School finance countdown

63 days: The state Supreme Court has given lawmakers until April 12 to produce a constitutional school finance plan.

Tuesday’s highlights

Republican leaders in the Senate unveiled a $415 million, three-year school finance plan. The proposal would increase base state aid per pupil and target programs for at-risk students. The plan, however, didn’t provide a funding mechanism.

• State officials are launching legislation aimed at strengthening regulation of group homes for the disabled and mentally ill. The measures are in response to the case of a Newton couple accused of abusing mentally ill adults in their care.
• A coalition of religious groups met in Topeka, calling on lawmakers to protect the social service safety net and adequately fund public schools.

Today’s schedule

10:30 a.m.: Senate Federal and State Affairs, possible action on bill prohibiting racial profiling.

3:30 p.m.: House Judiciary, hearing on House Bill 2114, liquor licensee liability.

Quote of the day

“We lay a lifelong burden on the people we ask to be part of the process of killing someone.”

— Sister Therese Bangert, of Kansas Catholic Conference, speaking in opposition to the state’s death penalty during the Legislative Event for Advocacy in Faith.