SESSION OF 2024
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2760
As Amended by Senate Committee on Ways
and Means

Brief*
HB 2760 would abolish the Kansas Commission on
Veterans Affairs Office (KCVAO), create the Kansas Office of
Veterans Services (KOVS), and make other changes relating
to the transfer of powers, duties, and functions. The bill would
also update the Veterans Claims Assistance Program (VCAP)
to include references to the federal Department of Veterans
Affairs medical centers and cross accreditation requirements.

Transfer of Powers, Duties, and Functions to the KOVS
(New Section 1)
The bill would abolish the KCVAO. All powers, duties,
and functions of the agency and the KCVAO Director would
be transferred to the KOVS and the KOVS Director. The bill
would rename the KCVAO as the KOVS. The bill would deem
references to KCVAO in statutes, contracts, or other
documents as applicable to the KOVS.
[Note: From 1986 until 2014, the KCVAO was known as
the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs and was
governed by a commission. In 2014, the Commission was
abolished and all powers, duties, and functions were
conferred upon the then renamed KCVAO.]


____________________
*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
Establishment of the KOVS (New Section 2)
The bill would establish the KOVS within the executive
branch of government. Only a veteran who is appointed by
the Governor and confirmed by the Kansas Senate would be
permitted to serve as the KOVS Director. Under the bill, the
KOVS Director would serve at the pleasure of the Governor in
unclassified service and receive an annual salary fixed by the
Governor. The KOVS Director would supervise the
administration of all budgeting, purchasing, and related
management functions of the agency.

Statutory Responsibilities (New Section 3)
The bill would confer the current responsibilities of the
KCVAO to the KOVS.
Under current law, the KCVAO is responsible for
providing information and advice on available veterans
programs and services to veterans, their relatives, and their
dependents. The programs and services coordinated by the
agency include those in the fields of education, health care,
mental care, economic security, and vocational guidance. The
agency is also responsible for operating the Kansas Soldiers’
Home and the Kansas Veterans’ Home.

Veterans Claims Assistance Program Service Grant
Requirements (Section 23)
The bill would replace references to the obsolete federal
Veterans Administration with references to the federal
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This means that in order
to be eligible to participate in the annual VCAP service grant,
veterans service organizations (VSOs) would be required to
have a presence at the federal VA regional office or medical
center in Wichita, as well as each VA medical center
operating in Topeka and Leavenworth.

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 Moreover, the bill would specify that VCAR training be
conducted by qualified trainers, rather than qualified veterans
claims assistance representatives. An individual who wishes
to be an accredited VCAR would be required to provide proof
to the KCVAO that such an individual successfully completed
the VA Office Training, Responsibility, Involvement, and
Preparation of Claims course.
Under current law, the VCAP requires the KCVAO to
administer annual service grants to eligible VSOs. The
service grants are used to train veterans who wish to become
accredited veterans claims assistance representatives
(VCARs).Accredited VCARs are statutorily able to assist
other veterans and their dependents in filing claims with the
federal government for earned benefits.

Technical Amendments (Sections 4-60)
The bill would make technical amendments to ensure
consistency in statutory phrasing and to remove outdated
language. The bill would also replace references in continuing
law to the KCVAO with references to the KOVS. Finally, the
bill would repeal statutes regarding the establishment of the
KCVAO and its duties.

Background
The Senate Committee on Ways and Means inserted
the contents of HB 2623 into HB 2760 while retaining the
contents of HB 2760.

HB 2760
The bill was introduced by the House Committee on
Veterans and Military at the request of a representative of the
KCVAO.

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House Committee on Veterans and Military
In the House Committee hearing on February 13, 2024,
proponent testimony was provided by Representative Hill
and a representative of the KCVAO. The proponents
generally noted that the bill would change the name of the
agency from the KCVAO to the KOVS which would better
reflect the agency’s mission to serve veterans and, in turn,
increase awareness of the agency among veterans.
No other testimony was provided.
Senate Committee on Ways and Means
In the Senate Committee hearing on March 12, 2024,
proponent testimony was provided by a representative of the
KCVAO. The proponent stated that the bill would alleviate
confusion amongst members of the public who mistakenly
believe that the KCVAO is part of the federal VA. The
proponent further testified that changing the name of the
agency from KCVAO to KOVS would allow the agency’s
mission to serve veterans to be more well known.
No other testimony was provided.
The Senate Committee amended the bill to add the
provisions of HB 2623, a bill to update the VCAP.

HB 2623
The bill was introduced by the House Committee on
Veterans and Military at the request of a representative of the
KCVAO.
House Committee on Veterans and Military
In the House Committee hearing on February 8, 2024,
proponent testimony was provided by Representative S.
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Ruiz and representatives of the KCVAO and the Military
Officers Association of America (MOAA). The proponents
generally noted that the bill would allow the KCVAO to partner
with numerous other organizations recognized by and
approved by the VA to provide veteran service representative
training. In addition, the representative from the MOAA
testified that the bill would lead to an increase in the number
of submitted claims, which, in turn, could lead to an increase
in the amount of federal benefits paid to veterans in Kansas.
No other testimony was provided.
Senate Committee on Ways and Means
In the Senate Committee hearing on March 12, 2024,
proponent testimony was provided by a representative of the
KCVAO. The proponent stated that the bill would allow the
KCVAO and partner VSOs in VCAP to work with a wider
variety of accredited and federally approved training
organizations. The proponent further stated that the updated
references to medical centers would allow VCAP partners to
occupy work spaces in the federal VA Medical Centers and
the new VA Regional Office in Wichita. This could result in an
increase in the number of VCARs in Kansas who assist
veterans in filing claims for earned benefits.
No other testimony was provided.

Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal notes prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bills, as introduced, the bills would have a
negligible fiscal effect on the agency.
The KCVAO states that enactment of HB 2760, as
introduced, would require $18,000, all from the State General
Fund (SGF), in both FY 2025 and FY 2026. However, the
agency states that SGF appropriations from their Kansas
Cemeteries Program and Veteran Services Program will be
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utilized and no additional appropriations will be needed. The
agency reports that a complete inventory of all KCVAO
locations was performed to develop a consolidated list of
items that would need to be reimaged with the new agency
name. The agency would intend to purchase the new signage
over a two-year period. This would allow the agency time to
develop and receive approval for the office seal used on
signage. The agency also notes that the majority of the
signage is approximately $50 per item for window stickers,
office signs, etc. Each cemetery has a large (40 inch) bronze
medallion located at the entrance to all cemeteries that would
cost an estimated $8,000 per seal to update. The agency
would also seek other options to explore lower cost
alternatives for the seals. Additionally, KCVAO would work
with its website vendor to update the name and logo on the
agency website. Any fiscal effect associated with HB 2760 is
not reflected in The FY 2025 Governor’s Budget Report.
Furthermore, the KCVAO states that enactment of HB
2623, as introduced, would have no fiscal effect on the
agency.
Veterans and military; Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs Office; Kansas Office
of Veterans Services; veterans affairs; veterans services; Veterans Claims
Assistance Program; VCAP; Veterans Affairs medical centers


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Statutes affected:
As introduced: 21-6630, 32-934, 39-923, 65-1732, 65-2418, 73-209, 73-210, 73-210a, 73-230, 73-1209, 73-1210a, 73-1208a, 73-1211, 73-1217, 73-1218, 73-1222, 73-1223, 75-3223, 73-1225, 73-1231, 73-1232, 73-1233, 73-1234, 73-1235, 73-1236, 73-1238, 73-1239, 73-1241, 73-1242, 73-1243, 74-2012, 75-3370, 75-3740, 75-4362, 76-6b05, 76-1904, 76-1904a, 59-2239, 76-1906, 76-1908, 76-1936, 76-1927, 76-1928, 76-1929, 76-1931, 76-1932, 76-1935, 76-1935a, 76-1939, 76-1941, 76-1951, 76-1952, 76-1953, 76-1954, 76-1958, 76-1955, 76-1956, 76-1957, 77-440, 77-415, 79-3221k
As Amended by Senate Committee: 21-6630, 32-934, 39-923, 65-1732, 65-2418, 73-209, 73-210, 73-210a, 73-230, 73-1209, 73-1210a, 73-1208a, 73-1211, 73-1217, 73-1218, 73-1222, 73-1223, 75-3223, 73-1225, 73-1231, 73-1232, 73-1233, 73-1234, 73-1235, 73-1236, 73-1238, 73-1239, 73-1241, 73-1242, 73-1243, 74-2012, 75-3370, 75-3740, 75-4362, 76-6b05, 76-1904, 76-1904a, 59-2239, 76-1906, 76-1908, 76-1936, 76-1927, 76-1928, 76-1929, 76-1931, 76-1932, 76-1935, 76-1935a, 76-1939, 76-1941, 76-1951, 76-1952, 76-1953, 76-1954, 76-1958, 76-1955, 76-1956, 76-1957, 77-440, 77-415, 79-3221k
Enrolled - Law effective July 1, 2024: 8-160, 8-243, 8-1324, 21-6630, 32-934, 39-923, 44-706, 48-3401, 48-3407, 7-103, 48-3408, 48-3601, 50-676, 65-1116, 65-1117, 65-1732, 65-2418, 65-6129, 73-201, 73-209, 73-210, 73-210a, 73-230, 73-1209, 73-1210a, 73-1208a, 73-1211, 73-1217, 73-1218, 73-1222, 73-1223, 75-3223, 73-1225, 73-1231, 73-1232, 73-1233, 73-1234, 73-1235, 73-1236, 73-1238, 73-1239, 73-1241, 73-1242, 73-1243, 74-2012, 75-3370, 75-3740, 75-4362, 76-6b05, 76-1904, 76-1904a, 59-2239, 76-1906, 76-1908, 76-1936, 76-1927, 76-1928, 76-1929, 76-1931, 76-1932, 76-1935, 76-1935a, 76-1939, 76-1941, 76-1951, 76-1952, 76-1953, 76-1954, 76-1958, 76-1955, 76-1956, 76-1957, 77-440, 77-415, 79-3221k, 79-4502