Commerce, Labor & Economic Development - Livestream link
The committee held a fascinating briefing on rural economic development, with three presentations arranged by committee members:
We also held a number of hearings on bills:
- HB 2168 creates the Ad Astra Rural Jobs Act, which authorizes a 20% income tax credit for investments in approved investment companies that create job opportunities in rural areas.
- HB 2183 would require employers, upon request of an employee, to provide a statement to the employee showing all itemized deductions made from the employee’s wages each day that wages are paid.
- Currently, local governments cannot enact any ordinance that requires an employer to provide leave from work, compensation for leave, compensation at a higher rate than the minimum wage, or any benefit other than what’s required by state and federal law. HB 2185 removes those prohibitions.
Taxation
The committee worked hard last week and this week to create and pass the tax bill discussed above. it’s time to restore revenue to our state because it cannot perform the basic functions required of it under the current funding mechanism. “Just” fixing the LLC tax break will only fix about 30% of the problem – reinstating the 3rd tax bracket and halting the “March to Zero” were the bulk of the revenue challenge. If this bill were to be signed into law “as-is” today, your income taxes would still be at least 1% lower than they were in 2012.
Veterans & Military
Under current law, money raised from the sale of veterans’ benefit lottery tickets goes to the State General Fund (SGF). SGF money is then transferred to the Kansas Army and Air National Guard for educational assistance scholarships. The Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs also receives money for state nursing homes, cemeteries and the enhanced service delivery program. HB 2196 would create two new funds, and money raised by the sale of veterans’ lottery tickets would go directly into those funds instead of the SGF and could not be transferred to SGF. From there, the funds would be distributed as under current law.
Under HB 2257, recipients of the Army Occupation Medal and the Navy Occupation Service Medal (and their spouses) could purchase new, distinctive license plates in their honor under this legislation. The creation of the plate would raise an estimated $72,300 for the State Highway Fund, before costs.
The committee met to discuss legislation (HB 2174) that would make a veteran eligible for the disabled veteran license plate if the veteran submits satisfactory proof to the director of vehicles that he or she has a disability, condition or impairment that is permanent in nature. Under current law, a veteran is only eligible for these special plates if he or she is entitled to compensation for a service-connected disability of at least 50 percent.