Legislative Update
Week of February 15, 2016
On Wednesday of last week the Kansas Senate concurred in the amendments made to Senate
Bill 133. This action sends the bill to the Governor’s desk. This legislation which was
introduced last year is the 911 Lifelines Bill. The legislation was proposed by 2014-15 Kansas
State University Student Body President Reagan Kays. The intent of the proposed legislation is
to grant limited immunity from a state's Minor in Possession (MIP) or Minor in Consumption
(MIC) of alcohol charge in certain circumstances where they make contact with officials during
a medical emergency of a minor. The legislation gives young people the confidence to pick up
the phone and call 911 to look out for the safety of their friends, colleagues and acquaintances.
A simple phone call could save students from alcohol related tragedies. Great work on the part
of students over the past two legislative sessions.
Also last week was budget week in both the Kansas House of Representatives and in the
Kansas Senate. The full House debated House Substitute for SB 161 on Wednesday, February
10, 2016 and passed the bill the next day. The appropriation bill makes changes to Fiscal Year
2016 and Fiscal Year 2017 to maintain a positive ending balance for both years. The Senate on
Thursday debated and passed Senate Substitute for HB 2365. The Senate passed a floor
amendment separating out the Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus budget from the
Kansas State University budget. Other than this amendment no changes were made to Kansas
State University that were not in the Governor’s recommendations.
Governor’s Recommendations for Kansas State University
FY 2016
1. Continues current funding and offsets State General Fund reduction with an increase
from Educational Building Fund allocation for information technology operations
expenses.
• Main Campus — $1,427,497
• Research and Extension — $639,574
• Veterinary Medical Center — $202,825
2. Reduces Global Food Systems grant allocation from $5 million to $4 million.
FY 2017
1. Continues funding
• $5 million base funding for College of Veterinary Medicine
• $5 million for research initiatives related to NBAF
• $3.5 million for University Engineering Initiative Act
2. Reduces Global Food Systems grant allocation from $5 million to $1 million
3. New funding of $3.7 million from the state's Educational Building Fund toward debt
service on the College of Architecture Planning and Design Seaton Hall building project.
Both Houses of the Legislature passed provisions to wall off KPERS payments from being used
or delayed to help shore up ending balances in the State General Fund. The bills now go to a
Joint House and Senate conference committee to work on the differences in the two bills.
This week the Legislature will focus on State Efficiency Report of Alvarez and Marsal. Please
click HERE for the Draft Report.
Finally, this week Kansas State University will participate in two events at the State Capitol.
Wednesday, February 17, 2016 is Cats in the Capitol, highlighting the university and serving
Call Hall ice-cream to Legislators, staff and visitors. On Thursday, February 18, 2016 Kansas
State University will participate in the Regents University’s Undergraduate Research Day.
Weekly updates will be posted in K-State Today on Tuesday. If you would like to receive a
listing of bills introduced in the Kansas Legislature impacting Kansas State University, higher
education, and state agencies please send an email request to kstategr@ksu.edu.