YES

HB2509:  Child Pornography creates private cause of action        

                Passed 122-0.  I voted YES

SB54: Creation of Capitol Preservation Committee

                Passed 118-3.  I voted YES

SB342: Kansas Indoor Clean Air Act

                Failed 48-72.  I voted NO for this attempt to displace the statute passed in March, 2010.

SB2554: Technical Corrections to Economic Revitalization & Reinvestment Act

                Was replaced by a substitute motion to adopt HB2538 (Employer withholding tax incentive program) to go to Conference Committee.

                Passed 64-55.  I voted NO because this bill was originally in the Taxation Conference Committee and this action takes it to the Economic Development & Tourism Conference Committee (a new group of 6 Legislators).

HB2561: Use of I-35 shoulders by Public Transit Buses operated by Johnson County during congestion

                Passed 83-38.  I voted YES in support of Public Transit

HB2115: Governor’s veto of Abortion bill.

                Vote: 82-40 (not sufficient to override veto).  I voted NO because restricting the professional judgment of Kansas licensed physicians sets a precedent: restricting health care delivery in all areas of medical practice is my concern.  Representative Kinser changed his vote so he would be on the prevailing side and make a motion to reconsider.  This means the veto vote will come up again next week.

SCR1622.  To ament the Kansas Constitution relating to qualification of voters.

                Passed 122-0.  I voted YES.

 

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As always, you can contact me by e-mail (dfurtado08@gmail.com ) or by phone (913-341-3072) or in Topeka (785-296-7677).   You can leave a comment on the web page: www.doloresfurtado.org