Brief ⁽¹⁾

HB 2471, as amended, would create the Kansas Natural Resource Legacy Alliance. The Alliance would develop a vision for the state's natural resources that would assure economic development, natural resource protection, opportunities for natural resource and environmental education, and a healthy environment and quality of life for Kansans. In order to develop the vision, among other things, the Alliance would conduct public hearings across the state to seek citizen input and provide information to the public. In addition, the Alliance would establish priorities for attaining the vision, including, but not limited to, goals and priorities for outdoor recreation, tourism, economic development, natural resource and environmental education, quality of life, water quality water supplies, fish and wildlife resources, prairie and grassland resources, forest resources, parks and lakes, wetlands and riparian areas, soil and water conservation, and air quality.

The Alliance would be made up of 13 members appointed as follows:

• Three members appointed by the President of the Senate;
• Two members appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;
• Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
• Two members appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and
• Three members appointed by the Governor.

The Alliance would submit a preliminary report of its activities and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature on or before January 25, 2002, and would submit a final report and recommendation to the Governor and Legislature on or before January 24, 2003. The Alliance would meet at least once each calendar quarter with the Governor calling the first meeting. At the first meeting, the Alliance would choose a chairperson and vice chairperson.

The Alliance would be attached to the Department of Wildlife and Parks. The Secretary of Wildlife and Parks would provide office and meeting space and any clerical and other staff assistance as may be necessary to assist the Alliance. Within limitations of appropriations, the Alliance may employ a staff member to assist the Alliance in carrying out its duties. Members of the Alliance would receive compensation, subsistence allowances, mileage, and other expenses.

The provisions of the bill would expire on July 1, 2003.

Background

At the hearing on the bill proponents included representatives of the Kansas Farm Bureau, the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts, Audubon of Kansas, and the Kansas Recreation and Park Association. In addition, the Secretary of Wildlife and Parks and a private citizen from Manhattan spoke in favor of the bill.

The Committee amended the bill to include the concepts of natural resource protection and natural resource and environmental education in the development of the vision for the state's natural resources. In addition, the Committee amended the bill to add prairie and grassland resources to the list of items for which the Alliance is to develop goals and establish priorities. The other amendment was technical in nature.

The fiscal note states that the Department of Wildlife and Parks estimates that the passage of the bill would require additional expenditures of $11,522 from the State General Fund for FY 2002.

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