JOHN HANNA, AP Political Writer

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators hope the state is collecting as much in taxes this month as expected or even a little more. But they acknowledge a month of stable revenues won’t make closing a projected budget shortfall much easier.

The state Department of Revenue planned to release its monthly report on tax collections Friday.

From the start of the current fiscal year in July 2014 through January, the $3.3 billion in tax collections were $66 million short of expectations, or about 1.5 percent.

Department spokeswoman Jeannine Koranda said Thursday it was still too early to tell whether revenues would meet expectations.

The lower-than-anticipated revenues are a factor in the projected deficit of nearly $600 million in the state budget for the next fiscal year beginning July 1.

By Amelia Arvesen
KU Statehouse Wire Service

TOPEKA — The Kansas House approved legislation Thursday that would allow people convicted of driving under the influence a chance to clear the DUI from court records five years after completion of a sentence.

The bill would allow felony DUI violators and test-refusal violators to petition a judge five years after initial conviction for expungement, or deletion of the public record.

Under current law, the waiting period for DUI cases handled in municipal court is 10 years and the waiting period for those cases in state court is seven years.

The reform measure was sent to the Senate on a vote of 70-53.

Rep. John Carmichael (D-Wichita) said the purpose of expungement is to encourage further good behavior and give people a second chance.

“If they abide by the law then it comes off their record for purpose of employment, for example,” Carmichael said. “It doesn’t come off their record if they should mess up again.”

Unwavering opposition came from Rep. John Rubin (R-Shawnee) who said shielding mistakes from prospective employers and the public sends the wrong message to drunk drivers.

“We should in no way ever be lessening the penalties for drunk driving or granting any leeway to drunk drivers clearing their records anymore than we already allow under the current statutes,” Rubin said.

Rep. Jack Thimesch (R-Cunningham), who introduced the bill, clarified the law would not change any statute on how the person is penalized.

The law would simply allow a person to petition for the removal. Law enforcement could still access previous violations should that person drive under the influence on multiple occasions.

Amelia Arvesen is a University of Kansas senior from San Ramon, Calif., majoring in journalism.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Senate has given first-round approval to a bill that would move city and local school board elections from the spring to the fall of odd-numbered years.

Senators advanced the bill on a voice vote and expected to take final action Thursday night.

Supporters of the measure argue that it will increase turnout in local elections because people are used to voting in November.

City and school board elections currently are held in April, with primaries in late February or early March. Turnout is often low.

But critics of the bill said there’s no compelling reason for a change and that it will cause administrative problems for local officials.

Also, city elections must be nonpartisan now, and the bill would allow cities to make them partisan.

MARTHA MENDOZA, AP National Writer

Facebook users who don’t fit any of the 58 gender identity options offered by the social media giant are now being given a rather big 59th option: fill in the blank.

A Facebook announcement published online Thursday morning and shared in advance with The Associated Press tells users that if they do not identify with the pre-populated list of gender identities, they can add their own.

Facebook software engineer Ari Chivukula, who identifies as transgender and was part of the team that made the free-form option, says the change may lead to more widespread acceptance.

Last February, Facebook expanded gender identity from male and female to a list of dozens of options, including Androgyne, Gender Fluid and Transgender. Those choices will all still be available.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Kansas senators have expressed skepticism over the usefulness of Gov. Sam Brownback’s Rural Opportunity Zones program.

The Hutchinson News reports that the Republican and Democratic lawmakers are questioning whether the program, which is designed to pull people into the state’s rural areas, will actually bolster rural economies.

The program, which covers 77 counties that make up a large portion of western and southeastern Kansas, provides incentives like student loan forgiveness and waived income taxes to persuade people to move to rural areas.

The Department of Revenue estimates that 330 people will receive income tax waivers for 2014, which will cost the state about $800,000 in revenue.

Chris Harris of the Business and Community Development Division of the Kansas Department of Commerce said those individuals will have an economic impact of $44 million in the state.

WESTMORELAND, Kan. (AP) — A sheriff in northeastern Kansas’ Pottawatomie County says foul play isn’t suspected in the death of a 24-year-old jail inmate.

Sheriff Greg Riat says 25-year-old Andrew J. Brown of Wamego was pronounced dead at a hospital early Wednesday shortly after being found unresponsive in his cell by a jailer.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is handling the case.

Specifics about why Brown was jailed were not immediately disclosed.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Senate has given first-round approval to a proposal described by supporters as refinancing part of the long-term debt facing the pension system for teachers and government workers.

The bill advanced Thursday would authorize $1 billion in bonds to shore up the financial health of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System. Senators expected to take a final vote late in the day.

The pension system projects a $9.8 billion shortfall in funding for retirees’ benefits through June 2033. Lawmakers have moved in recent years to close the gap, but the bill would give KPERS an infusion of funds quickly.

The measure anticipates the state taking 10 years longer, until 2043, to close the shortfall while reducing the state’s annual costs. Critics questioned whether such a move is prudent.

By Amelia Arvesen
KU Statehouse Wire Service

TOPEKA — A Johnson County senator backed legislation in a hearing Tuesday that would require postsecondary schools to produce a financial analysis of degree programs offered, costing institutions $6.6 million for the first year.

Senate Bill 193 would require 32 Kansas Board of Regents universities, community colleges and technical colleges to summarize information and statistics including expenses, salary percentages, average amount of time between graduation and full-time employment, and average amount of time to repay loans.

Sen. Jeff Melcher (R-Leawood) said the bill would provide prospective students and parents a tool to compare costs and information not compiled by a school’s marketing department.

“Across the board they can make a comparison that is considered to be non-biased in just factual information,” Melcher said.

No one testified against the bill, but Sen. Marci Francisco (D-Lawrence) and Sen. Laura Kelly (D-Topeka) wondered if presenting the total expenses and time to repay a loan might deter prospective students from considering certain institutions.

“That cost is still there whether you borrowed the money or whether you paid cash for it,” Melcher said.

In 2014, 43,394 degrees were awarded from state universities, Washburn University, community colleges and technical colleges. Andy Tompkins, president and chief executive officer of KBOR, said the bill would require a major investment of time to collect the information.

The fiscal impact totals an estimated $6.6 million. Of that, $2.3 million includes operating costs and additional staff needed to update the data each year. The other $4.3 million would come from institutions offering each graduate $100 as an incentive to provide information needed for the prospectus.

Data would also come straight from the institutions -such as calculated tuition, room and board, and books- and from KBOR research such as labor statistics.

Dave Trabert, president of the Kansas Policy Institute, a conservative think tank located in Wichita, said it is worth the investment because the documents would become useful tools for students and parents to determine what school fits their financial means.

“You can get the same degree from one university to another,” Trabert said. “One is going to cost you a great deal more.”
The bill requires the compiled information to be made readily available on the institution’s website homepage, titled “Degree Prospectus” and provided to each student who requests a electronic or hard copy.

No action was taken on the bill.

Amelia Arvesen is a University of Kansas senior from San Ramon, Calif. studying journalism.