Join Us for the LeadingAge Kansas Day at the Legislature on February 8th in Topeka
For the first time in several years we are hosting an in-person day at the Capitol for LeadingAge Kansas members. Come join us and make your voice heard on long term care funding and workforce issues! Register Today
The Legislative Session Begins
The Kansas Legislature gaveled into session on Monday afternoon with brand new leadership in the House of Representatives and some new Legislative Committee shake-ups. The House Children and Seniors Committee dropped the seniors focus, and is now the House Committee on Child Welfare and Foster Care. The new Chair of the House Social Services Budget Committee is Rep. Les Mason (R-McPherson) and the new Chair of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee is Senator Beverly Gossage (R-Eudora).
The first week of session usually starts with the Governor’s annual State of the State address, however it has been delayed to January 24th due to Governor Kelly’s COVID-19 diagnosis. The Governor’s Budget is also released the first week of session, and thankfully, that was not delayed. More details below.
Governor’s State Budget Recommendations
Prior to the presentation of Governor Kelly’s budget recommendations to House and Senate members, an updated Consensus Revenue Estimate was reviewed by the head of Kansas Legislative Research. The CRE predicts a $2.3 billion budget surplus in state fiscal year 2023 and a $3.2 billion surplus in SFY 2024. The CRE staff did emphasize a cautious approach to the new estimates and highlighted inflation-related uncertainty.
The Governor’s budget recs contain both big ticket spending and tax cuts, including an immediate elimination of the state sales tax on food. Read the Budget presentation from State Budget Director Adam Proffitt.
Governor Kelly’s KDADS funding recommendations start on page 105 of the FY 2024 Governor’s Budget Report Volume 1.
Highlights for aging services providers:
- 5% nursing facility rate adjustment of $37.5 million from all funding sources, including $14.7 million from the State General Fund.
- FY 2023 funding for PACE totals $52.5 million and SFY 2024 funding is $58.4 million.
- $4 million to support the implementation of a fully automated CARE assessment and evaluation program for the State of Kansas.
- $15.7 million for FY 2023 and $15.2 million FY 2024 for the Senior Nutrition Program. This level of funding will provide nutrition grants for approximately 3.1 million meals for 35,000 elderly individuals under the Older Americans Act Meals Program
LeadingAge Kansas Legislative Priorities
Each year the LeadingAge Kansas Board of Directors decides the association’s Legislative Priorities. If you have not yet seen our 2023 priorities, please check them out.
