The bill addresses the certification of operators for water supply systems and wastewater treatment facilities in Kansas. It introduces several key changes, including the addition of members to the public water supply advisory committee and a requirement for the secretary of health and environment to submit an annual report to the legislature detailing the number and pass rates of operator examinations over the previous two years. The bill also stipulates that fees for operator certification examinations cannot exceed the actual cost of the examinations, and it removes the requirement for certification through correspondence courses.

Additionally, the bill amends existing statutes related to public water supply permits, requiring detailed applications for construction and modifications, and establishes a program for annual certification by qualified public water supply systems. It creates an advisory committee to provide recommendations on various matters, including fees and operator certification standards, and mandates that the committee meet at least four times a year. The bill also repeals certain existing statutes related to operator examination fees, replacing them with a new fee structure that caps individual examination fees at $200 or the cost of the exam, whichever is less.

Statutes affected:
As introduced: 65-4513, 65-4506
As Amended by House Committee: 65-4506, 65-163, 65-4513