Brief(1)
H.B. 2548 authorizes the transfer of land from the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services to several other state agencies. As amended, the transfers include:
The bill authorizes the Secretary of Administration to operate the former Topeka State Hospital grounds, lease the property for periods of less than five years, lease the property for periods of greater than five years after review and consultation with the Joint Committee on State Building Construction, and sell the property with the approval of the State Finance Council.
The bill includes a provision that if that portion of the campus utilized by the Division of Services for the Blind of the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services becomes unavailable to the Division, ample time shall be allowed to establish facilities or programs to provide the continuance of equal or better services for clients of the Division.
The bill also creates the Topeka State Hospital Advisory Committee. The Committee shall advise and consult with the Secretary of Administration on the use and disposition of the former Topeka State Hospital grounds and will also serve as a forum for expression of the concerns of the residents of Shawnee County on the use of the property. The Committee will be composed of four legislators whose districts include a portion of Shawnee County, the Mayor of the City of Topeka, and at least one but not more than three members appointed by the Secretary of Administration who are not officers or employees of state or local government. The legislative members shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and the Senate and House Minority Leaders. The legislative members shall serve without compensation.
The former Winfield State Hospital and Training Center would be utilized by the Commission on Veterans Affairs for the Winfield Veterans Home and by the Department of Corrections for the Winfield Correctional Facility. The two parking lots at the Rainbow Mental Health Facility have been utilized by the University of Kansas Medical Center for the last several years.
Background
All three of the agencies involved in the Winfield transfer expressed support for the bill as introduced, as did Representative Judy Showalter. The House Committee amended the bill to allow for the transfer of the two parking lots to the University of Kansas Medical Center.
The Senate Committee amended the bill to statutorily transfer the former Topeka State Hospital grounds to the Department of Administration and establish procedures for the review of decisions for the ultimate disposition of the property.
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