Senate approves bill on school board powers

The Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill Monday giving school boards more power, but the chairman of the House Education Committee called it “an abomination before the Lord.”

The vote was 37-3.

The measure declares that the state’s local boards of education have the general power to govern their own affairs, so long as the actions they take do not go against state law. Cities have similar power, which is known as “home rule.”

School boards currently can exercise only specific powers granted to them by state law.

School board bill is SB 166.

Term limits proposal sees little response

Rep. John Edmonds began his testimony about his bill to create legislative term limits by noting that the issue wasn’t as hot as it used to be.

The turnout for Monday’s hearing by the House Elections and Ethics Committee proved him right. Edmonds, R-Great Bend, was the only person to testify about his proposed constitutional amendment. The committee took no action.

Edmonds’ proposal would limit a legislator to 12 consecutive years in one chamber or 24 consecutive years in both, although legislators could sit out a term and start over with their counts.

Proposed term limits amendment is HCR 5036.

Committee passes drilling resolution

A resolution supporting oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was endorsed Monday by a House committee.

The measure asks Congress to open the Arctic Coastal Plain of the wildlife reserve for drilling. The exploration and drilling is a part of President Bush’s energy policy and has been strongly criticized by environmentalists.

The House Utilities Committee endorsed the resolution on a 10-8 vote and forwarded it to the Interstate Cooperation Committee.

Arctic Wildlife Refuge resolution is HCR 5040.

Other activities

Monday at Legislature

 Members of the House and Senate education committees took tests similar to those given annually to Kansas schoolchildren, as part of the State Department of Education’s “Take the Test Day.”

 Legislators were encouraged to buy $250 commemorative bricks to help finance the installation of the “Ad Astra” statue on the Statehouse dome, planned for September.

 The Senate Reapportionment Committee accepted five more maps for consideration. Members hope to endorse a map by week’s end.