2021 Legislative Update 3
2021 Legislative Update 3
We had a very busy week with the introduction of new legislation, committee hearings and working bills as they advance through the process. We are still adjusting to a new way of working this session with technology enhancements and extra precautions as well as limitations due to the pandemic.
Thursday was a special day! I had the honor of carrying HB 2008 which will allow the Attorney General, in consultation with the Native American Indian tribes, to coordinate training regarding missing and murdered indigenous persons (MMIP) throughout Kansas. This legislation was brought forward by Representative Dr. Ponka-We Victors during the 2020 Legislative Session, however, it died in the Senate due to the short session. Representative Victors and Representative Haswood sponsored the bill this year, and I am very grateful that it once again passed the House unanimously!
The civil discourse group had its first meeting of the year this week with Keith Allred, Executive Director of the National Institute of Civil Discourse, as the keynote speaker. The civil discourse group formed last year to support a culture where engaging differences constructively leads to better public policy. I have enjoyed participating in the civil discourse group. The discussions have been robust and open and help as we get to know each other a little better and share our different perspectives in hopes of finding some common ground.
On Friday, we celebrated Kansas Day! Kansas was admitted 160 years ago on January 29, 1861 as a Free State. A little history behind the Kansas Day celebration, it was born in Paola in 1877 by a group of public school students. The students were studying United States History which sparked their interest in the history of their own state. Kansas Day continued to grow and remains an important day with teachers, students and many of us across the state celebrating on January 29th each year the history of our great state.
It is a special honor to serve as your state representative. I value and appreciate your input on issues facing state government. Please feel free to contact me with your comments and questions. My office address is Room 452-S, 300 SW 10th, Topeka, KS 66612. You can reach me at (785) 296-7430 or call the legislative hotline at 1-800-432-3924 to leave a message for me. You can also e-mail me at pam.curtis@house.ks.gov
Missing and Murdered Indigenous People “MMIP”
On Thursday, the Kansas House of Representatives unanimously passed HB 2008 with a 123-0 vote. This allows the Attorney General in consultation with Native American Indian tribes, to coordinate training for missing and murdered indigenous people with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center and other appropriate state agencies for the law enforcement agencies throughout the state.
Murder is the third leading cause of death for American Indian and Alaskan Native Women. In 2018 the Urban Indian Health Institute released a report providing a comprehensive snapshot of the missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in urban areas throughout the United States.
This report shines light on the growing problem as well as the lack of data collected. Even with incomplete data and the known reluctance in reporting, 506 cases of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls were identified in 71 urban areas and there are approximately 5,712 reported missing American Indian and Alaska Native women overall.
We heard compelling testimony in the House Judiciary Committee on this current crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women and people across America and the need in Kansas for jurisdictional coordination, communication and education to address this crisis.
Victims’ families can face a patchwork of tribal, state and federal law-enforcement agencies to respond to a crime and HB 2008 provides an important first step to address this issue.
The passage of HB 2008 will allow Kansas to join other states in attempting to identify this problem and develop policies and training practices to impact this devastating trend.
Gun Bills
On Wednesday, the Federal and State Affairs committee held three hearings on bills that pertained to firearms. HB 2058 allows for reciprocity to recognize out-of-state licenses to carry a concealed handgun. HB 2059 would provide reciprocity for licenses to carry concealed handguns and create two classes of concealed carry licenses. HB 2089 would authorize the attorney general to issue an alternative license to carry a concealed handgun to qualified applicants during a declared state of disaster emergency. All three have yet to pass out of committee.
Thursday on the floor
The House Chamber began the day passing HCR 5005, honoring COVID-19 frontline workers.
The House also passed, on Emergency Final Action with a 123-0 vote, the following bills which will now head to the Senate for consideration:
- HB 2008, Providing for the attorney general to coordinate training for law enforcement agencies on missing and murdered indigenous people.
- HB 2022 updates the state corporation commission’s authority to regulate and determine responsibility for abandoned oil and gas wells and abolishing the well plugging assurance fund and transferring all assets and liabilities to the abandoned oil and gas well fund.
- HB 2026 creates a drug abuse treatment program for people on diversion and allows county and district attorneys to enter into agreements with chief judges and community corrections for supervision.
Constitutional Amendment
On Thursday, the Kansas Senate passed out a proposed constitutional amendment, HCR 5003, which will be placed on the August 2022 ballot. All Kansans, regardless of party affiliation, will be able to cast their vote on this constitutional amendment.
Kansas House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer said that GOP House members stated during floor debate, that an objective of the amendment was abolition of abortion in Kansas. He said refusal of House and Senate supporters of the amendment to include exceptions for rape, incest or to save the life of a mother was “testament to how extreme this constitutional amendment really is.”
SB 22
A tax bill, SB 22, that is being considered by the Senate may be coming to the House floor in the coming weeks. This bill is a revival of the Brownback tax plan. During a time of economic uncertainty and in the midst of a pandemic, it is necessary for working Kansans to receive tax relief rather than giant multinational corporations. We are unclear of what amendments may be attached before it comes to the House floor, but we will continue to work for tax policy that help working Kansans and their families.
Mango Resources from the State Library
If learning a new language is one of your New Year’s Resolutions, Mango Languages is for you! With Mango, you can learn from your own computer or smartphone. This online service https://kslib.info/Mango provided by the State Library of Kansas is easy to use. Choose from more than 70 languages such as Spanish, French, Korean- even Swahili. Mango uses real life situations and conversations. Mango also includes over 20 English as a second language courses. Use as a Guest or register to hold your place (and for smartphone use).
Resources
