Category Archives: Publications

Lesser Prairie Chicken

The Lesser Prairie Chicken (LPC), Tympanuchus pallidicinctus, is a species of prairie grouse commonly known for its spring mating display. The LPC is found in five states throughout the southern and central high plains of the United States, including much of western Kansas. The LPC depends on prairie and grassland ecosystems, which have changed overContinue reading “Lesser Prairie Chicken”

SCOTUS Preview—October 2023 Term

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the ultimate appellate jurisdiction for all federal court cases, as well as state court cases that involve questions of Constitutional or federal law. The SCOTUS begins hearing cases in October of each year and is under no obligation to issue an opinion by a particular date.Continue reading “SCOTUS Preview—October 2023 Term”

Capital Improvement Projects in Topeka

Docking State Office Building State Finance Council Resolution 21-740 approved the renovation of the Docking State Office Building into a three-story building with office and meeting space. The renovated building will have three floors, public lobby and exhibit spaces, state agency office space, shared meeting rooms, wellness and personal health support rooms, and a fitnessContinue reading “Capital Improvement Projects in Topeka”

Right to Repair

What’s the Problem? Consumers want the ability to repair their own products, whether it be digital, medical, or agricultural equipment. Many manufacturers of those products have made instructions, diagnostics, and repair tools proprietary so that consumers can only go to the original equipment manufacturer or its authorized dealerships and technicians for replacement parts and repairContinue reading “Right to Repair”

Cryptocurrencies

What is Cryptocurrency? According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), cryptocurrency is “a type of virtual currency that uses cryptography to secure transactions that are digitally recorded on a distributed ledger, such as a blockchain.” The IRS also defines “virtual currency” as “a digital representation of value, other than a representation of the U.S. DollarContinue reading “Cryptocurrencies”

Update on the Moderate Income Housing Program

Overview The Moderate Income Housing (MIH) program targets moderate-income households making between 60.0 and 150.0 percent of area median income that do not typically qualify for federal housing assistance. The program is administered by the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC). The KHRC describes itself as a self-supporting, nonprofit, public corporation committed to helping Kansans accessContinue reading “Update on the Moderate Income Housing Program”

Health Insurance Mandates in Kansas

This article examines required insurance benefits in Kansas law, the “test track” requirements for the Legislature’s consideration of proposed mandates, and any anticipated reporting from the State Employee Health Plan (SEHP). What is a mandate? Statutes added in Kansas insurance law require certain health care providers be paid for services rendered (provider mandates) or beContinue reading “Health Insurance Mandates in Kansas”

Workers’ Compensation and Benefit Limits

History of Workers’ Compensation Workers’ compensation systems in the United States have existed since the early 20th century, with Wisconsin’s being the first in 1911 and Mississippi’s the last in 1948. Unlike other worker safety nets, such as unemployment insurance or disability benefits, workers’ compensation systems are not federally mandated. Workers’ compensation systems were historicallyContinue reading “Workers’ Compensation and Benefit Limits”

Community Support Waiver

Community Support Waiver Services The 2022 Special Committee on Intellectual and Developmental Disability Waiver Modernization (Special Committee) recommended the development of a Home and Community Based Services Community Support Waiver (CSW) to serve youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD) who need less intensive services and supports than those provided on the existingContinue reading “Community Support Waiver”

BASE and CPI-U Midwest

Background History The 1992 Legislature enacted the School District Finance and Quality Performance Act (SDFQPA) to replace the School District Equalization Act, which allowed wide disparities in tax rates and expenditures for school districts. The SDFQPA was based on a weighted student formula that provided a base amount of money per student, and also providedContinue reading “BASE and CPI-U Midwest”