SESSION OF 2023
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON SENATE BILL NO. 63
As Amended by Senate Committee on
Transparency and Ethics

Brief*
SB 63, as amended, would amend the Campaign
Finance Act to establish family caregiving services as an
exception to the prohibition on campaign contributions being
used or made available for the personal use of the candidate.
Family caregiving service expenses would be allowable
as campaign expenses when the expenses are incurred as a
result of the candidate’s candidacy or holding office and are
directly related to or have an effect on the candidate’s
campaign activities or duties as an officeholder.
The bill would define “family caregiving services” as the
provision of care for an immediate family member of the
candidate who is younger than age 13, disabled, or qualifies
for services under the Kansas Senior Care Act. The bill would
define “immediate family member” to mean a spouse, parent,
stepparent, grandparent, sibling, child, stepchild, grandchild,
or former spouse who resides in the same residence as the
candidate.
The bill would exclude family caregiving services from
the definition of “expenditures for personal use” in the
Campaign Finance Act.


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*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
http://www.kslegislature.org
Background
The bill was introduced by Senators Corson, Blasi,
Claeys, O’Shea, Pittman, and Straub.
[Note: Provisions of this bill as introduced are those of
2022 SB 485, as amended by the Senate Committee on
Transparency and Ethics.]

Senate Committee on Transparency and Ethics
In the Senate Committee hearing, Senator Corson and a
representative of Vote Mama Foundation provided
proponent testimony. They stated enactment of the bill would
allow more working parents and caregivers to seek and hold
office. They noted the use of campaign funds for this purpose
would be voluntary, and similar provisions are in place in 28
states. Written-only proponent testimony was provided by
representatives of the Kansas Future Caucus, League of
Kansas Municipalities, and United WE.
Neutral testimony was provided by a representative of
the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission (KGEC), who
stated child care expenses were established as an
acceptable use of campaign funds in a KGEC advisory
opinion in 2018, and the bill would place this use into statute,
allow use for care for those who have a disability or require
senior care, and set an age limit regarding child care.
No other testimony was provided.
The Senate Committee amended the bill to remove “any
individual living in the same residence” from the definition of
immediate family member. The Senate Committee also
amended the bill to specify that the definition of family
caregiving services would include the provision of care for an
immediate family member who qualifies for services under
the Kansas Senior Care Act.

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Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill as introduced, the Office of the
Secretary of State and the KGEC indicate enactment of the
bill would have no fiscal effect on the Office or the KGEC,
respectively.


Campaign Finance Act; campaign expense; caregiving services; family expenses


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Statutes affected:
As introduced: 25-4157a
As Amended by Senate Committee: 25-4157a