March 11, 2016 Newsletter
Visitors
It was great having the 5A State Basketball Championship in Topeka. The Skins played a great game. I had the pleasure of over 75 students visiting the Capitol the following day.
I want to thank Braegan Zimmerman, James Armstrong, Erick Rodriquez and Alexandria Lamberson for serving as pages. If your middle school or high school student would like to serve as a page please contact me next January to set a date.
Jayme Applebee presented testimony to the House Health and Human Services Committee last week. I learned a lot listening to her speak about Nurse Practioners.
Although I was unable to attend Pancake Day because of legislative business, I did have the pleasure of presenting Certificates of Recognition from the Kansas House of Representatives to Miss Liberal, Gaby Amparan, and our race winner, Summer Parsons.
DV Enterprises, LLC won the Kansas Small Business Development Center Award for our region. Congratulations to Don, Vicky & Mindy Brunkhardt.
Topeka
This week has been very busy in Topeka. House Committees are working bills that have passed the Senate. Lots of action is happening on the House Floor as bills come out of Committee for action.
HB2700 has passed out of committee and is waiting for action on the house floor. This bill allows Kansas Government Retirees to work up to 4 years after retirement if local KPERS participating entities have positions they are unable to fill.
Exemption for Natural Gas Vehicles. One of the impediments to natural gas as a fuel is the additional weight requirements of the fuel tank, which can be as much as 2600 lbs. I am working on legislation to mirror federal law in Kansas that provides a weight exception of up to 2,000 lbs for vehicles powered by natural gas.
Bills and Resolutions Passed Out of the House
They include a resolution for a constitutional amendment for the Right to Hunt and Fish and a resolution to the Federal Government opposing the relocation of Guantanamo Bay prisoners to Kansas.
I voted against a bill prohibiting minors from using tanning beds. I believe a parental consent form would have been more appropriate. I also voted against a bill micromanaging requirements of degree prospectuses including website placement for our Colleges and Universities. Bills like this create bureaucracy and administrative costs and then we wonder why we don’t have more money in the classroom. A bill from my Vision 20/20 committee passed regarding IT Security. HB 2549 will streamline cooperative efforts for law enforcement agencies in border counties. A bill regarding child care workers and volunteers to be checked against the Sex Offender registry was passed on to the Senate.
In Ag Committee a Senate Bill regulating human interaction and private ownership of big cats was tightened up to limit the ownership of Clouded Leopards to Zoos and USDA Breeders among others. Water bills relating to non-reporting, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and Multi-year Flex Account change applications were passed out of committee.
A lot more happened but hopefully these highlights will give you a glimpse of my week.
Legislative Coffee
I will have a legislative coffee next Saturday, March 19
th at 10:00 am at Spencer Brownes Coffee House.
“Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.”
“I know in my heart that man is good. That what is right will always eventually triumph. And there’s purpose and worth to each and every life.”
(both by Ronald Reagan)
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. My email address is:
Shannon.francis@house.ks.gov. 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.
