Brief⁽¹⁾

H.C.R. 5004 would establish a task force to study rail passenger service in Kansas. The task force would:

study rail passenger service needs, including the possibility of entering into rail passenger compacts with other states;

cooperate with other states and specifically with Oklahoma;

consist of nine members appointed as follows: two members appointed by the President of the Senate, two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one member appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, one member appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, and three members appointed by the Governor;

be called to meet initially by the first person appointed by the Governor and meet at least quarterly thereafter;

elect the chairperson and vice-chairperson from the legislator task force members;

be staffed with Legislative Research Department and Revisor of Statutes Office personnel, if authorized by the Legislative Coordinating Council;

provide reimbursement to task force members for attending task force meetings authorized by the Legislative Coordinating Council;

submit an interim report and recommendations to the 2000 Legislature and to the Governor; and

submit a final report and recommendations to the 2001 Legislature and to the Governor.

Background

Representative Ed McKechnie appeared in support of the resolution. He informed the Committee that the resolution was recommended by the Special Committee on Rail Transportation during the 1998 interim. He noted that the resolution stems from the activities of the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative and that efforts are underway in Oklahoma to restore passenger rail service to that state.

Representative McKechnie said that these two separate and independent activities place Kansas in an opportune position to connect with these entities to provide daylight passenger rail service to Kansas. He also stated that the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative has long-term plans to bring high-speed passenger rail service to Kansas City's Union Station. He suggested that Kansas tie in between Missouri and Oklahoma to bring rail passenger service to Kansas.

Other conferees who appeared in support of the resolution were Representative Carl Krehbiel; the Director of Government Affairs, AMTRAK; and a retired AMTRAK employee. Representative Garry Boston also provided written testimony in support of the resolution.

There was no opposition to the resolution.

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.