House Status:
Senate Status:
Senate Status:
Minutes for HB2661 - Committee on Local Government
Short Title
Requiring vacancies in county commissioner districts created by an increase in the number of commissioner districts be filled at the next general election and providing for staggered terms for such newly elected county commissioners.
Minutes Content for Tue, Mar 5, 2024
Chair McGinn opened the hearing on HB 2661. Revisor Jason Long (Attachment 1) gave an overview of the bill.
Representative Titus (Attachment 2) spoke as a proponent of the bill. He introduced the bill on behalf of the Pottawatomie County Commission for increasing the number of commissioners. Under current law, the process for filling vacancies is outdated and doesn't allow for the staggering of the election of commissioners in perpetuity to avoid more than a simple majority being replaced in an election year. This bill allows for a simpler and smoother process for any county commission that seeks to expand and fill vacancies.
Douglas Kern (Attachment 3) gave testimony in support of the bill. He clarified that the old process prevented their commission from holding an election to appoint new county commissioners in 2023 and still be in compliance with state statutes requiring county commissioners to be elected to four year terms. In which case, at the next general election, more than a simple majority of commissioners could be replaced.
Written testimony in favor of the bill was received from Jay Hall (Attachment 4) of the Kansas Association of Counties.
Dee McKee, Pottawatomie County Commissioner, took the opportunity to speak in favor of the bill when the floor was opened for additional comments.
Speakers in support of the bill stood for questions from the Committee.
The hearing on HB 2661 was closed by Chair McGinn.
