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AN ACT creating the Kansas river basin economic development corridor;
  prescribing the powers and duties of the governing body thereof.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
  Section 1.  As used in this act, unless the context clearly requires oth-
erwise:
  (a)  ``Corridor'' means the Kansas river basin economic development
corridor created by section 2.
  (b)  ``Authority'' means the Kansas river basin economic development
corridor authority.
  Sec. 2.  There is hereby created the Kansas river basin economic de-
velopment corridor. The corridor shall be composed of Douglas, Geary,
Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Leavenworth, Pottawatomie, Riley, Shaw-
nee, Wabaunsee and Wyandotte counties.
  Sec. 3.  (a) The corridor shall be governed by the Kansas river basin
economic development corridor authority which shall be a body corporate
and politic and which shall be composed of 26 members as follows:  (1) A
member of the governing body of each county which is a part of the
corridor, who shall be appointed by majority vote of such governing body;
and (2) a member of the governing body of one city from each county in
the corridor. Such city shall be the city having the greatest population
according to the most recent federal census and such members shall be
appointed by majority vote of the governing body of each such city; (3)
the chancellor of the university of Kansas or the chancellor's designee;
  (4) the president of Kansas state university or the president's designee;
  (5) the president of Washburn university; and (6) a member representa-
tive of industry in the corridor to be selected by majority vote of the other
members of the authority.
  (b)  The term of each member of the authority initially appointed by
a county governing body shall expire concurrently with such member's
tenure as a county officer or three years after the date of appointment as
a member, whichever occurs sooner. The term of each member succeed-
ing a member initially appointed by a county governing body shall expire
concurrently with such successor member's tenure as a county officer or
four years after the date of appointment as a member, whichever occurs
sooner. The term of each member initially appointed by a city governing
body shall expire concurrently with such member's tenure as a city officer
or two years after the date of appointment as a member, whichever occurs
sooner. The term of each member succeeding a member initially ap-
pointed by a city governing body shall expire concurrently with such suc-
cessor member's tenure as a city officer or four years after the date of
appointment as a member, whichever occurs sooner. The term of the
member appointed to represent industry shall expire four years after the
date of appointment.
  (c)  In the case of a vacancy on the authority, the vacancy shall be
filled for the unexpired term by appointment in the same manner that
the original appointment was made. Any member of the authority may
be removed for cause by the appointing authority of the authority.
  (d)  The authority shall select annually, from its membership, a chair-
person, a vice-chairperson and a treasurer. The treasurer shall be bonded
in such amounts as the authority may require.
  (e)  The authority may appoint such officers, agents and employees as
it may require for the performance of its duties, and shall determine the
qualifications and duties and fix the compensation of such officers, agents
and employees.
  (f)  The authority shall fix the time and place at which its meetings
shall be held. Meetings shall be held within the corridor and shall be open
to the public. Public notice shall be given of all meetings.
  (g)  The members of the authority shall be subject to the provisions
of the laws of the state of Kansas which relate to conflicts of interest of
public officers and employees.
  (h)  If any action at law or equity, or other legal proceeding, shall be
brought against any member of the authority for any act or omission
arising out of the performance of duties as a member, the member shall
be indemnified in whole and held harmless by the authority for any judg-
ment or decree entered against the member and, further, shall be de-
fended at the cost and expense of the authority in any such proceeding.
  Sec. 4.  (a) The authority shall:
  (1)  Prepare annually a report on the operations and transactions con-
ducted by the authority during the preceding year. The report shall be
submitted to the governing bodies of the counties comprising the corri-
dor, and to the governing body of each city that appoints a member of
the authority. The authority shall publish the annual report in the official
county newspaper of each of the counties comprising the corridor.
  (2)  Perform all necessary and incidental functions and duties and to
exercise all necessary and appropriate powers not inconsistent with the
constitution or laws of the United States or of the state of Kansas to
effectuate the same.
  (b)  The authority may:
  (1)  Adopt a seal and suitable bylaws governing its management and
procedure;
  (2)  enter into contracts;
  (3)  sue and be sued;
  (4)  receive for any of its purposes and functions any contributions or
moneys appropriated by counties or cities and may solicit and receive any
and all donations, and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials
and services from any state or the United States or any agency thereof,
or from any institution, foundation, organization, person, firm or corpo-
ration, and may utilize and dispose of the same;
  (5)  may provide donations, contributions and grants or other support,
financial or otherwise, for or in aid of the economic development of the
corridor;
  (6)  appoint advisory committees composed of members of the gen-
eral public who have demonstrated interest, expertise, knowledge or ex-
perience in economic development. The advisory committees shall make
recommendations annually to the authority regarding donations, contri-
butions and grants or other support, financial or otherwise, for or in aid
of economic development in the corridor; and
  (7)  provide for actual and necessary expenses of members of the au-
thority and advisory committee members incurred in the performance of
their official duties.
  Sec. 5.  (a) The authority shall not incur any indebtedness or obliga-
tion of any kind. The budget of the corridor shall be prepared, adopted
and published as provided by law for other political subdivisions of the
state. No budget shall be adopted by the authority until it has been sub-
mitted to and reviewed by the governing bodies of the counties compris-
ing the corridor and the governing body of each city represented on the
authority.
  (b)  The authority shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and dis-
bursements. The receipts and disbursements of the authority shall be
audited yearly by a certified or licensed public accountant and the report
of the audit shall be included in and become part of the annual report of
the authority.
  (c)  The accounts of the authority shall be open at any reasonable time
for inspection by the counties comprising the corridor, the cities that
appoint a member to the authority and other persons authorized by the
authority.
  Sec. 6.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.