Brief ⁽¹⁾

SB 309 would authorize the State Historical Society to accept ownership of the William Allen White House located in Emporia, Kansas. The property would be accepted for the purpose of establishing and maintaining it as an historical landmark and memorial. Prior to conveyance of the property, the Attorney General must approve the deed. The bill directs the State Historical Society to complete the restoration and site development at the William Allen White House from the federal funds appropriated to the agency. The bill also prohibits the use of State General Fund money for operations or capital improvements at the site in the future.

Background

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means held hearings on SB 309, at which time representatives of the William Allen White family, Karen Smith of Emporia State University, Dr. Ramon Powers, Executive Director of the Kansas State Historical Society, Representative Stone and Senator Barnett all spoke in favor of the bill. A statement in support of the bill from Bruce Buchanan of Harris Enterprises, Inc., was read.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee approved the bill without amendments.

The House Appropriations Committee made two amendments to the bill:

• Adding language to limit expenditures for the restoration and development of the site to the $700,000 federal grant received in FY 2001; and
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• Adding language prohibiting future expenditures from the State General Fund for operations or capital improvements at the site.

The bill, as amended, also would have a fiscal impact of $700,000 in federal funds expenditures for FY 2001.

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/fulltext.cgi