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AN ACT concerning the Kansas racing and gaming commission; relating
  to salaries of commission members; amending K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 74-
  8803 and repealing the existing section.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
  Section 1.  K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 74-8803 is hereby amended to read as
follows: 74-8803. (a) There is hereby created the Kansas racing and gam-
ing commission, consisting of five members who shall be appointed by
the governor, subject to confirmation by the senate as provided by K.S.A.
75-4315b and amendments thereto. Except as provided by K.S.A. 1996
Supp. 46-2601 and amendments thereto, no person appointed to the com-
mission shall exercise any power, duty or function as a member of the
commission until confirmed by the senate.
  (b)  Before appointing any person as a member of the commission,
the governor shall cause the Kansas bureau of investigation to conduct a
criminal history record check and background investigation of the person.
  (c)  The members of the commission shall meet the following quali-
fications:
  (1)  Each member shall be a citizen of the United States and an actual
resident of Kansas at the time of appointment and during such member's
term of office with the commission;
  (2)  each member shall have been a resident of Kansas for a contin-
uous period of not less than five years immediately preceding appoint-
ment to the commission; and
  (3)  no member shall have been convicted of a felony under the laws
of any state or of the United States at any time prior to appointment or
during such member's term of office with the commission.
  (d)  The governor shall make appointments to the commission in such
a manner that:
  (1)  Not more than three members belong to the same political party
at the time of appointment and during their terms of office with the
commission; and
  (2)  subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 75-4315c and
amendments thereto each congressional district has at least one member
residing in such district at the time of appointment.
HB 2537
                                     

  (e)  Except as provided by subsection (f), each member appointed
before July 1, 1995, shall be appointed for a term of three years and until
a successor is appointed and confirmed. Each member appointed on or
after July 1, 1995, shall be appointed for a term of four years and until a
successor is appointed and confirmed.
  (f)  The terms of members who are serving on the commission on the
effective date of this act shall expire on January 15, of the year in which
such member's term would have expired under the provisions of this
section prior to amendment by this act. Thereafter, members shall be
appointed for terms of four years and until their successors are appointed
and confirmed.
  (g)  A vacancy on the commission shall be filled for the unexpired term
by appointment by the governor.
  (h)  The commission shall meet at such times and places within this
state as the chairperson or a majority of the commission members deter-
mines. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum for the con-
duct of commission business.
  (i)  The governor shall designate a member of the commission as
chairperson of the commission, to serve in that capacity at the pleasure
of the governor. The members of the commission annually shall elect a
vice-chairperson and secretary from the membership of the commission.
  (j)  Members Each member of the commission shall receive such com-
pensation as determined by the governor an annual salary in an amount
of $12,000, subject to the limitations of appropriations therefor, and,
when attending meetings of the commission, or a subcommittee meeting
thereof approved by the commission, shall be paid subsistence allow-
ances, mileage and other expenses as provided in K.S.A. 75-3223 and
amendments thereto.
  Sec. 2.  K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 74-8803 is hereby repealed.
  Sec. 3.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.