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Minutes for SB285 - Committee on Local Government, Transparency and Ethics
Short Title
Providing for the treatment of the reimbursement for certain expenses incurred by state officers and employees for travel in attending conferences or events provided by nonprofit organizations and for discounted or free access to entertainment, sporting events or other activities.
Minutes Content for Tue, Mar 11, 2025
Chairperson Bowers opened the hearing on SB285. Charles Reimer, staff revisor, provided a briefing on the bill. Mr. Reimer addressed questions from the Committee.
Joshua Ney provided testimony in support of SB285. Mr. Ney indicated as a practitioner in governmental ethics and campaign finance law, he gets calls regarding what people can do from an executive branch and a legislative branch standpoint. Mr. Ney noted the two statutes that are at issue with this bill are K.S.A. 46-237 and K.S.A. 237a. Mr. Ney first discussed Section 1 of the bill. (Attachment 1)
Mr. Ney addressed questions from the Committee. Chairperson Bowers asked Kaitlyn R Bull-Stewart, Interim Executive Director, General Counsel, Kansas Governmental Commission, to stand for questions from the Committee.
Mr. Ney next addressed Section 2 of the bill, K.S.A. 46-237a, that applies to the governor, lieutenant governor, the governor's spouse, all officers and employees of the executive branch of the state government, and all members of boards, commissions and authorities of the executive branch of state government.
Mr. Ney and Ms. Bull-Stewart addressed questions from the Committee.
Written testimony in opposition of SB285 was submitted by:
- Tammy Minihan, Sedgwick County, Republican Precinct Committeewoman (Attachment 2)
- Gloria Bayer, Sedgwick County, Republican Precinct 539 Committeewoman (Attachment 3)
- Kari Sue Vosburgh, Private Citizen (Attachment 4)
- Mary Stang, Private Citizen (Attachment 5)
Chairperson Bowers closed the hearing on SB285.
