The House met pursuant to adjournment with Speaker pro tem Mays in the chair.
The roll was called with 123 members present.
Rep. Johnston was excused on verified illness.
Rep. Pottorff was excused on excused absence by the Speaker.
Prayer by guest chaplain, the Rev. David E. Grimm, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
of Topeka:
May we unite our hearts together in common prayer.
We pause at this time in our day, as we have done so many times before. We
pause, to call to mind the ultimate context in which we live and work and love and
serve; to remind ourselves of that which is ultimately beyond us in every way and
yet is also intimately present with us, working in and through us all, to bring about
human communities of justice and peace.
We are mindful of just how impossible is our task: to balance all the rights and
responsibilities of a people and its government, to seek to balance, in as even-handed
a way as possible, all the conflicting claims of businesses and industries and infor-
mation and social services and individuals and groups of so many different orienta-
tions and abilities and interests and privilege.
We call for blessings on this House, on this body of servants of the common good.
We pray for wisdom today like we've never prayed for it before. May new under-
standing and deeper compassion work in us in these coming hours this day. May the
deals we strike and the decisions we make be of the highest ethical quality imagi-
nable. And may we get better and better at it. May our sensitivity to the poor and
hungry among us stir us into greater action on their behalf than ever before. So may
we be, co-creators of a greater Kansas community of peace and justice this day, and
everyday that we are given the privilege of serving life on this holy, holy earth.
May love and wisdom, and an insistent devotion to ``the greatest good for all
Kansans'' characterize this day, in this place. Blessed be. Amen.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Rep. Hayzlett.
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS
The following bills were introduced and read by title:
HB 2702, An act relating to taxation; exempting greenhouse machinery and equipment
therefrom; amending K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 79-201j and 79-3606 and repealing the existing
sections, by Committee on Agriculture.
HB 2703, An act relating to income taxation; amending the Kansas community services
program act; amending K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 79-32,195 and 79-32,197 and repealing the ex-
isting sections, by Representative Krehbiel.
HB 2704, An act concerning broadband internet access transport services; requiring cable
operators to provide certain access to such services; providing remedies for violations, by
Committee on Utilities.
HB 2705, An act regulating traffic; restricting the use of cellular phones while driving;
amending K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 8-2118 and repealing the existing section, by Representatives
Benlon and Tomlinson.
HB 2706, An act designating the square dance as the official state folk dance of Kansas,
by Representative Alldritt (By Request).
REFERENCE OF BILLS AND CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS
The following bills and resolutions were referred to committees as indicated:
Business, Commerce and Labor: HCR 5054.
Financial Institutions: HB 2690, 2691.
Health and Human Services: HB 2695, 2696, 2700, 2701.
Insurance: HB 2694.
Judiciary: HB 2697, 2699.
Local Government: HB 2698.
Taxation: HB 2689, 2692, 2693.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM STATE OFFICERS
From Clyde D. Graeber, Secretary, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, The
State of Kansas Public Health Improvement Plan for Promoting Health in the 21st Century,
December 1999.
From Jerry B. Farley, President, Washburn University, Annual Report, 1999.
The complete reports are kept on file and open for inspection in the office of the Chief
Clerk.
MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE
Announcing passage of SB 375.
The Senate adopts conference committee report on SB 39.
INTRODUCTION OF SENATE BILLS AND CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS
The following Senate bill was thereupon introduced and read by title:
SB 375.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Objection was made to HB 2592 appearing on the Consent Calendar; the bill was placed
on the calendar under the heading of General Orders.
REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES
The Committee on Education recommends HB 2622 be passed and, because the com-
mittee is of the opinion that the bill is of a noncontroversial nature, be placed on the consent
calendar.
The Committee on Judiciary recommends HB 2600 be passed.
Upon unanimous consent, the House referred back to the regular order of business,
Introduction of Bills and Concurrent Resolutions.
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS
The following bills were thereupon introduced and read by title:
HB 2707, An act establishing the state debt reduction fund; providing for transfers of
moneys thereto, by Representatives McKinney, Garner, Findley, Alldritt, Ballard, Barnes,
Crow, Dean, Feuerborn, Flora, Gatewood, Grant, Haley, Henderson, Henry, Johnston,
Kirk, Klein, Kuether, Larkin, McClure, Minor, Nichols, O'Brien, Pauls, E. Peterson, Phelps,
Reardon, Rehorn, Reinhardt, Ruff, Sharp, Spangler, Storm, Tedder, Thimesch, Toelkes and
Weiland.
HB 2708, An act concerning health insurance; relating to the patient protection act;
classifying obstetricians and gynecologists as primary care providers, by Committee on
Insurance.
HB 2709, An act concerning health insurance; relating to the patient protection act;
classifying pediatricians as primary care providers, by Committee on Insurance.
HB 2710, An act concerning the emergency telephone tax; relating to the use of the
proceeds thereof; amending K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 12-5304 and repealing the existing section,
by Representative O'Neal.
HB 2711, An act concerning retailers' sales tax; amending K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 79-3602
and repealing the existing section, by Representative Jim Morrison.
HB 2712, An act concerning livestock; enacting the competitive livestock markets act;
prohibiting certain acts and prescribing certain penalties, by Representatives McKinney,
Faber, Larkin, P. Long, McClure, Mollenkamp, O'Brien, Phelps and Thimesch.
HB 2713, An act concerning crimes and punishment; relating to unlawful sexual relations
by a person of authority, by Representative Ballou.
HB 2714, An act concerning the state board of education; relating to the election of the
members thereof; amending K.S.A. 25-101, 25-202, 25-1906, 25-3903, 25-3905 and 25-3906
and K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 25-1903 and 72-7504 and repealing the existing sections; also re-
pealing K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 25-3902a and 25-3904a, by Committee on Governmental Or-
ganization and Elections.
HB 2715, An act relating to property taxation; concerning the valuation of land devoted
to agricultural use; amending K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 79-1476 and repealing the existing section,
by Committee on Taxation.
HB 2716, An act relating to sales taxation; exempting sales of certain oil and gas ma-
chinery and equipment therefrom; amending K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 79-3606 and repealing the
existing section, by Committee on Taxation.
HB 2717, An act relating to motor vehicles; concerning drivers' licenses; reckless driving;
amending K.S.A. 8-1566 and K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 8-237, 8-296 and 8-297 and repealing the
existing sections, by Representative Krehbiel (By Request).
Mr. Speaker: On Monday, January 24, 2000 I was unavoidably absent from the legislative
session. On that day, the House held a vote on the conference committee report on SB 39,
the 1999 supplemental budget. I was in contact with the Speaker's office regarding any need
for me to be present for that vote. I believe it is important for my constituents to know how
I would have voted if I had been present. Accordingly, I am providing this explanation. I
would have voted in support of the conference committee report on the 1999 supplemental
budget bill. I believe the Governor and the legislature have established the proper priorities
in a difficult budget environment. Specifically, I am pleased that primary and secondary
education are held harmless from any budget reductions. Prior to session, I proposed util-
izing the revenue windfall already experienced by the state's highway fund to hold education
harmless from cuts. I am pleased to see the legislature adopt this position and that the state
has lived up to its commitment to education.--Phill Kline
REPORT ON ENROLLED RESOLUTIONS HR 6004, 6005 reported correctly enrolled and properly signed on January 25, 2000.
On motion of Rep. Glasscock, the House adjourned until 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, January
26, 2000.