Brief⁽¹⁾

H.B. 2368 would amend current law concerning the Kansas Antiquities Commission, which is responsible for issuing permits for archeological site investigations on public lands. The amendments would allow the Commission or the Commission's designee to authorize any survey, excavation, or construction without issuing a permit under the act, if it is the Commission's opinion that such action is necessary to prevent the immediate threat to the life or health of persons near the affected site.

Background

The Kansas Antiquities Commission is a five-member entity composed of the Secretary of the State Historical Society; the heads of the Anthropology Departments at the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and Wichita State University; and the State Archeologist of the State Historical Society. The Commission may issue permits to educational or research institutions, public museums, and nonprofit corporations for scientific and research investigations of archeological sites on public lands owned or controlled by the state or local units.

Proponents included the sponsor, Representative Shriver; the City of Arkansas City; the Association of Professional Archeologists of Kansas; and the Executive Director and the State Archeologist of the State Historical Society. Proponents stated that the bill was needed to allow the Antiquities Commission to more easily deal with emergency situations, such as the flooding in Arkansas City in 1998.

There were no opponents to the bill at the hearing.

The Committee amendment is clarifying in nature.

The fiscal note prepared by the Division of the Budget indicates that the bill has no fiscal impact.

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