SPONSOR: Pouche
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Transportation by a vote of 14 to 0. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules-Administrative by a vote of 8 to 0.
This bill clarifies that if there is a vacancy on the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority for a commissioner who was appointed from Platte County or Clay County, the mayor of Kansas City must appoint a successor from the panel, with the approval of a majority of the members of the Kansas City Council, submitted by the county commission of the county wherein the vacancy occurred.
This bill is the same as HB 1634 (2024).
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this maintains the integrity of how the Kansas City Transportation Authority is made up. For two of the positions, county commissioners recommend candidates and the mayor appoints a new member. In the last decade or so, the mayor has picked people other than the candidates recommended by the counties, and sometimes not even county residents. The bill clarifies and helps ensure the original intent of the statute is followed and the people are properly represented. This bill acts as a check on the mayor of Kansas City's power.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Pouche; and Arnie Dienoff.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
OTHERS: Others testifying on the bill say before the current mayor, the process clarified by the bill was followed. It is only recently that there have been issues. Attempts are being made at multiple levels of government to fix the issue so that the mayor won't simply pick his own people for these positions.
Testifying in person on the bill was Kansas City Area Transportation Authority.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: