Topeka ? Kansas lawmakers will focus on gambling, health care and abortion during the wrap-up session that starts today.

Legislative leaders, who adjourned April 1 for a 3 1/2 week break, said they expected to complete the wrap-up in four days.

“There is very little to do,” said House Speaker Doug Mays, R-Topeka.

The most contentious issue before the Legislature — the finance of public schools — has been put on hold while the Kansas Supreme Court analyzes a plan Republicans say will satisfy a court order to increase funding and distribute it more fairly.

The proposal would increase school funding by $125 million, but critics say it widens the gap between wealthy and poor school districts by opening the door to nearly $500 million in local property tax increases for schools.

“The Supreme Court has really taken the education part out of our hands, for now,” said Rep. Barbara Ballard, D-Lawrence. “For right now, there is not much to fight about.”

The court has scheduled oral arguments on the school finance plan for May 11. It will then decide whether the plan is constitutional, but no date has been set for that ruling.

If the court says the Legislature must come up with a new plan, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius could order lawmakers to convene a special legislative session, or the Legislature could call a special session through a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate.

“If the Supreme Court doesn’t agree with the plan, we may be looking at a special session,” Ballard said. Kansas’ last special session was in 1989.

But even without a school funding debate during the wrap-up, plenty of issues remain unresolved.

State board of ed to challenge K-12 finance plan (04-26-05) SRS shake-up criticized for being politicized (04-24-05) Despite clinic’s closure, doctor still hopes to practice (04-24-05) House Speaker says odds improving for gambling pact (04-23-05) More in Kansas Legislature

Gambling

After lawmakers finished the first part of their session, budget experts got together to estimate how much the state would take in.

The good news is that the budget is balanced for the fiscal year that starts July 1. The bad news is that without any new revenue sources, the state will run a deficit for the year starting July 1, 2006, according to the budget experts.

This prospect increases the chances that lawmakers may expand casino gambling after 12 years of stalemate on the issue.

Mays indicated last week there might be enough votes in the Legislature to approve a compact with two American Indian tribes that would allow casinos near Kansas City, Kan., and in southeast Kansas. Under a revenue-sharing plan, the compact could produce $125 million annually to the state.

Supporters of another gambling proposal announced a radio advertising blitz that touted their plan as an alternative to a tax increase.

The proposal backed by dog and horse breeder groups and several pari-mutuel racetracks would authorize slots at tracks and up to five resort-type casinos. It would raise $150 million per year, the group said.

Abortion

For the second time, Sebelius has vetoed legislation to increase regulations on abortion clinics. An attempt to override her veto is expected.

It takes a two-thirds vote in the Legislature to override a veto; 27 votes in the Senate and 84 in the House. During the session, the bill passed with 27 votes in the Senate and 88 in the House.

“It will be close,” said Ballard, who opposed the bill.

Health care

The Republican-controlled Legislature is pushing forward with a plan to merge Medicaid and several other health programs into a new agency. Sebelius had offered the first proposal to try to merge health care functions, but the plan was rejected by Republicans.

Seat belts, campaign finance

Another attempt may be made to tighten Kansas’ seat belt law.

The Legislature defeated a bill that would require booster seats for children ages 4 to 7 and allow law enforcement officials to stop vehicles traveling with anyone younger than 18 not wearing a seat belt.

On campaign finance, supporters of a failed attempt to require issue-advocacy groups to report their campaign donations have said they might let other reforms die in order to push for a major overhaul next year in time for the 2006 elections.

— Staff writer Scott Rothschild can be reached at (785) 354-4222.