[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6332555,"mediaKeyId","2306717-e059aca6e4596d09c95794d83c60ba46","parentId",2306717,"title","Ways and Means moves SB181 favorably; SB101 set aside after discussion","audioSeconds",1053,"startMs",3136000,"endMs",4189000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2306717-e059aca6e4596d09c95794d83c60ba46&start=3136&end=4189","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2306717-e059aca6e4596d09c95794d83c60ba46/thumbnail_3136000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6332555/Kansas/Ways-and-Means-moves-SB181-favorably-SB101-set-aside-after-discussion","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6332555-0488d1a2f71bac922cfdca889a02c9df/orig.mp4?Expires=1774893371&Signature=HPHiL9wq78sSKjQHfnfOWB7QQIQtZlqsaclSJL3MQTgkZ1mbge23tofE6I8x17s10OTdz4PQUXJhuToE1SYaiiQsbQVaBVcDS-fiUwRf3IfhJ3MukQgbrPTBQ6OoiB1OpujDpOKxyIRNvWLoBkh7fTMBR3yscNVjHuYfuL2LeLq926U3~CbHfCxen2F2jrmSoRDgfywqbgYgLn8oZtKdF1P6V85LhheSHEIDQCZg8ovNCf0SSzMS-5iuRI-J4pHh4sY2gCbU53W6DMbOgh-EudDzshixfGJLFL3Stk5E2lqYprl-QcFISIjwce~WGitRl6vijD0cGbTkVkE98e~1HA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kansas Legislature","date","2025-02-13T00:00:00Z","article","The Ways and Means Committee voted to move Senate Bill 181 favorably for passage and set aside Senate Bill 101 for further work after extended discussion.

SB 181: limiting annual expenditures and transfers from the State General Fund

Senator Fagg (mover) moved to report Senate Bill 181 favorably for passage; Senator Peck seconded. Following discussion of concerns from some members about limits on future legislatures and impacts on school funding, the motion carried on a voice vote. Senator Patty asked to be recorded as voting in favor.

Why it matters: SB 181 would limit the annual amount of expenditures and demand transfers from the State General Fund and require certification by the state treasurer; committee members debated the bill’s potential impact on future legislative flexibility and responses to emergencies.

SB 101: creating a DARE educator position

Committee discussion on SB 101 centered on whether to create a new full‑time equivalent position (estimated at about $104,000 plus benefits) to expand DARE programming. Supporters said the measure addresses the current drug‑use crisis among young people; opponents questioned adding a new state FTE and suggested leveraging existing resources (for example, vacant positions in the Attorney General’s office or school/district programs). Senator Klooz moved to pass the bill favorably; the motion lacked a second and the bill was set aside for additional work.

Votes at a glance

- SB 181: Motion to move favorably — outcome: passed by voice vote; mover: Senator Fagg; second: Senator Peck; Senator Patty requested to be recorded in favor.

- SB 101: Motion to move favorably — outcome: no action (motion died for lack of a second); committee will revisit options for funding and use of existing resources.

Ending

The committee indicated it will continue to work on SB 101 and related funding options; no further formal action on SB 101 was taken that day.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Committee on Ways and Means 02/13/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee voted to move Senate Bill 181 favorably for passage; discussion of Senate Bill 101 (DARE educator position) generated debate over funding and existing resources and was set aside for further work.","taxTitle","Ways and Means, Standing, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Kansas","taxId",20425,"location","Kansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6332560,"Legislative Post Audit presents recent audits, flags issues from water operator certification to TANF and facility safety",1278,1244000,2522000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2306717-e059aca6e4596d09c95794d83c60ba46&start=1244&end=2522","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2306717-e059aca6e4596d09c95794d83c60ba46/thumbnail_1244000.jpg","/articles/6332560/Kansas/Legislative-Post-Audit-presents-recent-audits-flags-issues-from-water-operator-certification-to-TANF-and-facility-safety","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6332560-90b9ab384ae99190c0b4ee07bcba8960/orig.mp4?Expires=1774893371&Signature=Mt4izCLdX6mdWfagd6Zs63hUe5e9VM83PcvDPXm5Jh9nrBHjXwxtAPDZLltCaw-ZmcTIHUTgl5ayHh~tra3-9gdzbQh8KWgujGUpwcoTdriyq2eUPmPmYBY~5a6FCLln5BmT9ErjpJBMwXFQiEdSP4ZCZTbpU1ti93r~xaEUcxyKfIyfO0qJ40i~ycsTpc3lkoWH7rcI8ei8LnpVhq76YfWwQRB9jc2HqP6gXmbE1l0P6x~q7JMPYFW~MVZQR4~9lhfox7eMguoRyKl3DiCWyvPwQuxfgK7Mq~zqQ~tm4jhheSakQQvCnH3ZirnMVBtVMQyUShBED7vHqn-boqYGOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chris Clark, director of the Legislative Division of Post Audit, briefed the Ways and Means Committee on a slate of audits completed over the past year, underscoring findings the committee may choose to follow up through legislation or oversight.

Clark summarized multiple limited‑scope and full audits: low pass rates on water supply and wastewater operator certification exams; little use of the state’s alternative fuel tax credit because of statutory restrictions; incomplete documentation in Commerce’s awarding of community service tax credits; gaps in pre‑employment screening at the Department of Commerce; safety and staffing weaknesses at Osawatomie State Hospital; mixed results from evaluations of tax increment financing and star bonds programs; and concerns about TANF benefit amounts and caseload declines.

Why it matters: the audits identify operational risks, compliance gaps and policy outcomes across state programs that could affect public safety, program integrity and state finances.

Audit highlights

- Water system operator certification: From 2022–2024 roughly half of examinees passed water supply or wastewater operator exams, with lower pass rates on higher-level exams. KDHE officials told auditors low pass rates are largely due to examinees not adequately preparing; KDHE is exploring partnerships (for example with community colleges) to improve preparation.

- Alternative fuel tax credit and community service tax credits: The alternative fuel credit has been rarely used since 2007 because statutory changes limited eligibility; the community service tax credit awarded $8 million in 2023–24 but Commerce did not fully document eligibility checks, limiting assessment of selection decisions.

- Department of Commerce hiring practices: Post Audit found Commerce lacked adequate procedures to mitigate risks for staff overseeing financial programs; Commerce did not perform criminal-history checks through the KBI and did not consistently document hiring procedures. Clark noted House Bill 2342 addresses related concerns.

- Osawatomie State Hospital: The audit found inadequate processes for campus patrols, missing keys (56 keys missing, including grand master keys), insufficient fire‑trained security staff, overreliance on contract nursing (about 50% of nursing staff contracted) and high overtime use. Management did not consistently monitor safety risks or collect data to address recurring problems.

- Tax increment financing and star bonds: Of six TIF districts examined, three did not recover costs timely; districts showed growth in some “quality of life” industries, but auditors could not directly compare quantified benefits to costs. Star bonds districts grew in industries respondents said they value, though auditors could not definitively attribute changes to the program.

- TANF and DCF programs: Kansas’s TANF cash assistance benefit amount has not been updated since 1997 and has lost purchasing power. Caseloads declined about 77% from 2009 to 2023, influenced by eligibility changes, wage increases and inflation.

Committee reaction and follow-up

Committee members thanked Clark and asked for additional materials in some audits (for example, which states have guarantees similar to CAPERS 3, and further details on delinquent motor vehicle tax remittances by a county that created an $11,000,000 delinquency). Clark noted full reports and podcasts are available on the post audit website and encouraged legislators to submit audit proposals while the legislature is in session.

Ending

Clark offered to provide additional details requested by members and reminded the committee that post audit accepts proposals for new work; members said they will review the published reports and consider follow-up oversight or legislative action.","Chris Clark, director of Legislative Post Audit, reviewed multiple audits released in the last year, highlighting low pass rates for water and wastewater operator certification exams, gaps in Commerce’s pre-employment screening, safety and staffing problems at Osawatomie State Hospital, and other economic development and program audits.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6332565,"State Department of Administration outlines Capitol Complex rent, surcharges and leasing policy",809,341000,1150000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2306717-e059aca6e4596d09c95794d83c60ba46&start=341&end=1150","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2306717-e059aca6e4596d09c95794d83c60ba46/thumbnail_341000.jpg","/articles/6332565/Kansas/State-Department-of-Administration-outlines-Capitol-Complex-rent-surcharges-and-leasing-policy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6332565-42be6879cce2d6b92c7bf720f428feef/orig.mp4?Expires=1774893371&Signature=ZDsPuaENlPZkVJAdTDbLNI~3tByogD60QwMr4pTeBmrlXXPl33go44yypdkzIMXyAlrK5K767Z6Ld5ospYDx~xoWn7SFn1PgIJQB9OZEyYv4VnfX9wYzxRT0~trZRqTv-cTGGr70cRCUqj7oZBU1g0A~3c2CiU0LDZ4m3BMsNC0XWWpKzkjkccOXovvbbBj3tiHHSMaAln6EikLHemzA2V4xM97PwV~elbijiAF741Sq5ENJ9JsXIhNVU7yi9HTnnRKVLS9tf~kgLBle~1rFH92-yQFVKnXpB16G9wrvMk-RYvMOIO7bcfy-0wDPsb8RapqQAVgQSXtfjyrPJ2T0tQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Adam Prophet, secretary for the Kansas Department of Administration, told the Ways and Means Committee that the state treats space in the Capitol Complex as an “all in” rent and is tightening policy for private leases in Shawnee County.

Prophet said agencies that occupy state-owned buildings in the complex pay a comprehensive rent rate that covers utilities, housekeeping, pest control, snow and ice removal and surface parking; separate charges apply for computer-room (data center) space because of higher energy and maintenance needs. He said the department collects rents on about 40% of the complex’s leasable space and maintains roughly 2,100,000 square feet of building space and about 53 acres of grounds across the complex.

Prophet told the committee the department will not enter private leases in Shawnee County longer than five years going forward, and plans to reintroduce a cost-comparison form agencies must complete before pursuing private leases. “What we’re trying to get to is an apples to apples comparison of what your total lease cost is out of a state facility versus what it is in a state facility,” Prophet said.

Why it matters: the presentation explains how the Department of Administration sets rent and the scope of services included in that rent, and it signals changes that could affect agency budgets and future private leasing decisions as new state buildings—most notably the Docking State Office Building—come online.

Key details

- Rent and coverage: Prophet said the base rate charged to agencies in state-owned buildings includes aggregated utility costs for the Capital Complex; housekeeping; pest control; move-in build-out “to a reasonable degree”; and snow and ice removal. He said computer rooms are charged at a higher rate because they “utilize a lot more energy and there’s a lot more that goes into maintaining those.”

- Square footage and vacancies: Prophet reported about 2,100,000 square feet total across the complex, with roughly 880,000 square feet leasable office space (about 40% of total). He said vacant office space across the listed buildings was about 7,300 square feet at the time of the presentation.

- Docking State Office Building and building ownership: Prophet described the Docking building as the new building due to be completed during the summer and said roughly 73,000 square feet is leasable office space (about 153,000 square feet for public-facing floors 1–3). He clarified the KDHE lab building is state-owned and that the state may “mothball” that facility because of possible asbestos and other remediation costs.

- Monumental surcharge: Committee members asked about the “monumental surcharge” applied to agencies occupying space in Shawnee County; Prophet said the surcharge funds maintenance of the Statehouse grounds, the Judicial Center, Cedar Crest and Capitol Complex parking lots and that federal dollars may not be used to pay the surcharge. He confirmed the surcharge is under review and noted a projected increase from about $3.30 per square foot to $4.50 in a coming fiscal year as new square footage is added and the department brings buildings online.

- Furniture and build-out: When asked whether furniture is included in the base, Prophet said the department typically includes base workstations, cubicles and office walls as part of a build-out; agencies are usually responsible for chairs and some other furnishings (for example, waiting-room chairs or additional items beyond the base build-out).

- Lease terms and market comparison: Prophet said some private leases the state holds are below current market rates—some long-term leases date back 25 years—and the department will provide a comparison form to show agencies the full, all-in cost of private leases versus capital-complex occupancy.

Questions and follow-up requests

Committee members asked for clarification on several points: whether the Judicial Center pays the surcharge (Prophet said he would verify), details about Highway Patrol lease costs and the number of years remaining on long leases (Prophet said the department can pull those details and return them to the committee), and whether KBI-owned offices are handled through the Department of Administration (Prophet said they are not).

Ending

Prophet said the department plans to roll out the lease cost-comparison form within a month or two and will continue to review the rent and surcharge calculations. He invited committee members to submit follow-up questions for additional detail.","Department of Administration Secretary Adam Prophet told the Ways and Means Committee the state charges an inclusive rent for space in the Capitol Complex, is limiting private leases in Shawnee County to five years, and is reviewing a planned increase in the “monumental surcharge” as new buildings come online.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Ways and Means moves SB181 favorably; SB101 set aside after discussion

Legislative Post Audit presents recent audits, flags issues from water operator certification to TANF and facility safety

State Department of Administration outlines Capitol Complex rent, surcharges and leasing policy