Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

SESSION OF 2023
    SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON SENATE BILL NO. 163
            As Recommended by Senate Committee on
                     Local Government

Brief*
     SB 163 would establish the Dwayne Peaslee Technical
Training Center District Act (Section 1).

Election Question (Section 3)
      The bill would require the board of county
commissioners (commission) of Douglas County to submit
the following question to the voters of Douglas County at the
next primary election or general election or at a special
election:
         Shall a Dwayne Peaslee Technical Training
         Center district be established and authorized
         to levy a tax not to exceed 0.5 mills on all
         taxable tangible property located in the district
         to fund the budget of the Dwayne Peaslee
         Technical Training Center as determined by
         the board of directors of the district?
    Upon approval by a majority of county voters, the bill
would dissolve the existing board of directors for Dwayne
Peaslee Technical Training Center (Center), and require the
commission to establish, by resolution:
     ●      The first seven-member board (board) of directors;
     ●      The criteria for serving on the board; and
____________________
*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
     ●    The term of office for members of the first board.
Board of Directors (Sections 3, 5, 7)
     The bill would bestow the following responsibilities and
obligations on the board:
     ●    For the first board only, selecting board officers and
          determining the method of selection and term of
          future board members;
     ●    Electing a chairperson, secretary, and treasurer
          annually;
     ●    Determining the date and location of regular
          meetings annually; and
     ●    Preparing and publishing an annual budget for
          maintenance and support of the district in
          accordance with Kansas statute regarding taxing
          subdivisions of the state.
      The bill would require the treasurer to give bond in an
amount fixed by the board and filed with the Douglas County
clerk. It would specify duties of the treasurer: to pay out funds
on orders of the board, keep accurate records of all moneys
received and disbursed, and make monthly reports;
      The bill would authorize the board to levy a tax of no
more than 0.5 mills on all taxable tangible property in the
district to fund the budget. The bill would specify the tax
would be levied and collected in the same manner as other
taxes, be kept in a separate fund, and not be considered a
tax levy of Douglas County or the city of Lawrence.

District Responsibilities and Powers (Sections 4, 6)
    The bill would state all contracts previously entered into
by the Center shall be binding on the district, and all
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outstanding bonds, debts, and other obligations of the Center
shall become an obligation of the district as well.
      The bill would make the district a body corporate and
politic and authorize the district to:
     ●    Enter into contracts;
     ●    Sue and be sued;
     ●    Acquire, hold, and convey real and personal
          property;
     ●    Make and adopt rules and regulations for the
          administration of the district;
     ●    Lease sites and buildings for district purposes;
     ●    Acquire necessary material and equipment for the
          maintenance and extension of the center;
     ●    Employ persons as the board deems necessary;
     ●    Receive, accept, and administer moneys
          appropriated or granted to it by the State, federal
          government, or private industry;
     ●    Receive, accept, and administer any gift or
          donation to the district; and
     ●    Make annual reports to the board of county
          commissioners of Douglas County, on or before
          January 31 for the previous calendar year.
Background
     The bill was introduced by the Senate Committee on
Local Government at the request of Senator Francisco.


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Senate Committee on Local Government
     In the Senate Committee hearing, Senator Francisco
and a representative of the Dwayne Peaslee Technical
Training Center provided proponent testimony. The
proponents noted the Center is supported by Douglas County
and the city of Lawrence ,and passage of the ballot question
and establishment of the district would provide ongoing
county financial support.
      No other testimony was provided.

Fiscal Information
      According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget, the Secretary of State indicates enactment of the
bill would not have a fiscal effect. The Kansas Department of
Revenue also indicates enactment of the bill would not have
a fiscal effect.
       The Kansas Association of Counties indicates Douglas
County would no longer be responsible for taxing to fund the
Dwayne Peaslee Technical Training Center, as the bill would
create the new district with its own taxing authority for the
territory within Douglas County.
    Any fiscal effect is not reflected in The FY 2024
Governor’s Budget Report.

Dwayne Peaslee Technical Training Center; election question; Douglas County; mill
levy; tax district


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