Paid for by Connie O'Brien for Kansas House; Medeana Knipp, Treasurer
| Welcome to Connie's Corner! |
On Wednesday April 29, the Legislature returned to Topeka to begin the Veto Session, scheduled to go until May 11. The veto session is traditionally dedicated to addressing bills approved or vetoed by the Governor and working on the state budget. However, this year we have a number of issues still waiting to be wrapped-up. The Kansas State Constitution requires the Legislature to produce a budget each year. Prior to adjourning for our annual break the House and Senate passed their respective budgets and a conference committee was formed to begin to negotiate the differences. At the start of the negotiations there were many differences between the two bills and revenue estimates were down for March, but up for April. With so many competing interest and diverse constituencies to mold a final product capable of majorities in both chambers is not an easy job. We have a Governor, who would like for the Legislature to pass a budget that “contains the biggest ending balance possible”. The Governor has discussed the issue of allotments and said, The issuances of allotments are not the Kansas way and we should not be in a process of doing allotments in the future”. Hopefully we can do as the Governor has stated.
This first week back has two bills that were considered important, the Community Defense Act (H. Sub for SB 25) or the SOB bill. The Community Defense Act would regulate the location and operation of certain sexually oriented businesses including: adult arcades, adult bookstores, adult video stores, adult cabarets, adult theaters, semi-nude model studios, sexual device shops, and sexual encounter centers. The bill established limitations on how far these businesses can be from specific public and private facilities and sets requirements for physical configurations of sex oriented businesses. In addition the bill restricts the types of performances, hours of operations, age of employees and the activities that can take place in the aforementioned businesses. The bill allows any city or county to have an ordinance or resolution regulating these businesses as long as they do not conflict with the Community Defense Act.
The House passed H. Sub. For SB 25 on Friday, April 29, by a vote of 96 to 23. The bill now heads to the Senate for its consideration; however action is not expected to be taken by the Senate in this session.
The next bill was a resolution, HR 6015. HR 6015 would require the Attorney General to bring legal action challenging the legality of the gaming contract for the Mulvane Casino with Peninsula Gaming Partners, LLC and the constitutionally of provision in current law restricting public officials from certain interactions with gaming matters. This was a challenging debate and resulted in one of the closest votes we have had this year. The Democrats killed this resolution for this session and HR 6015 cannot be brought up again. The decision will be left with the Attorney General and nothing precludes him from initiating a suit if determines it is appropriate.
The House failed to pass HR 6015 on Thursday, April 28 by a vote of 59 to 62.
We will continue to finish up what needs to be done and pass a budget. I hope you have been tracking the legislature’s work in Topeka. I am always glad to hear your thoughts the issues discussed by the Legislature and how they affect you. Please feel free to contact me on the issues by email or phone: connie.obrien@house.ks.gov or (785) 296-7671. Thank you for the honor of serving you.
Rep. Connie O'Brien
Kansas State House 42nd District
This first week back has two bills that were considered important, the Community Defense Act (H. Sub for SB 25) or the SOB bill. The Community Defense Act would regulate the location and operation of certain sexually oriented businesses including: adult arcades, adult bookstores, adult video stores, adult cabarets, adult theaters, semi-nude model studios, sexual device shops, and sexual encounter centers. The bill established limitations on how far these businesses can be from specific public and private facilities and sets requirements for physical configurations of sex oriented businesses. In addition the bill restricts the types of performances, hours of operations, age of employees and the activities that can take place in the aforementioned businesses. The bill allows any city or county to have an ordinance or resolution regulating these businesses as long as they do not conflict with the Community Defense Act.
The House passed H. Sub. For SB 25 on Friday, April 29, by a vote of 96 to 23. The bill now heads to the Senate for its consideration; however action is not expected to be taken by the Senate in this session.
The next bill was a resolution, HR 6015. HR 6015 would require the Attorney General to bring legal action challenging the legality of the gaming contract for the Mulvane Casino with Peninsula Gaming Partners, LLC and the constitutionally of provision in current law restricting public officials from certain interactions with gaming matters. This was a challenging debate and resulted in one of the closest votes we have had this year. The Democrats killed this resolution for this session and HR 6015 cannot be brought up again. The decision will be left with the Attorney General and nothing precludes him from initiating a suit if determines it is appropriate.
The House failed to pass HR 6015 on Thursday, April 28 by a vote of 59 to 62.
We will continue to finish up what needs to be done and pass a budget. I hope you have been tracking the legislature’s work in Topeka. I am always glad to hear your thoughts the issues discussed by the Legislature and how they affect you. Please feel free to contact me on the issues by email or phone: connie.obrien@house.ks.gov or (785) 296-7671. Thank you for the honor of serving you.
Rep. Connie O'Brien
Kansas State House 42nd District