March 10, 2015
Legislative update March 10
In legislative action last week, the Senate Ways and Means Committee passed the subcommittee report recommending budget cuts for Fiscal Years 2016 and 2017 for Kansas State University. While considering the recommendations of the subcommittee, the committee approved a review of the recommendations for the K-State main campus and College of Veterinary Medicine later in the session when considering the omnibus budget bill. This motion for review was not made for proposed budget cuts to K-State Research and Extension, however could still occur in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Specifically, the recommendations were to delete $2.1 million in each fiscal year from the state general fund for the main campus; $949,476 from K-State Research and Extension and $146,270 from the College of Veterinary Medicine.
There is considerable time left in the current session, including actions by the House, which can affect the final budget process. The House previously voted to accept the governor's recommendations of a flat budget.
Read the statement on the budget from President Kirk Schulz.
Read a statement on the budget from John Floros, dean of the College of Agriculture and director of K-State Research and Extension.
This week in the Kansas Legislative Committees, the recommendations to repeal the current K-12 school finance formula and replace the formula with a block grant to local schools.
Also this week, the House Education Committee will hear comments from representatives of state universities on three issues, sexual assault policies on campus, faculty using their names and titles in newspapers, and the state law that allows students whose parents are not legal U.S. citizens to attend higher education institutions in Kansas. Maureen Redeker, General Counsel's Office, and Scott Jones, Office of Student Life, both from Kansas State University, will present information on the university's policies and programs on sexual assault to the members of the House Education Committee.
For information on these issues or to sign up for bill tracking on bills impacting higher education or state government, please send a request to kstategr@k-state.edu.