Changes in KCJIS Committee head to Governor

From Brad Gilges, KCJIS Committee APCO Representative - SB402, the KCJIS Bill passed by the House last Thursday by a vote ov 123-0, and now goes to Governor Brownback for signing.  One major change in the Bill is that KSAPCO is now a member of the committee instead of the 911 Providers Association.  For information on the bill go to http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2013_14/measures/documents/sb402_00_0000.pdf  and http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2013_14/measures/documents/supp_note_sb402_00_0000.pdf.

Governor's Council seeking trainers

From Kim Pennington, Director of Sedgwick County Emergency Communications - For the past year, I have been working on the Governor’s Advisory Council for Domestic Violence as the Communications Specialist Subcommittee Chair. This group has worked hard to develop a curriculum that speaks specifically to dispatchers and call takers. We would like to have regional trainers so this can be deployed in all parts of the state. By having regional trainers, we reduce the travel burden to the agencies and personnel.  If you or someone in your agency is interested, please apply at the following link by April 18^th, 2014.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GTEAPRegionalTrainerApp2014

Bill may impact charges for open records

From the Kansas Association of Counties - SB 10 was heard last year (2013) in the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee and many county and city officials came out to oppose the legislation, which created new requirements that we provide free services and copies under the Kansas Open Records Act.  It did not move last session.  Suddenly this year it is worked and amended –without any notice in the calendar that the bill would be worked this session – and passed out.  It passed the full senate last week.  The bill does the following:

• No charge is allowed for a records request that can be fulfilled with less than an hour of staff or if the request is fewer than 25 pages.
• Sets a per-page fee of $.25 for copies, with additional fees set out in the bill.
• Set forth the fee for attorneys reviewing the records request at $60 per hour; IT at $38 per hour; and clerical staff time at $18 per hour.
• Strikes from the law the ability of the public agency to charge the costs of accessing copying services outside the agency.
• Requires under the Open Meetings Act that the presiding officer must ensure that minutes are taken, and the Kansas Secretary of State determines the format of the minutes.

 We are asking that Representative Steve Brunk, who chairs the House Federal and State Affairs Committee, not take any action without first holding a hearing on this bill. We want the House members to hear local government’s concerns.  Please let Chairman Brunk know—and others on the committee—that this bill should not move when it creates new requirements on local government and there has been no hearing on the current contents of the bill.  Names and contact information for the full committee can be found at:

http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2013_14/committees/ctte_h_fed_st_1/

KSAPCO returning to two conferences in 2015

The KS Chapter of APCO will return to a 2 conference format for 2015.

The board is actively looking for interested persons who will be willing to participate In the training/conference committee for the Spring/Fall 2015 Conferences.

Hosts and sites will need to be selected as soon as possible.

If you are interested, have the time and are prepared to actively participate—

Please contact 2^nd Vice President Josh Michaelis at   jmichaelis@rcsoks.org