Brief⁽¹⁾

S.B. 186 would amend existing law to exempt the purchase of natural gas by school districts from the sealed bid procedures required by statute. (Under current law, the purchase of natural gas in an amount exceeding $10,000 would be subject to the sealed bid procedures.) Such gas must be consumed in buildings owned or operated by the school districts.

The bill also would authorize advance payment for the purchase of food or gasoline associated with co-curricular or extra-curricular student activity outside school boundaries. Such purchase could be reimbursed by a person designated by the local board of education prior to the board's review and approval of the reimbursement request.

Background

S.B. 186 was supported by spokespersons for the Wichita Public Schools and the United School Administrators of Kansas. The conferees noted the bill would give school districts greater flexibility to respond quickly to changes in market prices; a quick response could result in savings to the districts. There were no opponents to the bill.

The Senate Committee on Utilities amended the bill to delete electricity as a commodity eligible for exemption from sealed bid procedures. Certain school districts have been or may soon be able to purchase their own natural gas (retail choice). However, the same option is currently not available for retail consumers of electricity.

The House Committee of the Whole amended the bill to include authorization for advance payment of claims associated with co-curricular or extra-curricular student activity outside school boundaries.

The Division of the Budget's fiscal note indicated that passage of the bill would not affect state revenues or expenditures.

1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/bill_search.html.