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Minutes for HB2185 - Committee on Education
Short Title
Updating the Kansas national guard educational assistance act to include dependents of national guard members and the Kansas national guard educational master's for enhanced readiness and global excellence (EMERGE) program to include other advanced degrees.
Minutes Content for Mon, Mar 10, 2025
Chairman Erickson opened the hearing on HB2185.
Tamera Lawrence, Assistant Revisor, Office of the Revisor of Statutes, gave an overview of the bill. (Attachment 6)
Lt. Col. Keith Marshall, Chief of Government and Legislative Affairs, The Adjutant General's Department, proposed a policy update to the tuition assistance programs of the Kansas National Guard to remain competitive with other states and to retain personnel and compete for the best recruits nationally.
When a Guard member uses the education assistance act, they incur a service commitment by continuing to serve in the Kansas Guard for two years beyond the last semester of education they complete. This bill would allow the service member who does not wish to take advantage of this assistance, to pass it to a dependent. The member must continue to serve in the Guard for two years beyond completion of the dependent's last semester.
The second part of this bill updates the Educational Master's for Enhanced Readiness and Global Excellence (EMERGE) program which covers Master's degrees. Due to vacancies in critically manned fields like legal and medical which require degrees not covered in the EMERGE law, this bill would include advanced degrees, including the medical and legal fields. This has potential to be one of the greatest tools to build unit and individual readiness.(Attachment 7)
Elaine Frisbie, Vice President for Finance and Administration, Kansas Board of Regents, explained the purpose and function of the Kansas National Guard Educational Assistance Act and how this bill would enhance it. She also explained the EMERGE program and it's purpose and the need for it to be expanded to professional and doctorate degrees. She concluded with the administrative impact this bill would achieve. (Attachment 8)
Proponent written only testimony was submitted by Michael Kelly, President of the Kansas Council of Chapters, Military Officers Association of America.(Attachment 9)
Discussion followed.
The Chair closed the hearing on HB2185.
The committee meeting adjourned at 2:00 pm.
The next meeting of the Senate Education Committee will be held March 11, 2025 at 1:30 pm in Room 144-S.
