SB 348 – Synthetic Cannabinoids
SB 348 amends the hallucinogenic substance category of schedule one controlled substances by adding HU-210, benzylpiperazine (BZP), and two synthetic cannabinoids known as “K2”, JWH-018 and JWH-073. Currently, HU-210 and BZP are listed on the federal schedule of controlled substances but are not included on the Kansas schedule of controlled substances.

At the request of the Kansas County and District Attorneys Association, the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee amended the bill to add BZP to the list of schedule one drugs due to an increase of abuse in Kansas.

The initial fiscal note from the Division on the Budget could not determine the impact of the bill on prison populations and the Board of Pharmacy believes the bill has no fiscal effect.

SB 348 was approved 36 to 1 on Thursday, January 21.

Senate Confirmations
On Thursday, January 21, the Senate approved the appointments of the following individuals:

• Nan Porter to the Crime Victims Compensation Board by a vote of 37 to 0.
• Michael “Thomas” Sawyer to the Kansas Parole Board by a vote of 38 to 0.
• Rebecca Crotty to the State Court of Tax Appeals by a vote of 37 to 0.
• Robert Daniel Lykins to the State Board of Regents by a vote of 38 to 0.
• Juana “Janie” Perkins to the State Board of Regents by a vote of 38 to 0.
• Dr. Vernon Mills to the Kansas Health Policy Authority by a vote of 38 to 0.
• Timothy McKee to the Kansas Electric Transmission Authority by a vote of 38 to 0.
• Betty Keim to the University of Kansas Hospital Authority by a vote of 37 to 0.
• Christine Downey-Schmidt to the State Board of Regents by a vote of 38 to 0.
• Robert Sanders to the Kansas Parole Board by a vote of 38 to 0.
• Martin Kennedy as Secretary of the Department on Aging by a vote of 37 to 0.
• Joshua Svaty as Secretary of the Department of Agriculture by a vote of 37 to 0.

Agriculture
This week the Senate Agriculture Committee listened to a presentation by Carole Jordan with the Kansas Department of Commerce and held confirmation hearings on appointing Josh Svaty as Secretary for the Kansas Department of Agriculture.

Assessment and Taxation
The Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee met on Wednesday, January 20, to hold hearings on SB 379 which validates the election granting sales tax authority to Chautauqua County. SB 379 was amended into HB 2353 and favorably voted out of the committee. Senate Sub. for HB 2353 it is now up for consideration by the Senate.

Business and Labor
On Tuesday, January 19, the Senate Business and Labor Committee received an overview of the Kansas Unemployment Fund by Secretary Jim Garner of the Department of Labor. The Business and Labor Committee is a new committee formed during the interim and chaired by Senator Susan Wagle.

Commerce
On Wednesday, January 20, acting Secretary Bill Thorton gave an overview of the Department of Commerce to the Senate Commerce Committee. The following day, on Thursday, January 21, an overview of the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation (KTEC) was presented to the committee by Kevin Carr, COO of KTECH; Kyle Elliott, Chairman of the KTEC Board; and Stan Ahlerich of Kansas, Inc.

Education
This week the Senate Education Committee met with the recipients of the Kansas Teacher of the Year Award and Deputy Commissioner of Education, Dale Dennis. In addition, representatives with the Fort Hays State Math and Science Academy provided a presentation to the committee. Finally, superintendents with USD 259- Wichita, USD 402- Augusta, USD 229- Blue Valley, USD 260- Derby, and USD 336- Holton appeared before the Education committee to give presentations on their respective school districts.

Ethics and Elections
On Wednesday, January 20, the Senate Ethics and Elections committee met to hear a presentation by Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh. Carol Williams, Director of the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission also provided the committee a presentation on Thursday, January 21.

Federal and State Affairs
The Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee, on Tuesday, January 19, met in an executive session to receive internal updates from Secretary of Revenue Joan Wagnon. Before that meeting occurred, the committee was given a presentation by Carmen Alldritt with the Division of Motor Vehicles in the Department of Revenue.

On Wednesday, January 20, Major General Tod Bunting, the Adjutant General of the Kansas National Guard appeared before the committee to provide an update on the Kansas National Guard. Also on Wednesday, the committee received an overview of the activities of the Interim Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice Oversight. On Thursday, January 21, the committee finished work for the week when Secretary Roger Werholtz with the Department of Corrections gave an overview of the department.

Financial Institutions and Insurance
This week the Senate Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee met to review the Kansas Insurance Department Report, get an update on federal legislation and financial regulatory activities, and to hold a joint meeting with the House Insurance Committee to review credit scoring.

Judiciary
On Tuesday, January 19, Wednesday, January 20, and Thursday, January 21, the Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on two bills, SB 208 and SB 375, both proposing to eliminate the death penalty in Kansas. SB 375 would also create the crime of aggravated murder. The committee is scheduled to work both bills on Friday, January 29.

In addition to the death penalty hearings, the committee conducted hearings on SB 376 regarding the Kansas Judicial Review Act; SB 373 which clarifies what municipal ordinance violations require assessment payments; and SCR 1622, a state constitutional amendment that would repeal the legislature’s authority to ban individuals with mental illnesses from voting.

Natural Resources
The Senate Natural Resources Committee met on Thursday, January 21, to receive an update from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on proposed EPA regulations. In addition, the committee was given a presentation on the recommended burning of the Flint Hills on Friday, January 22.

Public Health and Welfare
On Tuesday, January 19, the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee met to consider the appointments of Dr. Andrew Allison as Executive Director of the Kansas Health Policy Authority and Dr. William Reed to the board of the Kansas Health Policy Authority. The committee also held hearings on the appointments of Martin Kennedy as Secretary of the Department on Aging, Belinda Vierthaler as the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, and Scott Slabotsky to the Kansas University Hospital Authority on Wednesday, January 20. On Thursday, January 21, the committee reviewed the impact of new federal guidelines for mammography screening.

Transportation
The Senate Transportation Committee held a hearing on SB 295 on Tuesday, January 19. If approved, the bill would establish the Motor Vehicle and Safe Mobility Committee to identify and make recommendations to the Kansas Department of Transportation on safeguards that ensure pedestrians, especially the blind and visually impaired, can hear motors of approaching vehicles, particularly hybrid vehicles.

Also, the committee heard presentations on the InSureNet Vehicle Verification System by Jonathan Miller, President of InSureNet and on the Status of Transportation in Kansas by Secretary Deb Miller with the Kansas Department of Transportation.

Utilities
The Senate Utilities Committee, this week, held an informational hearing on metro dialing, received an update of stimulus funded energy efficiency programs by Tom Wright, acting Chairman of the Kansas Corporation Commission, and reviewed the activities of the utility interim committees.

Ways and Means
This week the Senate Ways and Means Committee held hearings on SB 350, the rescission bill for the 2010 fiscal year. The bill was amended into HB 2222 and passed favorably out of the committee where it is under consideration by the Senate. The committee also received an update on various audits by Barb Hinton with the Legislative Division of Post Audit and a review of the operations of the Kansas Health Policy Authority by Andy Allison, acting Executive Director of the authority.