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Minutes for HB2036 - Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development
Short Title
Providing income tax credits for aerospace and aviation program graduates and their employers.
Minutes Content for Wed, Feb 1, 2017
The hearing was opened. Chuck Reimer, Office of Revisor of Statues, briefed the Committee on the content of the billl. (Attachment 2)
Jason Watkins, Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce, gave proponent testimony. (Attachment 3) Much needed measure that would enhance our state's ability to compete for high paying jobs in an economic section that Kansas once dominated. The bill would help prevent the continued rapid decline in high paying aviation related employment. Between 2005 and 2015 Kansas saw aviation employment drop by 17%, Oklahoma saw an increase of 91%, and North Carolina saw an increase of 120%. Aviation jobs have come back after the Great Recession but they have not returned to Kansas. Aviation firms are growing employment, but the growth is in states with better incentives and programs with more inviting capital investment. This investment is in employees, infrastructure, and real-estate growth and growth.
Written testimony in support of HB2036 was submitted by:
Timothy Rogers, Salina Airport Authority, (Attachment 4)
Jim Walters, Textron Aviation, (Attachment 5)
Don Weisner, Salina Area Chamber of Commerce, (Attachment 6)
Written testimony in opposition of HB2036 was submitted by:
Dave Trabert, Kansas Policy Institute, (Attachment 7)
Merrill Atwater, Kansas Department of Transportation, Aviation Division, gave neutral testimony. (Attachment 8) Kansas Aerospace manufacturing accounts for $11.5 billion in economic impact and 32,000 jobs. Kansas is ranked in the top ten of states for the most gains in terms of job creation and additional revenue from the integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Kansas UAS economic impact through 2025 is projected to be around $3 billion with over 3,700 jobs. Over 73 percent of the world's general aviation fleets have been manufactured in Kansas since the dawn of flight. Total output impact from general aviation in Kansas is valued at $$8.3 billion, making it the highest per capita output of any state in the country.
Written testimony neutral of HB2036 was submitted by:
Matt Lindsey, Kansas Independent College Association, (Attachment 9)
The hearing was closed.
