Light at the end of the tunnel, still far away.
Due to a long debate on sales taxes on the House floor, the K-12 Budget Committee did not convene until about 1:30 in the afternoon today.
When they did gather, they went first, back to the Scott Schwab (R-Olathe) proposal to require schools to provide for ABA therapy for any child with autism whose parents requested such therapy. Schwab brought back a new version of his amendment in which he tried to address concerns raised by committee members over the last few days. This time the requirement would only apply if there was an ABA therapist within the district borders. It also spelled out language called for by the KSDE attorney regarding conflicts with the IEP. Schwab also added a state ABA therapy fund that would be filled with $4/pupil. Districts could then apply to the KSDE for reimbursement from the fund.
Questions were raised about the amount of money in the fund and the fact that it could easily be wiped out. The total would not nearly cover the costs to just Kansas City, Kansas schools if all their students requested the therapy. And if it was all taken quickly, the mandate and related costs would still apply to all students.
Eventually, the committee adopted the Schwab amendment but only after delaying its implementation for one year. Education Committee chairman Clay Aurand (R-Belleville) agreed to hold study sessions and hearings on the issue next year with the intent of deciding whether or not to keep the mandate in place, repeal it, or adjust it.
The next amendment was offered by Melissa Rooker (R-Fairway). This amendment would increase at-risk weighting in the bill from .456 to .484 and strike the provision adopted earlier to require all school districts to transfer a certain percentage of their Local Foundation Budget (what we now call LOB) to the at-risk and bilingual funds. That provision equated to a percentage which matched the percentage of at-risk students in the district.
The .484 weighting is what was recommended in an LPA study of school finance.
Aurand had the motion divided because he intended to support the increase in the weighting but oppose the striking of the transfer (that was his amendment in an earlier meeting).
On a voice vote, the Committee approved the increase in the weighting. On a division vote, the Committee approved striking the transfer on a vote of 9 to 7. This action will add an additional $21.8 million to the bill’s total. There was some discussion of making an offsetting reduction in base aid thus keeping the $150 million per year idea intact but no such motion was made.
All of this had taken us to nearly 4:00 this afternoon. There was a lot of debate! Chairman Larry Campbell (R-Olathe) called for a five-minute break but upon return from the break announced they would adjourn for now and meet again on Monday with the hope of passing out a bill.
Word under the dome is that leadership would like to reduce the price tag of the bill so that they do not have to do as much in tax and revenue reform. Of course, Jeff King, the Legislature’s counsel, has told them that the more they put in for schools, the better chance they have before the Court. Additionally, plaintiff’s attorneys suggest that the $750 million over five years in the current bill is too low and the Kansas State Board of Education has suggested an amount over $850 million.
We believe that the Committee and the Legislature as a whole should refuse to lower the amount and perhaps look at increasing it. Additionally, they should reverse the disastrous tax policies put in place by Brownback and his anti-government allies, raising enough new revenue to balance the budget, fund KPERS and highways, and meet the Court ruling in Gannon.
House Votes to Reduce Food Sales Tax in 2020
The long floor debate earlier in the day was about repealing a number of sales tax exemptions in order to pay for a 1% reduction in the food sales tax. There were two tries on the floor today, the second one succeeding. While the repeal of some current exemptions (private detectives, security services, cleaning services, and a few others) goes into effect right away the food sales tax deduction won’t happen until 2020, giving future legislatures plenty of opportunity to repeal the reduction if they don’t actually solve the structural problems with our tax system today.
Rep. Pete DeGraaf (R-Mulvane) to Resign
Conservative Representative Pete DeGraaf announced on the floor today that he will be resigning his seat by the end of the month. DeGraaf revealed that he is suffering from the effects of Parkinson’s Disease and wishes to take care of his health and family at this time. Our best wishes for Rep. DeGraaf and his family as they deal with this disease and its challenges.
