Author Archives: cjprecht

State Water Plan Fund, Kansas Water Authority, and the State Water Plan

The State Water Plan Fund (SWPF) is a statutory fund (KSA 2023 Supp. 82a-951) created by the 1989 Legislature for the purpose of implementing the State Water Plan (KSA 2023 Supp. 82a-903, et seq.). The SWPF is subject to appropriation acts by the Legislature and may be used for the establishment and implementation of water-related projects or programs and related technical assistance. Funding from the SWPF may not be used to replace full-time equivalent (FTE) positions or for recreational projects that do not meet the goals or objectives of the State Water Plan.

Report of the J. Russell (Russ) Jennings Joint Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice Oversight to the 2024 Kansas Legislature

The 1997 Legislature created the Joint Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice Oversight to provide legislative oversight of the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) and the Juvenile Justice Authority. Pursuant to Executive Reorganization Order No. 42, on July 1, 2013, the jurisdiction, powers, functions, and duties of the Juvenile Justice Authority and the Commissioner of Juvenile Justice were transferred to KDOC and the Secretary of Corrections.

Telehealth Advances and Status Update After the Public Health Emergency

With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States in early 2020, both the federal government and the State of Kansas responded by issuing orders to waive regulations pertaining to telehealth to ease the access to medical care for individuals, in light of social distancing measures to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. This memorandum provides an overview of the federal government changes to telehealth regulations, the Kansas telehealth regulations, the Kansas telehealth flexibilities initiated as they relate to the KanCare program and executive orders, and other flexibilities related to prescriptions and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) patient communications.

Report of the Joint Committee on Pensions, Investments and Benefits to the 2024 Kansas Legislature

The Joint Committee on Pensions, Investments and Benefits was created in 1992 and is authorized by KSA 2023 Supp. 46-2201 to:
● Monitor, review, and make recommendations relative to investment policies and objectives formulated by the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS or the Retirement System) Board of Trustees (Board);
● Review and make recommendations related to KPERS benefits;
● Consider and make recommendations on the confirmation of members nominated by the Governor to serve on the Board; and
● Introduce legislation it determines to be necessary.

Report of the Joint Committee on State Building Construction to the 2024 Kansas Legislature

The Joint Committee on State Building Construction was established during the 1978 Legislative Session. The Special Committee on Ways and Means recommended the bill creating the Committee, 1978 HB 2722, as a result of its interim study of state building construction procedures.

Report of the Joint Committee on Information Technology to the 2024 Kansas Legislature

The Joint Committee on Information Technology has statutory duties assigned by its authorizing legislation in KSA 46-2101 et seq. The Committee may set its own agenda, meet on call of its Chairperson at any time and any place within the state, and introduce legislation. The Committee consists of ten members: five senators and five representatives.

Report of the Special Committee on Foreign Adversary Investments and Land Purchases to the 2024 Kansas Legislature

The Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC) directed the Special Committee on Foreign Adversary Investments and Land Purchases to study preventative law and rules and regulations concerning land purchases and investments by foreign adversaries and to review and make recommendations regarding the procedures for monitoring and updating the list of foreign adversaries.

Report of the Special Committee on Intellectual and Developmental Disability Waiver to the 2024 Kansas Legislature

Section 89(u) of 2023 HB 2184, an appropriations bill, directed the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) to make expenditures for the purpose of “reviewing the overall costs of providing services within the intellectual and developmental disability service system and making recommendations to the Legislature for a method to make regular rate adjustments for such services based on inflationary indexes.”