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Legislative update: first adjournment, short veto session and Blue Ribbon Commission proviso
Summary
TEA received a legislative update explaining that the Kansas Legislature was near first adjournment, would return for a short veto session April 10'12, and that the session included a one-year proviso to start a Blue Ribbon Commission on higher education.
A legislative update to the TEA outlined the session timeline, budget process and several higher-education items, including a one-year proviso establishing an initial Blue Ribbon Commission on higher education.
The presenter, Fred (legislative update presenter), told the TEA the Legislature was approaching first adjournment and planned a brief return April 10 for a veto session. "They plan to be done no later than April 12," the presenter said, noting the session had been unusually fast and that negotiators from the House and Senate completed budget work in conference over several days.
The presenter said the Legislature largely produced a bare-bones budget because of a negative forecast and tax relief priorities, and that KBOR's budget outcome looked acceptable so long as a remaining issue affecting several community colleges could be resolved before final signatures. He said a KBOR legislative item changing service scholarship interest rates passed both chambers and was awaiting final action.
House Bill 2402, which the presenter summarized as a measure to create a Blue Ribbon Commission on higher education, was introduced late in the session. HB 2402 did not advance as a stand-alone bill but was inserted as a one-year budget proviso to begin work on higher-education review and data gathering. The presenter said the initial proviso will begin information gathering this year and that any larger, multi-year commission design would likely return in a subsequent session.
TEA members asked procedural questions about leadership changes and timelines. The presenter noted the speaker of the House has announced he will not run again and that leadership changes could occur before any final Blue Ribbon Commission report.
Provenance: Legislative remarks began with the TEA request for an update and concluded with members' procedural questions and comments about next steps.
