Newsletter - January 28, 2018
It was a busy week in Topeka and the best thing about it was all the people from home that made the trip to talk about, Pancake Day, Liberal, Seward County, their businesses, and our community.
Rozelle Webb, Mel Patterson, and Dana Hibbs representing the Liberal Chamber of Commerce.
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Renee Haralson and Charlie Delay with
American Title & Abstract Specialists
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County Commissioner Randy Malin and Administrator April Warden with Seward County. County Commissioner
C .J. Wettstein was also in town.
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Ron Oliver in his role as Board Member at CMS Electric Cooperative and I were visiting with Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mark Hutton. Also pictured are Representative Steve Alford and Pioneer Electric Board Member Fred Classen of Richfield.
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Representative Ponka-We Victors, Wichita, visits with
Pancake Day Chairman Greg Bird, Alicia Bird,
Kevin Alexander, Sally Fuller and Ronna Stump.
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In Topeka
Governor Brownback Confirmed as Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom
Governor Brownback’s official resignation is set to take place at 3:00 p.m. on January 31. Lt. Governor Jeff Colyer will assume the governorship effective 3:00 p.m. in the statehouse. Prior, he will visit his hometown of Hays, KS, and then return to Topeka for the official proceedings.
Calitlin's Law
Last week, the Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee heard testimony on HB 2439 which would create an additional crime of involuntary manslaughter, while under the influence. Under current law, vehicular aggravated battery while under the influence would be a severity level 5 person-felony, and such manslaughter charges would result in a severity level 4 person-felony. This bill would provide greater penalties for those who drive under the influence at a time in which they are not entitled to drive due to prior DUI offenses, specifically wen a death or serious injury occur because of the crash. If serious injury is a result while driving under the influence with the prior offense records, the sentence would be a level 4 person-felony, and would result in a level 3 person-felony should a death occur.
The bill is named “Caitlin’s Law,” in honor of Caitlin Vogel. Vogel was killed in a wreck caused by a drunk driver. The bill passed Friday on general orders and should pass easily on Final Action, in the House on Monday January 29.
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Broadband, Fiber, and Cable
Many of you have expressed concern about our internet and cable services. As Chairman of the Rural Caucus I’ve started to have conversations with providers from across the state regarding this problem. Many communities have the same problems we do. I, and several other Representatives, are forming a study group to focus on this issue and find the barriers inhibiting the development of high speed broadband in our communities.
Pages
The Page program is designed for students in middle school, junior high or the first years of high school. Working as a page in the Kansas Legislature is an excellent way to learn more about the legislative process. The open date I have for pages is Monday February 19. This opportunity is available for all middle and high school students in the 125
th District. Call Lisa Davis (785) 296-7466 to secure a slot. Each Representative is allowed 10 pages a year.
“The Internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow.” – Bill Gates
Constituent Services
Please reach out to me regarding issues with our state government that I can help with. I do ask that you send the request to me by email. This insures that I get the information correctly to the agency we are working with. Thank you for the opportunity to serve. Please contact me anytime. My email is:
Shannon.francis@house.ks.gov. Topeka Office Phone: (785) 296-7466 Office at the Capitol: 561W (fifth floor west wing) 300 SW 10
th Ave., Topeka KS 66612
