A look at bills and resolutions that Kansas lawmakers have acted on so far

After a momentous school finance debate last week, Kansas lawmakers headed out of town for a monthlong break with plenty still on the agenda.

While they’re away, the extent of the state’s budget troubles should become clearer. Besides a monthly tax receipts report due this Friday, a panel called the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group later in the month will update projections of state revenues.

Republican Gov. Sam Brownback cut $17 million from the state’s university system March 1 after monthly tax receipts came in far below estimates. In a budget bill, the Legislature gave Brownback extra authority to reduce spending and to delay state worker pension payments. The latter could shore up the current budget, which ends June 30, but the money is required to be repaid with interest in September.

The 2016 session has featured tense moments between the Republican-dominated Legislature and Brownback, including attempts to override two vetoes. Lawmakers viewed Brownback as circumventing legislative oversight on two projects, including the use of sales tax revenue bonds, known as STAR bonds, for a proposal to relocate the American Royal in Kansas City’s West Bottoms to western Wyandotte County.

Reform of the STAR bonds process is on the table when lawmakers return in late April. It’s among a host of other measures, from addressing the problem of “revenge porn” to defining the grounds for impeaching state Supreme Court justices.

And lawmakers have little choice but to get school funding right — the state Supreme Court has threatened to close schools this summer if they fail. The Legislature approved the school equalization bill on Thursday. It’s on its way to the governor, and the court is expected to review it.

But Republicans and Democrats alike don’t want to stick around the Capitol too long after their return. It’s getting close to campaign season: All seats in the Legislature are up for election this year.

Here’s a sample of bills and resolutions that have made it through the legislative process so far in the 2016 session.

Juvenile justice reform: A sweeping overhaul of the state’s juvenile justice system shifts the emphasis from incarcerating juvenile offenders to community-based therapy, counseling and education programs. More than a year in the works, the legislation could be the 2016 Legislature’s biggest public policy reform (Senate Bill 367).

Student associations and religious beliefs: A measure prohibits colleges and universities from taking any action against student associations that require leaders or members to comply with the association’s sincerely held religious beliefs and its religious standards of conduct. Critics say such campus religious freedom legislation can open the door for student groups to discriminate. Signed by the governor (SB 175).

Immunity for underage drinkers in emergencies: A bill exempts from prosecution underage drinkers who call for medical help in an emergency. Proponents say the legislation encourages drinkers under 21 to call 911. Signed by the governor (SB 133).

Constitutional right to hunt: A proposed state constitutional amendment, to be offered to voters in the November general election, would establish a constitutional right to hunt, fish and trap wildlife in Kansas. The amendment would add a new section to the state constitution’s Bill of Rights (House Concurrent Resolution 5008).

Terrorist detainees and Fort Leavenworth: A resolution urges the president of the United States to declare that the Guantanamo Bay detention facility will remain open and that terrorist detainees will not be transferred to Fort Leavenworth. The Kansas facility doesn’t have the necessary facilities for such detainees, and their transfer would put American citizens at risk, the resolution states (HCR 5024).

Memorial signs for DUI crash victims: Called the Kyle Thornburg and Kylie Jobe Believe Act, the legislation authorizes the secretary of transportation to establish a program to erect signs along Kansas highways to memorialize victims of fatal DUI accidents. The signs are to include the names and ages of victims. The law’s namesakes were killed by a drunk driver in 2011 on Interstate 70. Signed by the governor (SB 245).

This story was originally published March 26, 2016 at 11:57 AM with the headline "A look at bills and resolutions that Kansas lawmakers have acted on so far."