Legislative
UPDATE
by Jennifer McDaniel
Find out what you need to know about the current legislative session and what
you can do to help protect the legal interests of independent Kansas agents.
J
ust days into a new Kansas legislative session,
state lawmakers were already hitting the
ground running as they build the framework
for legislation that could become law in the coming
year. Because 2017 marked the first year in a legislative
biennium (or two-year cycle), all bills considered by
legislators when they adjourned in June are open for
deliberation in 2018.
Of the 688 bills introduced last session, 570 were
carried over this year, potentially burdening
down lawmakers who have only 90 days to
introduce and guide new legislation safely
through each stage. And while issues like the
state budget and school finance have dominated
the legislative scene in recent years, proposals
potentially affecting the way independent
insurance agents do business are being
considered in Topeka.
But KAIA staff, including Dave Hulcher, executive
director, attorney Will Larson and lobbyist Dan
Murray, are carefully monitoring key issues directly
affecting independent agent members as
well as the industry itself.
“Every year, there are issues that are taken care of, and
others that are not,” Dave says, “and there is potential
legislation that we’re continuing to keep an eye on.”
Dave, Will and Dan represent the association at the
legislative level by offering education, testimony
and other resources to lawmakers. But it’s the
KAIA’s Government Affairs Committee members
who guides them in offering support
for, opposing, or remaining neutral on,
certain proposals.
“Government Affairs is the brain,” Will
explains. “They make the final decision
— what we support and what we don’t
support is based on recommendations
from the committee.”
House Bill No. 2142
A bill concerning Hulcher right now is a
proposal to consolidate health insurance
plans for school districts across the state.
Introduced during the 2017 session,
Dave Hulcher and Will Larson look over case
materials before the house committee hearing on the
bill introduced by the association.
16
KANSAS INSURANCE AGENT & BROKER | January - February 2018 |