Jayhawks for Higher Education
2006 Legislative Report
Highlights of the 2006 session are below, with references to specific legislative leaders who enabled passage of KU's legislative agenda, and deserve our thanks.
FY 2007 KU Budget-PASSED: Annual state support is critical to KU's continued success to provide students one of the most affordable and valuable college educations in the United States. The Legislature overwhelmingly passed its 2007 budget bill, which includes $140 million in state funds recommended by Gov. Sebelius for KU.
The Legislature's action approves KU's overall $482 million budget, which is supplemented by tuition, research grants, and other fees. KU leverages this $140 million state investment and funding sources into $1 billion of expenditures to boost the Kansas economy.
$5 million for the KU Cancer Center-PASSED: Gov. Sebelius recommended $5 million in funding for the KU Cancer Center as part of her budget, and this amount was part of the overall budget measure. The funding is key to securing the National Cancer Institute's designation for the KU Cancer Center as a national comprehensive cancer center to treat Kansans and conduct research.
Dr. Roy Jensen, director of the KU Cancer Center, testified before legislative committees in Topeka explaining the benefits of the cancer program. KU supporters in the House and Senate were active in the budget process in sustaining the $5 million and protecting it from legislative strings and bureaucratic red tape.
In addition to Gov. Sebelius, who led the way on the $5 million proposal, supporters in the House included Representatives Bonnie Sharp (Kansas City, Kansas); Ray Merrick (Stilwell); Carl Krehbiel (Moundridge); Paul Davis (Lawrence); Bill Feuerborn (Garnett); Tom Sawyer (Wichita); and Kevin Yoder (Overland Park).
An unfriendly amendment that would have hindered the KU Cancer Center in seeking national designation was defeated on the Senate floor by a vote of 28 to 12. Key senators were: Senate President Steve Morris (Hugoton); Derek Schmidt (Independence); Anthony Hensley (Topeka); Dwayne Umbarger (Thayer); Marci Francisco (Lawrence); David Wysong (Prairie Village); and Barbara Allen (Overland Park).
Interest Tuition Ownership-PASSED: Currently, tuition payments to KU and other Regents schools are deposited with the State of Kansas and interest from these funds accrue back to the state government, not the universities. This year, the Kansas government will retain $3.3 million from interest on KU tuition. This interest could be invested on campus.
For several years, Chancellor Hemenway led the Regents' legislative effort to convince the Legislature to return the interest back to Kansas universities and colleges. This year, his goal was achieved. KU and the other state universities united to back an amendment returning all interest on tuition funds back to the schools. State schools will use the funds to address the backlog of deferred maintenance on all campuses for the next five years.
Gaining access for better insurance coverage-PASSED: When the March microburst ravaged the Lawrence campus, KU was in Topeka, advocating for a new law that would allow Regents schools to purchase property, business, and other types of insurance. Current state law prohibits state agencies from procuring any insurance, forcing KU to forgo insurance for its valuable research assets and key buildings.
Student health insurance also was an important issue for KU during the session. Not all KU students can access their parents' health care insurance policies, and graduate students are often are forced to take a student health insurance policy available from the State of Kansas that offers poor coverage at a high cost.
The Legislature approved a comprehensive KU insurance package that gives KU the authority to purchase property and business insurance to protect those assets and operations that are vital to our alma mater. The package also gives KU the ability to negotiate with niche health insurance providers for a better student health policy that will improve student's health care coverage and a lower cost.
Two committees and key members were crucial to passage of these insurance bills. Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Jean Schodorf (Wichita), Vice Chairman Sen. John Vratil (Overland Park) and Janis Lee (Kensington) worked closely with the House Higher Education Committee led by Tom Sloan (Lawrence), Everett Johnson (Augusta) and Sydney Carlin (Manhattan)
Expediting sales of donated property-PASSED: Through the years, KU supporters have given land or other assets to KU instead of the KU Endowment Association. State law requires legislative approval of any sale of property by KU or state agency. This procedure hinders the KU's ability to sell property quickly in response to willing buyers and local real estate market conditions. The Legislature approved a bill that removes this hurdle.
To locate contact information for members of the Kansas House of Representatives mentioned in the reports above, visit the Kansas Legislature's House roster. To locate contact information on State Senators, visit the Kansas Legislature's Senate roster.
