Chairman Erickson opened the hearing on HB 2485.

Tamera Lawrence, Assistant Revisor, Office of the Revisor of Statutes, gave an overview of the bill. (Attachment 1)

Elaine Frisbie, Vice President for Finance and Administration, Kansas Board of Regents, said this legislation was introduced at the request of the Board of Regents. Board staff requests the Legislature provide the agency with the authority to settle claims for repayment and that the Legislature prohibit students who are in repayment for one scholarship from receiving new scholarship funds before repayment is complete. Authority to settle claims would promote efficiency in administering the service scholarship repayment requirements. The Board is authorized to pursue collection efforts to recover the amounts owed, but are not specifically authorized to settle the claims. This omission curtails the Board's ability to work with collections contractors to effectively resolve claims. (Attachment 2)

Discussion followed.

Chairman Erickson closed the hearing on HB 2485.