Praeger appointed to national committee

Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger has been appointed to the executive committee of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Praeger, of Lawrence, will help the group develop regulatory standards, monitor senior health care initiatives and oversee managed health care reforms.

Returning soldiers get car tag grace period

Soldiers who have been deployed out of state or overseas are getting a break from the Kansas Department of Revenue.

After their return, military personnel will be allowed to drive a vehicle with expired registration for up to seven days. The exemption only applies within the state.

If stopped by a law enforcement officer, those taking the exemption will have to show a copy of deployment orders with the date of return and current liability insurance on the vehicle.

Any late penalties on registration will be waived within the seven-day grace period.

State hospital study says make no changes

A study on the future of state mental health hospitals wants to keep the status quo at this time

According to a report distributed Wednesday, “There is no room presently for any further reduction in the service capacity of the state mental hospitals.”

The report would seem to fly in the face of statements by some legislators and advocates for the developmentally disabled who have said one or more state facilities need to be shut down because of the increased emphasis on providing community services.

Kansas has three state mental health hospitals — Larned State Hospital, Osawatomie State Hospital and Rainbow Mental Health Facility in Kansas City, Kan.

Child-safety proposal wins Senate approval

A bill requiring most children to wear seat belts or use special booster or safety seats when riding in vehicles faces an uncertain future in the House after winning Senate approval Thursday.

“I don’t know how the House will react to it,” said Rep. Gary Hayzlett, R-Lakin, chairman of the transportation committee.

State law currently requires all children under 4 to ride in special safety seats and any child from 4 through 13 to wear seat belts.

The bill that won Senate approval in a 27-12 vote would require children aged 4 through 7 to ride in special booster seats if they weigh 80 pounds or less or are 4-foot-9 or shorter. All other passengers under 18 would have to wear seat belts.