Home-schoolers filled the halls of the Capitol on Thursday as they visited with legislators from their districts. This annual field trip brings large numbers of students. Legislation has been introduced which will allow students residing within the attendance area of a public school and who is instructed at a private elementary or secondary school to be allowed to participate in interscholastic extracurricular activities on behalf of the public school. This bill has a price tag to the state of $744 per student per year. Hearings commenced this week on this legislation.

The Senate Education Committee passed to the full Senate the uniform - or standardized dress code - bill. The Committee amended the bill to require school building site councils, along with principals, teachers, parents and pupils, to consider uniforms, making a recommendation to the school board, and having the board discuss the issue and holding a public forum. The legislation appears to require several steps and involves much time before any decision can be made on the dress code.

A recommendation was passed out of the Post Audit committee this week which calls for a separation of the functions of the Community Developmental Disability Organizations client intake and service referral from client treatment and care services. If this legislation is adopted the state of Kansas would see an end to the existing conflict of interest of controlling the money as well as being in competition with other providers in providing services to the disabled. This conflict of interest has been ongoing since the passage of the 1995 Developmental Disabilities Reform Act. Before the recommendation was passed, lobbyists for the 28 CDDO's of Kansas tried unsuccessfully to kill the legislation in the committee in an attempt to keep the process of government from working. Very seldom, if ever, do legislators keep bills from being introduced and the action by the lobbyists through the opposing legislators was viewed as an act of desperation. There seems to be a great fear from the CDDOs that the parents and guardians of the disabled might be able to relay their frustrations with the CDDO system to the entire legislature. Thus far the parents/guardians have feared repercussions and the loss of funding they presently receive should they speak out on the unfairness. The bill which was introduced will now go to several committees for hearings. This action is truly a win for those caring for the disabled all across Kansas. Preparation for this legislation has been ongoing for the past two years. KANSAS VETERANS HOME

Last Friday I was able to attend the meeting held in Topeka by the Kansas Commission of Veterans Affairs. Much activity is going on at the home site located in Winfield. The admissions of new residents to take place on May 1, with planned ceremonies that day promises to be an event never to forget. Numerous delays and unanticipated repair and rehabilitation expenses have proven to be troublesome. Future meetings are scheduled to be held by Commission members and Superintendent Hays with the Senate Ways and Means Chairman and possibly the Governor in an effort to work out what could be a short fall of the budget recommendations.

As tax season is upon us, there is financial assistance available from two new or expanded state programs for certain taxpayers. Persons with a Kansas adjusted gross income of $25,000 or less and meeting other criteria are entitled to a food sales tax refund. Home owners and renters who were Kansas residents for all of 1999, are eligible for a refund of up to $600 if the total household income is $25,000 or less, and other conditions are met. We have heard from testimony in the Senate Tax Committee, of which I am a member, that there are those eligible for these programs but they do not file the proper documentation to receive the refunds. I encourage people who qualify for these tax breaks to take advantage of the changes enacted by the 1998 Kansas legislature to assist with your family living expenses.

The ACES Constitution class from Arkansas City, with instructor, Kathy Swain, and accompanied by Robert Hyatt, were my guests on Wednesday of last week. The students were very attentive as they spent time with the Governor, visited the Senate Judiciary Committee where hearings were held on providing for penalties for child solicitation over the Internet, had lunch with the Cowley County legislative delegation, and were honored by the Senate during our regular session. They also enjoyed tours of the Capitol and Judicial Center. Each student expressed appreciation to have had an opportunity to witness government in action.