Government relations at Sedgwick County plays an integral role in the legislative process by communicating issues of primary importance in Sedgwick County at the local, state and federal levels.

2024 Sedgwick County Legislative Platform

The following are legislative issues that will enable Sedgwick County to continue to maintain the high level of service and programs to the citizens of our County.

APPROPRIATIONS

COMCARE:

  • Increase Inpatient Beds for Substance Abuse Treatment. A 10% increase in funding for inpatient beds at a cost of approximately $1.5 million would create an additional 40 patient beds in Sedgwick County for intermediate inpatient treatment and 150 patient beds for social detox treatment.
  • Provide $2.2 million to address the need for medical detox services for the uninsured.
  • Support $15 million for mental crisis in-patient beds.

Community Developmental Disability Organization:

  • Support Interhab:

    • Request to restore $5 million in State General Fund and $560,000 in State Aid to the KDADS budget.
    • Request to develop and implement a multi-year strategy to eliminate the State’s waiting list of more than 5,000 adults and children and stop waiting list growth while strategy is deployed.
    • Request to adopt an annual adjustment process for IDD funding to keep pace with cost increases.
    • Request to develop strategies to assist the IDD system in supporting individuals with complex needs, such as behavioral health, age-related illnesses, and high physical care needs.

Corrections - Adult Corrections

  • Support the Secretary of KDOC’s request to add $5 million to the SFY 2024 budget for community corrections.

Health Department

  • Support KALHD request for an additional $1.4 million in Aid to Local funding and changing KSA 65-242 to a base plus population allocation model. This represents approximately $275,000 locally,

POLICY

Corrections - Juvenile Corrections

  • Amend SB 228 to add Juvenile Detention Facilities:
    • SB 228 directs the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) to reimburse counties for costs related to holding a person in custody while awaiting examination, evaluation, or treatment to restore competency to stand trial.
  • Amend the juvenile offender code regarding placement issues, specifically:
    • KSA 38-2361 (k)-to clarify responsibilities for placement expenses, including identified treatment needs and establish short-term alternative placements regionally throughout the state.
    • KSA 38-2369 (e)-allows for placement in a youth residential facility. Clarity is lacking on the responsibility for the placement.
    • KSA 38-2399-allows the KDOC to contract for residential placement beds. Clarity is lacking on the process, timeline and connection to appropriate sentencing options connected to these beds.

Division of Finance

  • Amend SB13 (Revenue Neutral Rate law) to allow for adjustments to the revenue-neutral rate to account for mill levy rates set by law and rates levied on behalf of other political or governmental subdivisions.

DUIs

  • Support reinstating the required assessment and involvement with community-based multi-disciplinary care coordination services designed to assist in connecting to Recovery Oriented System of Care for 3rd DUI misdemeanors and 3rd & subsequent DUI felonies.

Health Department

  • Remove mandate on Local Health Officers for school sanitary inspections. Make optional in K.S.A. 65-202 or by removing 65-201 and 65-202 from the exemptions for home rule to allow counties to charter out. 

Human Resources

  • KPERS 3 - Provide a better option for KPERS 3 members.
  • KSA 74-4914 - Amend KSA 74-4914 for exception to the KPERS penalty for any retiree being hired into a KPERS covered position.

 MABCD

  • SB 52 (2021) - Extend sunset provisions of the Sedgwick County Urban Area Nuisance Abatement Act contained within K.S.A. 19-26,120 and allow this authority to remain in place.

MAPD

  • Amend K.S.A. 66-2019 to allow local governments to consider cell tower zoning and conditional use cases using the same factors outlined by the Kansas appellate courts for all other zoning and conditional use cases.

Property Tax

  • Ease property tax burden for Sedgwick County taxpayers through reductions to the State’s 21.5 mill levy rate in lieu of LAVTR and CCRS funding.

Public Works

  • KSA 68-521 prohibits accepting a bid that is more than 110% over the Engineer’s estimate. This forces counties to create engineer’s estimates that are above market rates, and therefore, not a source to set the tone for a reasonable bid. We ask that county commissions have the authority to accept a bid above 110% at their discretion.
  • KSA 68-1106 requires the passage of a specific resolution every time the county share of a project exceeds $250,000. We recommend exempting those projects included in a formally approved multi-year capital improvement plan per K.S.A 19-120.

Suspended Driver’s License Law 

  • A Criminal Justice Reform review of the minimum sentencing guidelines and the Forever Lookback Law.

Zoo

  • Propose the enactment of legislation providing for the Sedgwick County Zoological Society, Inc. license plate.