Senate Ways and Means panel approves Kansas Office of Early Childhood budget with TANF funding swaps and provisos
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Summary
The Senate Ways and Means Committee voted to pass the Office of Early Childhood budget after approving a TANF funding swap for three programs and adding provisos to permit transfers and deferred compensation eligibility for the office director.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee on the floor advanced the budget for the newly created Kansas Office of Early Childhood, approving a package of funding swaps and technical provisos to move operations, positions and tied appropriations into the office.
Committee members approved a motion to fund three 2027 items — infant and toddler services at KDHE, SIDS-network grants to KDHE, and a KSDE pre-K pilot program — by replacing State General Fund (SGF) or CIF allocations with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) dollars. After questions about TANF eligibility, Jennifer Light of the Kansas Legislative Research Department said, “It is my understanding that all 3 of those items could be, taken out of TANF funding.” The committee adopted the motion by voice vote; the transcript records the chair announcing, “Motion carries.”
Senator Penny offered two technical provisos. The first clarifies that the executive director of the Office of Early Childhood be eligible to participate in the state deferred compensation plan; staff advised the change was necessary because the applicable statute listing state officers (KSA 74-49-11(f)) did not include the new director. David, a committee staff member, explained the proviso’s purpose: to ensure the director is specifically covered for deferred compensation purposes within that statutory subsection. The committee approved the revised proviso by voice vote.
The second proviso addresses transfer authority. Senators sought clarity about whether the change would permit agencies to move ‘excess’ fund balances; staff (David) and members explained these are identified appropriations and positions moving from the Department for Children and Families, the Department of Health and Environment, and the Department of Education into the Office of Early Childhood and that legislative direction (a proviso) is needed to effect the transfers. Senator Penny moved the transfer amendment; the committee approved it by voice vote.
After adopting the TANF swaps and provisos, the chair moved to pass the OEC budget out as amended. The committee approved the budget by voice vote; the transcript records the chair’s announcement, “Motion carries.”
What happens next: committee action sends the revised appropriation language and provisos forward as the committee’s recommendation; the transcript records voice votes rather than roll-call tallies for these items.
Speakers quoted and cited above are drawn from committee proceedings and staff testimony recorded in the hearing transcript. The committee’s votes and the text of the motions are recorded in the committee record and summarized here as announced in the hearing.
